I’ve never watched an episode of Survivor, nor do I intend to do so. I turn on the set to distract me from reality, so anything that bills itself as “reality TV” (although, from what I’ve read, which bears little resemblance to true reality) will never air in my house.

Today’s news only reinforces my decision.

Race will matter on the upcoming season of the CBS show as contestants will be divided into four tribes by ethnicity. That means blacks, whites, Latinos and Asians in separate groups.

Hmm. I’m not sure what “reality” the show’s producers live in. In mine, enforced public segregation leads to lawsuits.

The announcement was made on CBS’ Early Show. Host Jeff Probst says the idea “actually came from the criticism that ‘Survivor’ was not ethnically diverse enough.”

Ah, I see. Let’s make little individual racial groups but keep them from mingling, then watch as one racial group works to eliminate the other. That will address diversity, right?

He says the twist fits in perfectly with what “Survivor” does, saying the show is “a social experiment. And this is adding another layer to that experiment.”

Geez, I could’ve sworn we’d tried that kind of social experiment starting way back in, oh, 1619 or so. Can’t Probst and Survivor’s producers don’t believe in “reality” unless it’s been featured in a TV show?

Idiots.