You’ve heard everyone complain about the reality TV show dung that MTV and VH1 are cramming down the throats of brain-dead viewers, but there are plenty of other examples of awful shows on other networks. It seems like since the beginning of time, people have had pleasure from seeing other people suffer. It gives us a feeling of empowerment, like no matter how bad we have it, at least we’re not that guy. Take for instance the show, My Strange Addiction. Why do people watch that show? I will bet you that over half of that show’s viewers are just watching it to see how messed up some of these people are. The list goes on and on– Hoarders, Intervention, Dr. Phil, even Biggest Loser. These shows don’t succeed because viewers want to watch these people get over their problems; viewers want to see the pitiful way they live. Watch some of these shows, and notice how much more interesting it is when seeing these unfortunate people suffer than it is watching them recover.

Let’s also not forget about shows like Toddlers and Tiaras, Hell’s Kitchen, Shark Tank, or Judge Judy, where the audience gets a kick out of watching the people on the show be put in the most uncomfortable situations imaginable. The worst part about this practice however, is that it works.