But I'm sure there are many people watching this on very average incomes who suddenly feel obliged to go for all the trappings. It's probably all bunged onto the mortgage then to be paid off over 20-30 years.
TV company's could make shows about how stupid people are to get wrapped up in consumerism and materialism etc. But how do you think the advertisers would feel about that?
I used to think shows like this were a bad thing for exactly the reason you describe...it creates the new "Normal" so people feel obliged to do the same themselves.
I think differently now. Quite frankly anyone who allows themselves to get sucked into this kind of nonsense needs their head examined, and the more money they waste the better, because the squandered money is their punishment for being either too stupid or too weak willed to say enough is enough. Money has a habit of hanging around with people who deserve to have it.
It's exactly the same phenomenon that we hear every year about the money spent on Communions. Some complain about these trappings because it puts pressure on them to do the same. That pressure only exists if on some level you want to give in to it.
I'll admit it can be tough to explain to a 7 year old that they can't have a horse drawn carriage for their communion, like little Annie Jones down the road. But even a 7 year old can grasp the concepts of stupidity and valgarity.
Perhaps if more people raised their 7 year olds to understand why they shouldn't have a horse drawn carriage for their communion, we might have less people having "budget" weddings that cost 35K.
Bring it on I say....here's to budget weddings costing 100K. The sensible people can still have sensible weddings that are more fun, more memorable, and more classy.
If you think Eddie Hobbs shows are entertaining now wait till the "New Rich" have squandered all the equity in their houses and have no way to clear the credit card bills.
Long Live Stupidity! Don't have sympathy for these people, they are weak and stupid and were put here for no other reason than for your amusement.
-Rd