I have a very short-lived obsession these days. Fortunately, I think I’m getting over it, because I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to stand myself if I didn’t.
The obsession is with judge shows, “Judge Judy” and the like, where (stupid) people bring their (petty) problems out into the open, so that (real?) judges can react with varying amounts of humor. Almost always, the judge finds for the person who has been the least wronged, because, I’m assuming, there is some common sense involved.
I wonder if this is what might be contributing to wrongness in our society. In just the past few days, I’ve seen a man suing his nephew for money owed, a woman suing a man for money owed, a woman suing another woman for money owed, etc. It seems that nobody has the sense to sign contracts, read contracts, keep track of the amount owed, or realize that, “Hey! I owe somebody money. I should probably pay it so the sheriffs don’t come to my workplace and embarrass me. Then, I might have to go on TV and prove, in front of millions of people, that I really am an idiot, and that I didn’t pay my uncle the money I owe him.”
On most of these shows, the people who show up to be judged are ignorant. For example, they call the judge, “Judy”, or “Alex”, instead of “Your Honor”. Also, they talk while the judge is talking, talk while the other ignorant person is talking, use poor grammar, and bring up issues that have nothing to do with the present concern.
Here’s why I wonder about the microcosm of society: So often, people are hesitant to take the blame for things they have done wrong. So often, people say one thing, and then do something completely antithetical to what they claimed. So often, to get ahead, people point out what others have or haven’t done, and most important of all, people refuse to use even a modicum of common sense.
I am so glad I am over this obsession.
