What's the deal with The Real Housewives of New York City?

Is it just me, or are all the Real Housewives of New York City totally insane?

No, really. I've been an avid watcher of the show since the beginning, and as the seasons progress, the line between normal versus pathological cast members gets blurrier and blurrier. In the early years of the original cast (Ramona, Bethenny, LuAnn, Jill, and Alex), the ladies were apt to some occasional eccentric behavior. For instance, I remember thinking that Alex and Simon's relationship was pretty codependent, and LuAnn's canned aristocratic accent was annoying, but at least one lady per argument seemed like a rational human being. 

The crux of season 1 was the glamour, the incestuous upper social crust, and maybe some of the NYC culture that many middle Americans fetish-ize. It was sort of like Sex and the City, but with real people. Comparing the the first four episodes of season 6 to the good ol' days reminds me of The Sociopath Next Door. I find myself wondering if this is how people really act. Is it normal for women to talk behind each other's backs, attack each other's children and careers, and push each other at housewarming parties? Is it? IS IT?

I don't know whose side to take in the Carole vs. Aviva war. While Aviva seems sort of sad and pathetic, Carole just seems like a plain old witch. Sonja (Don't forget the sexy J) is perhaps the most likable character in the series, and she has 30 assistants. For what, you ask? I can only assume the heiress needs an assistant for her assistant for her assistant and maybe someone to peel Ramona off the floor after imbibing a bottle of her Ramona Pinot.

I'm waiting to see whether I will recognize any humanity in this season or I might have to stop watching faster than Heather can say Yummy Tummy.