A Reality Show Question On The SAT’s? Say What?

I wish I saved the airsick bag from my last Southwest Airlines flight.  I need it this morning.  Or at least I thought I did.  Did my "headline" grab your attention?  Just when you finished chastising your kids for watching garbage on TV, i.e. Jersey Shore, guess what subject pops up on the SAT college entrance exams?? According to an article in the  Washington Post , there was an essay question about the value of reality tv shows.  Now when I first saw this story, I thought in my mind that they asked a specific question like "Explain the cultural significance of Snooky coloring her hair like that".

But the actual question on the test was this:

Reality television programs, which feature real people engaged in real activities rather than professional actors performing scripted

scenes, are increasingly popular. These shows depict ordinary people competing in everything from singing and d ancing to losing weight, or just living their everyday lives. Most people believe that the reality these shows portray is authentic, but they are being misled. How authentic can these shows be when producers design challenges for the participants and then editors alter filmed scenes?

Now there  are kids and parents who are complaining about this question, saying that it is culturally insensitive, because it assumes that all children have a tv and/or watch reality tv.

One parent from Montgomery county said that " his son studies too hard to watch TV and then he goes into the one test that really counts and gets pummeled".

Do you think they have a point, or are they just nit-picking?  I've got my opinion, but I'd rather hear yours first...   Hopefully we'll bring up the subject on Monday on theShowSean and Richie, and then we can read some of your responses.

(Alright-I'll tell you my opinion, for what it's worth).  Although I think a kid would have to be living under a rock to not know about at least one of these shows, you really can't assume anything with a test like this, as it's given to all socio-economic groups.  So I guess they really should stay away from a question like this.  It might  lead to a bad.....SITUATION (rimshot)