By Nick Degel

Managing Editor

Are we really that fascinated with the lives of the young, rich and famous?

Hollywood seems to think so. That can be the only explanation for their inundating TV with the lives of young, rich socialites, both real and fictional. The network shot callers obviously know something that I don’t.

In all reality, that something is probably ratings. Why else would every network be scrambling to put out their installment of a day in the life of the super rich? Whether it’s the MTV megahit “The Hills” or everyone’s newest obsession “Gossip Girl,” there is obviously a market for this sort of thing.

I’m not disputing this, I just would like to know why. In order to write on this topic in an informed manner, I watched as many shows from this genre as I could. They all seemed to have one commonality: petty teenage drama.

Someone’s boyfriend is looking at someone elses girlfriend — drama. Some girl is having an argument with some other girl, who gets mad at another friend for hanging out with the first girl — drama. “Daddy bought me a BMW 7 series instead of the Maybach I asked for” — come-join-us-here-in-the-real-world drama.

Outrageous wealth aside, how different are these shows from our own lives? This is college and let’s face it: Whether you choose to admit or not, your life is full of drama. Maybe not the cookie-cutter, made for TV kind of drama, but you’re still no stranger to it. Dating problems, stress at work, stress at school, being surrounded by people you don’t get along with; if you think about it, your life is probably more intersting than the superficial, out-of-touch lives everyone seems to be clamoring for.

Your real problems like trying to pay for school or deciding which major is right for you are far more relevant than the woes of the ever-drunk, ever-shallow, monotonous lives of the uber-privileged. Careful, you may be sitting next to some of them as you read this.

Or maybe I’m wrong. Again, the ratings seem to say so. But perhaps the moral is not to take your life for granted. Trash TV is OK for entertainment’s sake, and if you like watching the show then watch. Who cares what people think? Just don’t use shows like “My Super Sweet Sixteen” or CW’s newest show “Privileged” as a way to escape the duldrums of your own life.

So go out and cause your own drama. Steal someone’s boyfriend or girlfriend. Make up a lie about someone and spread it. Hell, slap someone in the face if you want to. Live YOUR life first, L.C.’s second.

NOTE: The Oakland Post and Nick Degel are in no way advocating assault and battery. Totally kidding about that.