Putting some reality in reality shows

"Reality" shows turn out to be a lot more real than they seem. Contestants deprived of their personal possessions, of human contact, of a support network, of sleep, of privacy. Of dignity. Sounds a lot like some sort of prison, doesn't it? Or like working conditions that migrant laborers often have to endure in the shadows. And TV networks not only make a show out of it, they make millions out of degrading people in this way.

A house for 30 songs

A college student was ordered to pay $675,000 for downloading and sharing 30 songs. The law, who is supposed to protect the people, is being used to protect the profits of the recording corporations instead. And now this student and his family are ordered to shoulder a debt that could almost buy you a mansion in some parts. And for what, 30 songs? That's 3 CDs, the recording industry sells that for $30 - and you can listen to songs on YouTube for free, anyway!

It just doesn't add up.