I’m back in the USA for a week or so. And that means watching HGTV to while away the time. Micha likes the shows, and I find them interesting myself.
But I’m a bit bothered by the lying part. I mean, it’s kind of a given. TV has never been about telling you the truth. It’s about presenting you with a fantasy. And so here I am, watching another one of those “fix it up and amaze the owner” shows, pretty much ticking off every deception I can see. Like that single dad’s closet that looks like a professionally-designed product fit for Bill Gates. Then there’s the Property Brothers (among many others) and their knack for finding one major crisis every show. I swear, it’s gotta be a prerequisite when they look for places to do. Their application has to include a checklist – “Asbestos?” check. “Popcorn ceiling?” Check. “Plumbing that’s been leaking for years?” Check. Just give us something we can “discover” well into the project and we’ll take care of the rest.
Then, of course, come the commercials. It’s all so easy. It’s all so beautiful. It appeals to my (often inaccurate) self-concept of the things of which I’m truly capable. It’s all right there, and all I need is a trip to Lowe’s. The rest practically builds itself. Except when it doesn’t.
Maybe it’s my time in Korea that’s jaded me so, and that’s a shame. I’m just jealous. No Home Depot. No convenience and understanding of how I can maybe do the work myself. I’d absolutely love to. I’m pretty sure I could if I had access to the right tools and an understanding of the building codes…which I’m not quite sure exist in Korea.
The key is that they have to convince you that you absolutely have to have something that, until just a few minutes ago, never existed. The bells and whistles now have bells and whistles – the majority of which is absolutely unnecessary.
I can’t get down on myself for it, though. I’ve made my choices, and if it were important enough, I’d do something about it. The tradeoffs are there, and as long as I’m satisfied with them, I couldn’t ask for much more…