Why should anyone want to stay in touch with cultural reality?

But in any case, most people you meet in real life are reasonably decent people who get along reasonably well with others in spite of disagreements. (Not unlike the Mudcat.) There are of course exceptions. (As there are here.)

Most people you meet on TV seem to be crazed ego-maniacs, and if they moved in next door you'd be desperately trying to move yourself. Even when I emjoy watching this kind of thing, I hope it's not cultural reality, and I don't believe it is. (And even if it is the case, I refuse to believe it's the truth.)