Keep your relationship Private

Even though I do not watch the show, it was big news the Jon and Kate are going to get divorced. Here is a list as I know of reality TV couples that started married but ended divorced shortly after the show.

Hulk Hogan and his wife
Shannon Moakler and Travis Barker
Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro
Britney Spears and Kevin Federline
Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey

Watch out Reverend Run and Ozzie Osbourne. Even though they never married Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed should be careful.

Even though most of us are not going to put our marriages or relationships on "reality" television this should be a reminder that humans should not give anyone tons of access to their lives. Everyone has a bad day or might say a cross word to someone they love. In the normal course of a relationship the recipient of the cross word, depending on what it is, gets over it and remembers and understands why it was said, etc. However, when it is replayed over and over and over again and then your family and friends get involved it is hard for either party to forgive or forget. In addition, people started to play characters when there are no cameras present. When cameras are present, the same character approaches caricature. Las Vegas has a marketing catchphrase "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas". Well, there are many things in a relationship that should stay in the relationship. I am not talking about abuse because that is not acceptable. I am talking about things like a disagreement you had this morning or last night about something important at the time but trivial over time. When the issue is major, it might feel very therapeutic to tell your friends or family. However, if you and your partner resolve the issue and move on, your friends and family do not. They remember that she said you had no ambition, they remember that he said you are self-involved. They remind you even when you have long forgotten. People need to discuss their issues and get perspective but just remember that when you talk about your problems take a moment and cool off a little otherwise you might say something you regret. It also may come up at a dinner party if one of your friends gets a little tipsy.

Note: Neither of these are things that happened in my life. No disclosure here that would be hypocritical.