I don't think they contradict my assumptions so much as hit it from a different angle. Reality TV is sort of a more professional way of users creating their ow

I don't think they contradict my assumptions so much as hit it from a different angle. Reality TV is sort of a more professional way of users creating their own content. The cameras/production and the like are still controlled operations but they're seeking out non-actor types who are willing to expose themselves for a chance at riches and fame. This leads more towards people who are inclined to take that sort of route instead of "earning" it through work. (Earn might be poor word choice here) The other side of the coin to look at too is the type of people on those shows. It isn't a secret that they finely tune who is invited to participate and the show producers will obviously elect to cast people that are more "drama prone" or capable of providing that level of entertainment value. Maybe if we take a step back and look at it from the meta level we could say that an indication of the general population "becoming more dumb" is the idea that we are willing to suck up this form of entertainment more and more. Is it a sign of being dumber when we more inclined to watching people generate meaningless drama, fight or expose themselves instead of intellectual stimulating programs?