konfadential32rhymes said:

Ive been where Shifty is and im only 19 years old. People that have hot experienced addiction first hand may take “Sober House” or “Celeb Rehab” as more reality TV Bull… But for the LARGE and growing demographic of people who have an addiction or a dual diagnosis (google it ) like myself, can relate almost too well, because we know that every breath that Steven and Seth take at this point is priceless. Not to mention the other patients who are really beating there demons NOW like Rodney King. So those shows arent glorifying the negative unless u watch it that way, and screw the people that only turn it on to laugh at Steven drooling, while its making millions of americans cry and empathize with celebs in a way that the normal dude or girl never thought was possible. its not even reality TV its Real ass TV. -Konfadential

Tammy said:

I am not personally an addict, but I grew up with 2 addicted parents and I spent 3 years of my life working with people who were struggling with addiction. People who don’t believe in the reality of addiction really tick me off. The women I worked with have told me stories about selling their bodies, minds, and souls for their drugs. They have lost their children, friends and family, still they were unable to kick the habit. Some have ended up in prison on more than one occassion. Some have watched their addicted friends die from overdoses. ADDICTION is NOT A JOKE. Statistically very few people are able to kick the habit. If this program changes one persons mind, gets one person to seek help and start attacking their inner demons, and possibly saves that persons life, then it has done more than most of the garbage on tv has ever done.

DSF said:

I’m turned 40 this year and admittedly been a fan of MTV since its inception, August 1, 1981. The Buggle,s “Video Killed the Radio Star” was the first video to air at 12am (a brilliant choice of song). Over the last 27 years I’ve literally watched it’s growth and am still impressed with their consistent ability to change with the times, and succeed. Their success is present in our daily lives. They continue to introduce new talent, music, and they’re also responsible for many fashionable trends we see on our youth’s today. I feel like I sort of grew up along side MTV. MTV in my day, and still today is a very relevant part of our popular culture. In 1991 I was 22yrs old, the first season of “The Real World” aired. It was the first time I witnessed my peers living out real life dramas on TV, no less. Each season consistently tackles real life issues from abortion to eating disorders, racism, physical abuse, drugs and alcohol etc. This year one of it’s cast members is a 21yr old solider who fought in Iraq. Whether we like it or not (ratings suggest we do) MTV is responsible for breathing life into reality TV as we know it today.

VH1 is also in the mix with reality programming such as Celebrity Rehab and it’s follow up, Sober House. In my humble opinion, the answer to your question, “Is the media’s glorification of addicts and F*** ups contributing to the downfall of society as we once knew it?” is simply, NO. Nor do I agree with your insinuation that addicts such as Shifty and Steven Adler are F*** Ups”. First of all, the media glorifies everything! We have freedom, therefore, the choice to change the channel. I’m reminded of the Civil Suit filed in California against Ozzy Osbourne and his record company, CBS by John McCollum’s parents; he was a troubled 19 yr old boy with a drug and alcohol problem who shot and killed himself October ’84 as he listened to Ozzy recordings. Can we realistically blame Ozzy for the demise of this troubled young boy? No! My point is the media has it’s pros and cons and in today’s society where everything is sensationalized via TV, radio, magazines, newspapers and the world wide web, how then can we blame MTV for documenting celebrity addictions and call it glorification? We are voyeaurs by nature. It’s a double edged sword. We loathe paparazzi but if we stopped buying the magazines filled with their shots they’d be out of business! 27 years ago, MTV brought us the lives of 7 strangers living in a house. Today, they’re still growing strong as they enter their 22nd season. And as VH1 brings us the ugly side of celebrity reality, (not too long ago such behavior was kept from public eye), we are now reminded these people who once seemed larger than life and hence untouchable are in reality no different than our mothers, father, sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters whom struggle daily suffering from the very same real drug and alcohol addictions.

My ex husband is a 3rd year recovering alcoholic. He doesn’t follow a program. I live in fear every day he will fall off the wagon and his little girl will lose her father. However, he credits Bravo’s “Intervention” for helping to keep him on the straight and narrow. And for that I say bring on more reality content such as Celeb Rehab, Sober House, Intervention, and even The Biggest Loser; if it these show can help at least one person, the “glorification”, if you will, is working.