I am . . .

a hopeless romantic. *Sigh.*

Occasionally, when JAS isn't here to occupy my time, I tend to find myself sucked into particularly bad television. Like The Bachelor, especially when it's the finale.

So I got myself all wrapped up in the last 30 minutes thinking: "Even if reality television isn't really reality and even if the crew completely set up every single shot and got it as perfect as possible, isn't it still possible to find love in conditions like this?"

Let's suspend all disbelief for a second and really look at the facts:

1. A major entertainment company is manipulating your every move for however many weeks it takes to film this little 'experiment.'
2. See above, but insert "their" for "your."
3. If you are the 'bachelor/bachelorette,' you have very few true decisions. Sure, you get to hand over a rose every episode, but you don't get to decide which movie, how late to stay up, where to eat dinner, what to eat for dinner, etc., etc., etc. As the bachelor/bachelorette, you forfeit every opportunity to be yourself.
4. See #3, but insert "they/their" for "you/your."
5. The show is created to increase stress and pressure. You're told your goal is to find someone to propose to at the end. Every day brings you closer to that decision. Every small, stupid rose ceremony brings you closer to that decision. Every time you dismiss one of your 'harem,' you are likely to severely doubt your decision, especially because your 'harem' has been scientifically and painstakingly selected to make your decision really, really hard.
   
6. The major entertainment company is out to make money.
7. The major entertainment company is also out to earn high ratings. They honestly couldn't care less about your feelings or the feelings of any of the others on the show. It's never been about you. It's always been about them.
8. You are separated from all that relaxes you and is familiar to you: friends, family, your favorite chair, pets, particular coffee maker, etc. Those things which you choose to have in your life are not a part of your life at all during this event. You are not yourself.
9. See #2 and #4. Apply to #8.
10. You are very much encouraged to show emotion and to be sure that it's strong emotion, yet you have to face this emotion all by yourself. No therapist in their right mind would ever wish that on anyone. Life was meant to be lived with others, not alone in seclusion.

And, lo and behold, true love appeared to have visited the cast of The Bachelor this evening. (At least it wasn't as believable as Hallmark commercials and I didn't cry.) At least, it appeared to be until it was revealed in the "follow-up show," which aired immediately afterward, that this poor man was going through serious heartbreak. Again.

And so, despite all evidence to the contrary, I remain hopeful. I am a romantic. I understand that these men and women desperately want to be a part of something big, to perhaps win the heart of someone special this time.

And so, because I am the hopeless romantic, I watch knowing that in all likelihood the relationship at the end is very possibly doomed from the first day that either person even considered such a tactic for finding love.