Changing with the reality tv shows

What is so shocking about ten twenty-something girls in sexy outfits, sporting a ton of attitude and colored hair seducing a couple of guys with a sensual dance one minute and cursing them with hard-core gutter gaalis the next minute? Should the shock value come out of the fact that these are Indian girls or the fact that they're doing this willingly on national tv on MTV's Splitsvilla?

I have to admit that I enjoy watching these shows from time to time and sometimes even get hooked. But it definitely makes me feel ancient. I cannot recall friends or peeps in my extended circle talking about boyfriends openly with their families unless it was supposed to turn into something rather serious like an engagement, which was considered the eventual goal of every affair during my college years. Dating has evolved to be a rather casual concept now. People talk about going on dates like they were going to eat gol guppas and not one raises an eye brow. Eventually every society has to come out of its shell and India has, on this front in the recent past. But the media explosion of it all is a little hard to digest.

Since when did it become aceptable for guys (contestants) to run around the beaches of Goa to 'collect' kisses from men just to win a contest? Or for girls to get into a 2 piece in a pool to flirt with guys over a glass of wine? Only if you look closely, you'd know it isn't The Bachelor. Why would girls have to win the challenge of 'the best bikini body' to be the ultimate winner on these shows?

What is interesting is, where are the moral police when the young and the restless in India are watching and getting influenced by these shows? They sure seem to be on high alert any time events like Valentine's day come around. The drama that erupted in Manglore by the Shri Ram Sena workers who had taken upon themselves to ensure that women knew their "boundaries" a la Taliban style provoked much rage and criticism only to be subsided weeks later without them getting banned. But when such incidents surface, does anyone take a second to think that it's ok to do things that are 'fundamentally against our cultural and moral values' at joints where the elite hang out or as a part of the reality show but the rest of the country stands to suffer when they indulge in such acts of liberalism.

I'm not for or against either. It is a democractic nation after all. But I wonder if the youth of India is confused about what is considered a decent act in public eye anymore.