Why do I hide the fact that I've watched and for years followed the storylines of a certain soap opera? Easy. Many would say that "soap opera" is synonymous with the following: ridiculousness, laughably fake drama and poor acting, and plots so typically silly it seems that a child thought them up. And I would tend to agree with these impressions.

So why did I watch, and why do I still care? Nevermind the fact that it bugs me to no end how much of a character's development takes place through their prolonged, out-loud thought monologue that nobody else in the room seems to hear. And forget about my belief that, given about 30 seconds, I could easily solve all of the heart-wrenching situations and torment in an entire show by just having characters reveal that secret they've been keeping from what's-his-name. All that aside, the fact is that soaps are just so much more interesting than real life.

Real life: with its carpools, tedium, evenings in front of the television, and sitting in traffic to watch Junior's Little League game. It just can't compete with the intrigue and escape that soaps offer. The invitation to step into a world fraught with unending drama and excitement proves to be a strong lure for people across all demographics.

It's true that real life has its share of momentous events: weddings, births of children, deaths of loved ones. But soaps still do you one better. With soaps it's not just a wedding, but a secret plot to cover up a murder that happened 5 years ago involving the bride's twin sister and an inheritance. And oh, if she ever finds out it was really me behind that mask-!
And I'll bet your child was born in a boring hospital with your loved ones all around, instead of in a hovel in the woods as you struggled to free yourself from your captor (dressed as a clown, of course), whose plot was to fake your death and take your beau for herself.

Take that, real life!

Learn more about this author, Jill Langill.
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