Grappling with the Gray #105: Ground Control to Major Tom?

Is it still funny when the joke's on you?

That's the question that drives the conversation when John E. McGlothlin, 🟦 Mark O'Brien, and Annette Taylor join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray.

And many thanks to my friend Melissa Hughes for suggesting the topic.  Here it is:

In 2005, a British reality TV program chose four finalists from a group of 25 applicants to become the world’s first space-tourists. They were flown to a training site in Russia, underwent rigorous training, and were about to embark on a 5-day journey into orbit.

At least that’s what they thought. In fact, the Russian training camp was a decommissioned military base near Suffolk, England. The entire project was a charade, and one of the four participants, as well as the pilots and the training crew, were actors and part of the conspiracy.

After five days in “space” – where they were provided with ludicrous explanations for the lack of zero gravity, performed nonsensical experiments, and gazed at earth through the observation window – the adventure culminated with a spacewalk. Instead of stepping out into the void, they stepped out into a film studio in front of a live audience.
 
Clearly, the “passengers” were embarrassed at being the butt of an elaborate practical joke. It may have eased their humiliation that they were paid 25,000 British pounds for their participation. But does that excuse this kind of deception? Is it different from many psychology experiments, which depend on deception to gain insights into human psychology?

Much of reality TV celebrates deception, betrayal, bullying, and winning at any cost. What is the effect on us as individuals and members of society? Are these kinds of entertainment contributing to us becoming more cynical, self-absorbed, and disconnected from one another?

If so, what is their attraction, and what can we do about their impact on our culture?

Meet this week’s panel:

John E. McGlothlin is a captain in the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps and D.C. army reserve, as well as an adjunct professor of business and ethics at the University of Maryland Global Campus.

Mark O’Brien is founder and principal of O’Brien Communications Group, a B2B brand-management and marketing-communications firm — and host of The Anxious Voyage, a syndicated radio show about life’s trials and triumphs.

Annette Taylor is a researcher of evolutionary psychology and biology. Her website, Cavedweller Club, offers guidance and insights on how we can better understand the way our own hardwiring influences unconscious bias and decision making.

#ethics 

#culture 

#humor 

#mindset 

#grappling