Reality TV is a travesty that has plagued our television sets since the introduction of “Survivor.” Now there is reality TV to fit every viewer’s preference: weight loss, makeovers, survival and who can ignore the infamous dating shows?

At one point, I found it entertaining. I remember when “Survivor” first came on; my mom and I were absolutely hooked. As the seasons continued, and the twists and turns became wilder, I found myself wondering how I could ever watch such a thing.

“The Bachelor” has evolved into a whole other species of reality. VH1’s Celebreality gives ordinary people the chance to fight for the love of various stars. After the popularity of season one, however, the viewer begins to realize the hook. With seasons up to three and counting, it defeats the entire purpose. If you’re out to find your one true love, why are you doing it over and over again?

Bret Michaels is the lead singer of the rock band Poison and star of VH1’s “Rock of Love.” Last year, America watched as Bret fell in love, got his heart broken, and then he fell in love again in season two. Now, with “Rock of Love Bus,” we are watching him do it again.

“It’s something good to watch when nothing else is on,” said Crystal Bruno, junior political science major. “From season to season, the girls seem to get more ridiculous. I can’t imagine being around people like that, but it sure is funny to watch.”

Bruno admits to indulging in reality TV, but it’s not an obsession. “Most of the time, I am just flipping through the channel and something like that pops up,” she said.

MTV just completed its third season of the dating show “A Shot at Love.” Originally, the show starred Tila Tequila. The show was already made interesting enough when she spiced up the odds by making it a bisexual dating show. For two seasons, Tila searched for love, but in vain. The third season, however, is probably the craziest yet.

The show was transformed into “A Double Shot at Love with the Ikki Twins.” Now, not only were both men and women fighting for love, but they were also fighting for the love of twins. These sisters, Rikki and Vikki, were looking for love together. The catch: would they choose boy or girl, would they choose the same person, and if that happened, what would the chosen person do?

Dan Postawa, freshman computer science major, said he doesn’t waste his time with that garbage. “Why would I watch these celebrity wannabes make idiots of themselves for their 15 minutes? I can think of a million ways I would rather spend my time.”

So why do we waste our precious time emerging ourselves into the crazy world that is reality TV?

In the article “Seeing Starlight: Celebrity Obsession,” at psychologytoday.com, Senior Editor Carlin Flora explains, “Reality television is an express train to fame, unpredictably turning nobodies into somebodies. Reality TV now gives us the ability to get inside the star factory and watch the transition to fame in real time.”

Flora goes on to say that the attraction of reality stars is the fact that the viewers can see themselves in the star. I mean, come on, they are accessible every day people, just like us. When we see them on TV, we realize it can happen to any of us.

Enough is enough. Reality TV has entertained the masses for nearly 10 years, and it isn’t slowing down there. Only we, the viewers, can stop it.

Whether we watch it to imagine our own shot at fame or to simply laugh at the stupidity of it all; by simply viewing it, we are contributing to the madness. Reality is right outside, not on TV. Go experience the real world.