> I work with a lot of Soap Opera Junkies
and they almost live vicariously through
the characters...one soapstar even has her
own line of clothes...

I think some people live out some of their fantasies through tv programs. While conflict
is an issue sometimes it can be other things.
I remember at one point being addicted to watching
90210( a show about people under 3/4 of my
age ;-) But I liked it because of nostalgic
reasons..

And usually you find a character you relate to
in some way....

mmmmmm ...good question Dien

Jerry Springer is a very popular show....
> Why is that so?

> Well, we know that when he stopped the
> fist-fights, the ratings went down.... This
> gives us a hint as to what SOME people want
> to watch.... They want to see CONFLICT....

> A guy I know was talking to me once about
> wrestling.... He LOVES the wrestling! Sure,
> he knows it's fake, but to him he loves the
> conflict and theatrical nature it's done
> in.... Then he made an interesting comment
> to me....

> He said that Wrestling is like a soap opera
> for men! Think about it....

> Most soap operas mainly appeal to women....
> They are full of EMOTIONAL conflicts. Each
> character has plenty of emotional crises and
> conflict per episode, and we become
> enthralled to see how these difficult
> emotional situations will play out....

> Then, let's go to wrestling. It's also
> fictional, but here the fictional conflicts
> are PHYSICAL ones. Someone figured out a
> "soap opera" for men, appealing to
> what many men go for.

> So, the underlying similarly seems to be
> that CONFLICT is of great interest to both
> men and women, though women may have more
> interest in EMOTIONAL conflict, and for men
> the interest may be more PHYSICAL....

> What do you think? Am I on the right track?
> It'd be great to hear some feedback on these
> thoughts.... :)

> Dien