Final answer:
To counter the claim that disliking reality shows signifies being 'old' and 'humorless', it is effective to highlight the broad array of personal tastes, the preference for different genres such as educational content or news with political insight, and to discredit the association of personal tastes with negative personal characteristics.
Step-by-step explanation:
To argue effectively against the claim that "People who hate reality shows are really just old, humorless sourpusses," it is important to consider the broad spectrum of personal tastes and the various factors influencing those tastes, which are not limited by age or a sense of humor. Firstly, one might point out that disliking reality television does not equate with a lack of humor but could be a result of a preference for different genres that better align with an individual's values or intellectual interests. For instance, viewers who prefer educational content or substantive news over reality TV may find programs like 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' offer both humor and political insight, challenging the stereotype suggested by the claim.
Moreover, people have a vast array of entertainment choices, and disliking one genre doesn't imply an inability to appreciate other forms of humor or entertainment. Additionally, suggesting that disliking reality TV is indicative of an 'old' or 'sour' disposition is an associative fallacy, mistakenly linking personal tastes with negative personal characteristics. Industry trends also show that younger audiences are turning to other forms of entertainment, further disproving the claim's narrow perspective.