The Schadenfreude Channel

I hate to admit it, but I was watching one of the “audition” shows on America Idol the other night. In this heavily edited program, most of the time is spent watching people who think they sing better than they actually can get rejected by the judges and have their dreams and egos crushed in the process.

I followed this up by watching the premiere of “Moment of Truth” where the premise is that to win money you have to truthfully answer questions that get more and more embarrassing. The whole allure of the program is to get pleasure out of someone else’s pain.

There are so many of these shows that someone could combine them into one network and call it The Schadenfreude Channel (TSC). Think of what they would have to choose from. The Jerry Springer Show where every time the people come to blows; Maury Povich’s “Who’s Your Daddy” episodes where paternity is determined while you watch; Dateline’s internet pervert sting (with the obligatory police takedown in the yard). Even on The Apprentice the whole shows boils down to who gets fired. Wife Swap, Nanny 911, not to mention all of the “Celebrity Dirt” shows. And don’t forget that “You are … The Weakest Link.” It’s all the same. We enjoy seeing people get embarrassed and we like to know that other people are more screwed up than we are.

Three things are very troubling about the concept of TSC. First, should Christians be spending even a minute watching these shows? It doesn’t seem Christ-like to be entertained by watching someone else’s misfortune. It certainly doesn’t seem like a neighbor-loving thing to do. Second, these programs are wildly popular and if that is the case, it follows that a lot of Christians are watching. Third, and most troubling, is that I seem to have too much knowledge about these shows, which can only mean one thing. I am one of the viewers. It is just so easy to get sucked into watching.

This leads to the questions I have. Should Christians watch TSC-type shows or am I being too restrictive in my thinking? Do you, as a Christian, watch these shows and if you do, do you think that it’s fine or do you wish that you didn’t watch?

I’ll give you my answers. While there might be some informational value or redemptive qualities to these shows, when the real appeal is the schadenfreude aspect – getting pleasure from someone’s pain – I think that’s not a “Christian” thing to do. If we love our neighbors as ourselves, we wouldn’t want to see them hurting. And identifying ourselves as “better” than they are (as is the case with many of these shows) is a judgment that we shouldn’t be making, either. I have already confessed to being a viewer, but I’ll say a prayer right now, “Lord, I am caught in the trap of enjoying people’s pain. Help me, in real time, to notice what I am doing and help me to turn away from it. Make mine a loving heart, not a cold one.”