Well, it is now time to talk about entertainment (or the lack thereof) in this country. There are many forms of entertainment and many subclasses in each form, and new types are being found every day. I am not going to explore every possible form of entertainment (mainly because I don't care about them all), but I will discuss several of the major types as well as a few of my own favorites. This will probably take a few articles, so stick around.
As sports is the category of entertainment that I despise the most, that's where I'll start. Now, in and of themselves, sports don't bother me that much. I've been known to play football or basketball on occasion; it's televised, professional sports that get my ire up. Now, if you want to play sports, by all means, do so. If not, then don't; it's your life, so you decide. What sickens me is that every available second of airspace on the television and radio has to be filled with information about sports. As far as I can tell, the only reason sports are broadcast across the airwaves is so people who either physically can't or who don't have the balls to play can feel important because they know what happened during "the game." Now, I'm not picking on disabled people here. I'm talking about the kind of people that would rather swill beer and stuff their faces with hoagies and pizza while watching "the big game" to the point that their fat asses can't get up and participate. These are the same slobs who will sit and argue with each other about what "their" team should have done, or how "their" team would have won if they were calling the shots. To top it all off, I live in a state where most people think that everybody is a sports fanatic. If you happen to not like sports, these people shake their heads and stare in utter shock, because they can't fathom the idea of anyone with the brains or individuality to be different. "If you don't like [enter appropriate sport], then you must not be a real man!" is a far too common phrase around here. In fact, I've heard it so many times that I have taken to tearing asunder any ignorant sod who spouts that particular line at me. It's rather hard to be an arrogant shithead when someone has just systematically broken several bones in your sorry ass. Yes, I do tend to be violent, but if there is one thing I can't stand, it's a stupid asshole. I just wish that the TV producers would keep the sports games on the sports channel s and put decent shows on the regular channels.
Speaking of "regular" channels, there are approximately 500 channels to choose from, depending on what type of reception provider you have. Unfortunately, almost all of them show nothing but garbage and stupidity. I am increasingly sick and tired of "kid-friendly" programming, as well as programming aimed at the teen and early twenties crowds. I happen to be a 26-year-old adult male; I don't give a rats ass what children want to see or hear! I want to be able to watch horror, mystery, science fiction, and action shows and movies without having them butchered because John and Jane Q. Fuckingpublic can't be bothered to change the channel when their worthless spawn are in the room. Besides, if you raise your children properly, nothing they see on TV will turn them into social deviants or mass murderers (regardless of what your shrink or the liberals have told you!!). Then again, most people would rather have the government control what they are allowed to watch than have to tell their spoiled fucking bratty kids that they can't do something. This is ultimately why I have almost completely stopped wasting my time with television. It's just not worth watching since the censors were co-opted by the Baby Boomers.
Another medium of entertainment that is increasingly not worth the effort is the movies. There have been a few good sci-fi, action, and comedy movies put out in the last few years, but they have been far overshadowed by a massive glut of ignorant kid movies, stupid comedies, and pseudo-horror movies. Doesn't anybody know what horror is anymore? I love to have the shit scared out of me by a good monster movie or psychological thriller. Alas, my desire for these types of thrills has gone unsatisfied, because Hollywood would rather release stupid drivel full of big budget effects that wouldn't even scare a 5-year-old kid (of course, that is probably why they were released). I mean, great visuals are appreciated, but write a good story to go with them! That's another problem: special effects blockbusters that rely totally on the effects. No story, no plot, no talent, just a bunch of CGI "pretties" and some so-called witty dialog.
Now, I understand that the teeming masses are incoherent and brain-dead, but there are those of us with better than average intelligence who need more than just pretty pictures and half-assed one-liners to be entertained. Then again, I guess we don't matter, because there aren't many of us around anymore. So, the dumb are satiated with stupidity and the intelligent people are bored to tears. Unfortunately, this seems to be a permanent trend in this country, so I'll just have to find other forms of entertainment.
Next time I'll get into music, books, and games, including the "evil" table top and live-action role-playing games. Until then, try not to succumb to ignorance. See you all later.