The Real Obs

2009-08-23 11:41:59.000 – Stacey Kawecki,  Observer and Meteorologist

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Reality Television is the world’s greatest oxymoron. The simple fact is, what we consider reality TV, isn’t real at all. Now, I’m not trying to belittle the entertainment value of reality TV. I too have fallen victim to Iron Chef and American Idol. I’m merely pointing out that it is not, by any means, representative of real-life situations. It is representative of a producer who thought, ‘Gee, wouldn’t it be fun to put a bunch of people who would never live together in a big house and see what happens’.

How about if we put a bunch of weather enthusiasts on top of a mountain in the middle of winter, in very tight living quarters? Generally, we all get along swimmingly. This is a professional work place, and the focus of the staff and crew is usually the weather, collecting data, and working on personal projects. There isn’t too much room for drama. However, one thing I’ve always noticed about reality television is that the camera is always there. It’s like the Heisenberg uncertainty principle: you cannot measure something without physically altering the outcome. Well, you cannot accurately observe real life by adding the element of a camera. Real life goes out the window when you’re performing for an audience. All kinds of drama might unfold. The total lack of privacy brings conflict to the surface immediately. The confessional camera is pretty amazing. Surprisingly, people do not hold back in that setting, and it is truly revealing of one’s true colors.

In the spirit of reality television, we’ve decided to entertain the idea of a confessional camera for this week’s Obscast. Also in the spirit, we thought it would fun to take the elimination factor often found in the genre and run with it. If you’d like to see the real drama at the Obs, watch this week’s Obscast, to be posted tomorrow. For those of you who are not members, we’ll let you know how it all ends.

Stacey Kawecki,  Observer and Meteorologist