So this is 'Reality'?

I used to be a big fan of reality TV, but over the years I've found that the 'reality' seems to make way for scripts, bad behaviour and stereotypes.

The other morning I was helping my wife with school lunches and in the background we had the TV on. We heard an ad for 'House Rules' which proclaimed to have 'The most amazing reveal yet', to which I commented on 'Didn't they say that last week?' Yes, I can be sarcastic that early in the morning.

But the ad then focussed on the fact that two contestants on the show have the biggest argument so far this season, in a barney that you simply 'can't afford to miss'.

My wife and I then discussed over the vegemite sandwiches how TV shows like this, The Block and My Kitchen Rules (MKR) have become all about stereotypes and encouraging conflict.

The last few years on MKR for example, we've seen a shift of the show moving towards labelling couples such as 'The Nasty Girls', 'The Battlers', or 'The Lawyers'.

To be fair, I know its "TV" and it needs to be simplified, but every year on these shows there are contestants who go out of their way to be mean, cheat, lie and do what they can to stuff up the other contestants.

We all 'tut-tut' kids these days when there is a fight in a school, and all those there watching film it on their phones so they can upload it to the internet.

"That's disgraceful!" we all proclaim. "Shame on them!"

So what does it make us, as parents when each night millions of us sit down (often with the kids) to watch these 'reality' shows where it is acceptable and even encouraged, to play dirty.

We all know the names of the nastiest contestants on these shows because they are the ones that we all remember, often making it right to the end to keep you watching in the hope they will get their just desserts.

Where do you draw the line between behaving like a scumbag and then call it 'entertainment'?

Truth is, it rates. These shows, that seem to go on forever, are the most popular shows on Australian TV, and while I'm happy to say I don't watch either of them, sadly I'm in the minority.

I would hate to think that my kids would watch one of these shows and think it is acceptable to win a contest by bagging your opposition.

As a nation, we spend millions on domestic violence awareness and anti-bullying programs, yet it seems ok to reward these scumbags and keep them in a show based on the fact that that is what viewers want to see.

If you want to see how good reality TV can be, watch shows like 'The Hotel', 'Benefits Street' and 'One Born Every Minute' simply put cameras up and film what happens, letting drama and life happen before your eyes. If reality TV is about encouraging people to win at all costs, then you can keep it.