Murder, scandal, divorce, suicide, and money issues. Nope, this is not a soap opera or a Nora Robert's tv movie. This all a reality outside of the reality tv world. What happens on-screen is mild compared to what happens off-screen in the lives of many reality tv stars. There is not doubt that questions are surfacing about how reality stars are chosen and screened or transitioned and counseled back into the real real world.

Divorce: Jon and Kate of "Jon and Kate Plus 8" have crumbled and grown apart despite having eight kids to think about. The show was originally an inspiration to overwhelmed families with kids and any mother. Now, reality has reared it's ugly head. http://www.buzzfeed.com/akdobbins/jon-and-kate-plus-8-divorce

Murder & Suicide: Just recently a contestant/finalist (Ryan Jenkins), proabably the most handsome contestant on VH1's "Meagan Wants a Millionaire" murdered his ex-wife in real life, then found dead by his own hand in a hotel room. The show was taken off air before mid season- obviously. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6805310.ece

Tax Evasion: First "Survivor" Winner Richard Hatch Released From Jail Early To Enter Halfway House. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32468188/ns/today-

Ethics: We all the saw the unethical scandal unravel in the news headlines: "Octuplet mom on welfare." " No job, living with her parents, and keeps having babies." "How did she get the money to have all 8 of her eggs fertilized?" A lack of ethics in this story so of course a network is picking it up for a reality tv show starring the octuplet mom. Do wrong and you'll get your own tv show. http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Octuplet-Mom-Gets-A-Reality-Show-18858.html

Psychologically speaking, most reality tv shows are less ethical than psychology studies before the mid-seventies. In some of these studies, such as Stanford's 1971 Zimbardo simulated prison study http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_prison_experiment participants had to be counseled long-term and still suffer today. Based on effects many psychological studies (also Milgram's shock study) were causing, there had to rules and regulations in place. Today's reality shows would not stand a chance if submitted to the Amercian Psychological Association or Institutional Review Board. These committees are designed to monitor research done on humans for the safety and sanity of the individual. It seems if a researcher wants to run an unethical social study, they can do so on a reality tv program.

In light of possible consequences of subjecting one's self to voluntary psychological (sometimes physical) torture, do we dare ask if there isn't anything many people would do to ruin their lives for a glimpse of the limelight? Have we faded in our personal lives so much that we need an audience to tell us we (and our lives) are important?

We are quickly evolving into a dissensitized society as reflected in what we call entertainment (reality chows). We drive more than we walk- we are in mobile bubbles easily cussing and honking at the guy next to us without a thought in the world about that person being human. We text or email our friends and family substantially more than we talk to them in person or even a good ol' fashioned phone call.

Reality tv shows can't possibly be what we seek for escaping our reality and sitting down to a relaxing evening at home. What value do these shows bring in our lives? Do we revel in the darker side of human nature. Are some better than others?