Before I share my thoughts on it, let me just say that I was born and raised in Huntington, West Virginia. I was and am a "city" kid. I didn't grow up on a farm or out in the sticks. I grew up on 30th street in the middle of Huntington. I have always had running water, electricity and worn shoes. I've been to smaller towns in West Virginia and I've even been to Sissonville where BuckWild is filmed. When I was in college, I even performed an exhibition show there once as majorette for Marshall so it's not like I've just driven through. I am a West Virginian. I may not live in Huntington anymore but I spent 27 years there, it will always be a part of me.
When I first heard about the show, it was because the Governor of West Virginia was asking MTV to not to air it. Well..... that obviously meant it wasn't going to be pretty. A few days later people at work started to ask me about it. Everyone here knows I'm from West Virginia. In fact I'm pretty for sure I'm the only person from West Virginia any of these people have ever met.
I hadn't seen the previews, I hadn't been following it on the news. So I said, well I'm sure they'll just exploit the fact that they are country. Exploit might even not be the right term. I mean is there really anything wrong with people want to ride four wheelers, drive big trucks and set bonfires in their front yard? No not really. Then I finally watched the first two episodes of the show.
These are kids who just graduated high school, who are out in the real world and don't have a clue what the heck is going on. They don't know what consequences are and they don't have any clue or maybe care how they are portraying themselves to the world. They are also not what MTV would have you believe they are.... some of them are actually very wealthy or I should say their parents are wealthy. They have had good schooling and college educations. ACTING may be involved.
They have parents that are doctors and obviously they were smart enough to figure out how to get on a television show and not only that but be features on the show. They have cameras following them around, of course they are going to do dumb things. They want ratings. They want people to talk about them. They want to get paid! So the next time you tune into the show please remember that not everyone from WV is like the people you are seeing. I beg you.... please. BECAUSE I have spent a lifetime trying to prove to everyone that I meet outside of WV that not every is like these stereotypes.
3 comments:
I have not watched it. I think I might have to. My DVR list is surprisingly small lately.
I found myself caught up watching it the other night, pretty much garbage
Wow, this has not even been mentioned yet in Australia. I've never really understood these shows between Jersey Shore, the hills, and Buck Wild - how much of these places really like that? It sounds like, not really at all.
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