BFTP: The Bachelor - Still Single

I wish I could say it was a surprise.

In the story that I linked to above, Sarah Stone mentions "the baggage that comes from being on this show" (emphasis added) as a factor which contributed to the failure of her "relationship" with Dr. Stork. I'm glad that she said it. It gives me hope that people who actually appear on the show realize what they're getting into. Nothing about The Bachelor is natural.

Honestly. What do people expect? Take a group of women, engage them in some rather contrived liaisons with one member of the opposite sex....

I remember it was during either the first or second incarnation of the show that I privately referred to The Bachelor as That Guy and His Harem.

If you want a love that's built to last, at the very least, I believe you need at least two things:

1. Privacy. By this, I do not mean that you should have a "secret" lover that only you and your poodle know about. But you shouldn't have cameras capable of broadcasting your every move 24-7, either.

2. Exclusivity. Who in their right mind expects to build a lasting relationship while her prospective mate is mixing and mingling with at least half a dozen other women? WHO!?!

The series has run at least....I'm guessing eight times by now. And out of those, only one of the so-called couples has been successfully married.

I will not deny that I am a bit of a voyeur. I have been entertained on more than one occasion while watching The Gaggle of Girls and Their Boy-Toy. But in all seriousness, I remain irritated. Shows such as The Bachelor epitomize everything that is wrong with relationships today. Namely, people want quick, easy lovin'. And they expect such an approach to earn them long-lasting, near-fairy-tale results.

True love grows. It is not like the latest microwavable treat--good to go in an instant.