New Netflix reality show is cruel.

As I was reading about the upcoming Netflix show based on the Stanford Prison Experiment, I couldn't help but feel shocked. In today's world where anything and everything is turned into reality TV, it still feels like we have gone too far. This new show, called The New Stanford Prison Experiment, will throw 30 people into a real jail and randomly assign them as either guards or prisoners for six episodes.

It's hard to believe that this is actually happening, especially considering the controversial nature of the original experiment conducted by Stanford psychology professor Philip Zimbardo in 1971. For those who may not be familiar with the Stanford Prison Experiment, Zimbardo recruited 18 male volunteers from the university and divided them into oppressors and the oppressed. The study was cut short after six days due to the cruel behavior of the guards, which Zimbardo used as evidence of humanity's innate savagery when given power over others.

This experiment sparked endless debates, documentaries, and even a film adaptation. And now, it's being turned into a reality TV show. But the most disturbing part of all this is the fact that the experiment has been widely debunked as pseudoscience.

The guards were coached by Zimbardo to create a hostile environment, and the experiment lacked ethical considerations. Yet, here we are, with Netflix using it as inspiration for a new show. And with the reputation that reality TV has for psychological torture, it's hard not to feel disappointed.

The show's synopsis reads, "Thrust into a system of power, hierarchy, and control, they'll discover whether ordinary people inevitably conform to the roles they're given or whether empathy, morality, and individuality can withstand the forces pushing them in the opposite direction." It's a weighty question, and it's interesting to see it being explored in a reality TV setting. However, it feels like a disingenuous ploy, especially since society is already filled with examples of how power corrupts. This move by Netflix may not come as a surprise, given their track record, but it's a troubling trend in reality TV.

It's reminiscent of the early days of reality TV when anything went for the sake of entertainment. And now, there are even rumors of The X Factor making a comeback. It's a far cry from the original intention of reality TV, which was meant to showcase real people and their struggles.

The show's predecessors, such as The Challenge and Beast Games, have also come under fire for exploiting financially vulnerable individuals for ratings. And now, The New Stanford Prison Experiment is attempting to do the same, except without the cash prize. Instead, the incentive for participants is most likely D-list fame.

It's disturbing to see a brutal scenario being recreated for entertainment purposes, especially when the presence of TV cameras can alter behavior and add to the pressure. In the end, it's highly unlikely that this show will be a sincere attempt at conducting a social experiment. It's more likely that it will be a spectacle for viewers to enjoy.

And as for the participants, they may just be playing up for the cameras, like on any other reality show. It's a sad reality that we live in a society where televised cruelty is acceptable for the sake of entertainment. Let's hope that people see through this and choose not to participate in this kind of exploitation.

In a cruel twist of irony, this new show may end up being the most accurate recreation of Zimbardo's study yet, devoid of any scientific value. If you have a story to share, you can contact Ross by emailing him at Ross.email. And don't forget to share your thoughts in the comments below.

Would you watch Netflix's The New Stanford Prison Experiment? Let us know.