Editorial - MTV’s ‘Buckwild’ far from realistic

Though it isn’t set to air until January,"Buckwild," MTV’s newest reality television show, is drawing widespread attention across the Mountain State and beyond.

Assigned to the former time slot the infamous "Jersey Shore" once held, "Buckwild" tells the story of seven friends hanging out, getting in fights, falling in love and growing up in West Virginia.

The only difference between these seven West Virginians and their peers is their actions will be broadcast in front of millions of viewers across the globe.

People are prone to doing stupid things on camera – this is nothing new.

The problem is the reputation of West Virginia is on the line.

And it doesn’t look good.

Previews for "Buckwild" have featured the cast wildly riding four wheelers, swimming in the back of a Mack truck, rolling down hills in tractor tires and getting in fights at a rate even the "Jersey Shore" cast would frown upon.

If you live in West Virginia, you know this is not a realistic interpretation of people of the Mountain State – it is, instead, a caricature drawn by society in the vein of Honey Boo Boo that represents the absolute extreme of our state’s population.

The cast, fueled by a considerable pay day, is goaded into these outrageous acts and exploited for the betterment of the network.

In the process, the state’s image is tarnished.

West Virginia has long battled this ignorant stereotyping, and in a move of solidarity, the West Virginia Film Office denied tax credits to the show’s producers – a gesture representative of how the majority of the state feels.

The Mountain State is home to proud people – people who strive to be educated, hard-working, honest and kind. Here in West Virginia, a diverse population is paired with beautiful, natural landscapes to make one of the most unique states in the country.

Instead of embracing the positive traits of our state, MTV has targeted that caricature and made a mockery of the state’s image.

So, remember, whenever possible, don’t hesitate to remind people that West Virginians are more liable to help you with your tax returns than convert a dump truck into a swimming pool.