Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Why We're Here

Over the past few weeks, the contributors to this blog have worked tirelessly to keep the site fresh with content and insight as MTV begins filming on the Real World in Washington, DC. During that time, as the site continued to grow, a community began to develop. This blog was created, not to simply bash everything coming out of 2000 S Street or to post without thinking. It was created to serve as a forum for those who care deeply about what goes on in their neighborhoods - whether it be welcoming seven strangers with open arms or telling them to go home.

The contributors to this blog don't drive the content on the site, the readers do. Our wonderful readership (yes - we include even you folks who read us JUST because you hate us) has helped us generate content from user ideas. We share ideas that sometimes spur disagreement, but how else is progress made without allowing both sides to speak? We are so eternally grateful for all of the readers and the tipsters and the blogs and the news outlets that have helped publicize this forum.

Which is why when bloggers who we will just refer to as "Heidi & Spencer" continue their attempts to antagonize and divide us, we take this opportunity to remind them about something we've all been told at one point in our lives (some of us 3 or 4 times):

"It's not about you."

As a neighbor, a homeowner, a DC-resident and a politically engaged citizen, the concept of "Anti-Real World" was never about the cast or the people. It was about the overarching themes that have been lost in MTV's long running social experiment. It's about being real. Part of being real is being honest. Do we judge? Absolutely. Do we heckle? Totally. Do we have attitude problems leading to a seemingly endless supply of snarky retorts? You betcha. But one thing we are through it all - is honest.

Those that enjoy this blog the most, whether they be MTV public relations execs, hill staffers, Dupont residents or local business owners - enjoy it because they have a sense of humor. It's important to remind readers that the "social experiment" behind the Real World is that they AREN'T supposed to read tweets, social media, radios, TV, etc. The idea is the interaction between the housemates. This social experiment became compromised right around the time that Bunim-Murray started looking to fill "roles" on their Real World casts.

When one of our contributors met roommate Ashley the other night, he was genuinely impressed by her. He wrote about it. Those that were disappointed he didn't smack her or yell an obscenity clearly haven't interacted with enough people in their lives. This blog is full of snarky, sarcastic, care-free, fun-loving assholes. But we're not bullies. We are not cowards because we don't tell Ashley that her love for social change and do-gooder activities is lame. We are, however, honest, which is why we will continue to poke fun at the roommate that looks like Nick Jonas and the one that dresses like Gerardo.

We will continue to write things the way we do - with honesty. If we were really media whores about this, we'd probably of picked better colors for the site - don't you think? This site is what you all make of it. We will continue to report when one of the cast members pukes on my sidewalk or when someone gets in a fight or when a security guard pretends to be the park police and makes a homophobic slur (seriously dude - not cool!). We call it like we see it. On some days, the grass looks nicer than on others. Let us make no mistake - we are neither here to make friends nor here to make enemies. We are here to simply call it like we see it.

It is our hope that one day, those who seek to appease their own self-esteem issues through constant "me me me" style video blogging will grow up, move out of mommy and daddy's house, buy their own place and then take notice at what is going on in their communities.

18 comments:

Bobby Rotten said...

Amen brother. AMEN!!

saisai said...

keep it up, kids! this is a valuable public service.

-your neighbor

Anonymous said...

Have previous cast members (I'm thinking from the earliest years) spoken about the changes in the show? I'm curious as to what this looks like to them.

aMoreImpossibleGirl said...

You're here because you're collectively awesome. All 11 of you.

AMBAH said...

Well, the mere fact that this blog is called the Anti-Real World, means that there is a bias and slant to your social media experiment, all the same, I LOVE IT!

I hope that more people continue to speak out against this injustice and disservice "reality" tv is doing to great tevlivsion. In a few years I see us becoming Japan, with reality tv and game shows dominating the prime time media. This has got to stop!!

I will ask all of my friends to join your blog today :)

Yar Har! said...

I really appreciate your efforts in keeping this blog going. I am very proud of my adoptive city for not embracing celebrity the way NYC does. I love that DC doesn't care WHO you are, but focuses instead on WHAT you do. With all the celebrities we already have running around the Hill lobbying for their causes it is not surprise that RWDC has been met with utter grumpiness. Our city is indeed for real people who actually do stuff.

Tanya said...

Berg, I already told you. I had a crush on Rico Suave when I was 10. That tadpole on the RW stoop doesn't hold a candle to Gerardo. Gerardo is the man.

Barbara said...

Yeah they have totally reached the point where parts are being cast. There's the bitch, the gay guy, the fun time girl. I'm curious about what past cast members think because it has changed from the early days. I certainly wouldn't want them in my neighborhood.

Unknown said...

Fair fair, but probably better if you remove the word "heckling" from your tagline since, well, you don't want to do that.

Right on about Gerardo!

Tanya said...

@David oh we are totally going to heckle. you should hear how we (the contributors) talk about *yourselves* to each other.

Seriously, this is our coping mechanism. We make fun. We can also take the punches we throw, and have fairly hard-boiled skins, as well.

ilovewintour said...
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ilovewintour said...
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kindalikepuck said...

Katrina,

Are you bi-polar?

Tanya said...

@kindalikepuck oh be nice. People are allowed to chnage their minds!

Mb said...

Well said. I enjoy dropping by for rando updates and think you guys are providing an entertaining and harmless service. Keep it up.

Corcoran St said...

OK. I live 2 blocks from the RW house and I think this blog is a really pathetic.

Give the RW kids a break! They're new to town, some of them have probably never lived in a big city. If I were their age, I'd probably be a little nervous and unsure as to whether it was wise to go on the show. Why be so hostile? Why not be neighborly and welcome them. I've lived in the neighborhood for almost 20 years and I think having the RW house near my home is great publicity for Dupont and DC. It makes Dupont and DC look cool and hip when we're often derided for being completely the opposite. (My friends from NYC say visiting DC is like going back in time; everyone is wearing last decade's fashion, listening to last decade's music... generally an all around lame city.)

The authors of this blog remind me of the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners from ANC2B and the Dupont Circle Citizens Association. These two groups are like a bunch of blue-haired, little old ladies who complain about everything, especially anything new to the neighborhood. They seem to want the neighborhood to remain crime-ridden, rat-invested and lacking nightlife. They dont' seem to realize that the more vibrant the neighborhood becomes, it actually helps improve quality of life. More new people (and in this case, more TV cameras) helps to bring down crime. I live on a dark block of Dupont where an out-of-town visitor was horribly mugged (required hospitalization) a few months ago. Frankly, I would welcome TV camera crews and lights.

I would suggest that the authors of this blog open their eyes to the good which comes from having TV or film crews in our neighborhood. If you'd rather live in a boring neighborhood with no excitement, then I might suggest Bethesda or Fairfax.

Respectfully,

your neighbor on Corcoran St.

Dee Cee Doo Right said...

Interesting how you've equated making fun of people with "honesty", and heckling newcomers with "caring deeply" about the neighborhood."

A+ on the rationalizations, guys! Being mean CAN be a public service!

Berg said...

Thanks DCDooRight - thank god we have you to tell us how morally flawed we all are when we comment on the flaws of others. Keep reading! Mwah!