Television

[katautumn]

I am taking part in the 30 Days TV Free Campaign right now- I haven't watched any TV since 8/1 and I'm loving it. I've gotten so much reading and other work done, it's been very rewarding. Plus it's given me time to think about the place of TV in my life and the programming I normally watch. Next week I'm calling the cable company to cancel my TV package. I don't watch much anyway- I can always go to a friends for the few shows I like and get good fellowship at the same time. It's been a wonderful decision for me.

I wanted to congratulate you I think it's awesome what you are doing. I think sometimes we tend to forget how unnecessary TV can be and just how much time it wastes. In the time it takes for us to sit on the edge of the couch just having to see the conclusion of a particular show the dishes could have been done, laundry could be started, dinner could be getting ready, bills could be paid, clothes could be set out for the next day, a shower could be taken, etc.

 

[shadowmage36]

When I'm at school, I barely watch TV. I spend my time doing other things: Homework, hanging out, playing on my computer, reading, Dungeons and Dragons, or at class. And eating. Can't forget that. And sleep. Napping is an important part of the college lifestyle.

Yeah. I maybe watch an hour or two of TV a week at school. I have 4-5 networks that I watch, and the rest? Meh. TV that I approve of: PBS, Discovery, National Geographic, History Channel, Sci-Fi (for stargate:SG1 and atlantis), and Comedy Central (for the Daily Show and the Colbert Report). So actually, 6 networks.


Oh yeah. And Faux News for the sheer entertainment value.
</snark>

 

[Robinsegg]

I actually use radio or tv for background noise (I can preprogram what will be on) because I can't stand "silence". I put "silence" in quotes, because it's not really silence, which is my problem. Otherwise, I hear every time the house settles, everytime my cat goes up or down the stairs, every time a car goes by outside, and it makes me incredibly nervous.

Rachel

 

[shadowmage36]

I get that way sometimes, too. I just turn on some music or something.

It's surprising how relaxing listening to Blind Guardian or Iced Earth can be. *horns*

edit: rated "M" for "Metal"

 

[CSmrw]

WHen my son was little I was a bit more unthinking than I am now about TV. I grew up with it, and I thought it was...natural to have it on. One day when he was in the third grade he stole ten dollars from my wallet, then told the worst lie I had heard until Bush told you about WMDs in Iraq to cover it up. Anyway, I punished his thusly: No toys, no TV, no leaving the back yard, no friends for a month.

Here is what I learned. In that month my son learned to handwrite, do his multiplication tables and started a liflong love of storywriting, cartography and design. I had, of course, trapped myself. When the punishment was over I was honor bound to give him back the priveledges I took away. I was actually hoping he would kill a guy or something so I could extend his punishment for life. But he would at some point have figured out a way to punish me back for being such a hard...case. But we do have serious two hour study time on school nights, in plain view and without exception. At fourteen I se him at a level that I have never attained in my nearly forty years, intelectually. But I know also that if I were to get Codger with the TV full time it would just make it into a fetish, a dream and addiction. Killing your TV is your choice, but don't ever imagine you can successfully expand that choice to include anyone else without some unfortunate consequences.

 

[sparklecat]

I didn't really watch tv beyond some Sesame Street as a small child until I was a teenager. Don't feel at all worse off because of it - I was a huge reader instead, which I imagine was much better for me. It's really rather funny - I've picked up books that I used to go straight through with no problems as a ten year old and found them hard going simply because I'm out of practice these days.

 

[CSmrw]

I didn't really watch tv beyond some Sesame Street as a small child until I was a teenager. Don't feel at all worse off because of it - I was a huge reader instead, which I imagine was much better for me. It's really rather funny - I've picked up books that I used to go straight through with no problems as a ten year old and found them hard going simply because I'm out of practice these days.

Is that why, or is that as you have grown you find the thinghs that were clean cut and simple at ten have become far more ambiguous at .... the age you are currently...? One of the great reads - Green Eggs and Ham - takes on an almost Tolstoyan complexity when read and really considered as an adult. Hehe.

 

[sparklecat]

Is that why, or is that as you have grown you find the thinghs that were clean cut and simple at ten have become far more ambiguous at .... the age you are currently...? One of the great reads - Green Eggs and Ham - takes on an almost Tolstoyan complexity when read and really considered as an adult. Hehe.

No, I think it was just that the book in question was written in a dense, quasi-early modern English style






I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them, Sam-I-am

 

[CSmrw]

Sam I Am, I believe that the reason I did not want your green eggs and ham was due to pre existing biases and a contrary nature. As it turns out, though, I truly do not like green Aggs and ham. And frankly your persistence on this matter has been tiresome and fruitless. Therefore I will have to shoot you.

 

[flicka]

I don't worry about TV at all. And I laugh at people who feel proud that they don't watch it because the internet is quickly replacing television as the biggest waster of time anyway.....

 

[CSmrw]

I disagree on one point. The internet is, at least partially, interactive. I would rather my son waste his time interactively than completely passively, which is how I feel about books, TV, movies and recorded music. All of these media alolow for transcendant communication, but they are all very one sided. Games, internet chat boards and blogs are at the very least one and a half sided. They engage your reaction and proaction, and this to me is a very worthwhile way to waste time.

 

[shadowmage36]

Hooray for wasting time on the in-tar-webb!

It is, after all, merely a series of tubes...

But yeah...I didn't have cable as a child. Do I feel deprived because of that? Not in the slightest. I was able to read The Lord of The Rings in its entirety by the age of 10. Discover has been one of my favorite magazines for as long as I can remember.

Would I have developed such a love for reading as I have now if we'd had cable? Perhaps, perhaps not.

I'm glad I'll never know.

 

[NothingButTheBlood]

I'll grant you there is a lot of what I call "worthless" programing on tv but I would never tell someone they can't have that. Not everyone has the same standard I do. Now that I have a child I am starting to notice shows I think are good are not something I can watch with him like, CSI or Law and Order. They are too graphic in nature. I will just have to be more careful about what I watch. We usually don't turn on the tv until 7 ro 8 o'clock so I hope he will not get too much tv with bed time and all.

I don't find too many kids shows entertaining but I'm not the one that's supposed to watch them. Even Sesame Street isn't what it was when I was little.

Guess I'm hoping between time outside, homework and bath/dinner he will not get too much tv/computer time really. The rest I will have to just block.

 

[bammertheblue]

My family didn't own a TV until I was in high school, and I didn't watch TV personally until I was in college. I was sometimes able to watch Sesame Street and Ghostbuster cartoons at my grandma's house, but that was maybe an hour every two weeks, so I don't really count it.
Now, I don't care about TV at all. I watch what I want to watch (and yes, I tend to lean towards the sex-violence-bad language shows, in case anyone cares). Why? I don't know. I find them to be the most entertaining.
I believe very strongly in the "If you don't like it, change the channel" philosophy, and I thought it was hilarious the way everyone freaked out at the sight (of a few second's duration) of Janet Jackson's breast.

 

[vitodabona]

You certainly have the right to do that for yourself (and minor children in your home). I said, "let everyone voice his/her opinion and change the channel". I think that's fair.

Rachel

Sorry Robinsegg, my post was sarcasm, trying to point out that anything can be objected too. If we let people’s objections censor anything and everything we would be left in a world without art, literature, etc.

 

[TooCurious]

I get that way sometimes, too. I just turn on some music or something.

It's surprising how relaxing listening to Blind Guardian or Iced Earth can be. *horns*

edit: rated "M" for "Metal"

You are my new best friend. I *adore* Blind Guardian (saw them in concert! Have a t-shirt! ), and I have a bunch of Iced Earth stuff as well. Are you familiar with Hammerfall?

Edit: I should probably try to put something vaguely "on-topic" in this post... With regard to flicka's remark about the internet replacing television as a vapid time-waster, I'm inclined to agree. While CSmrw is right that the internet does have a lot of interactive options, there are also many entirely passive and mindless activities available on it as well. In many ways, I think the Internet is comparable to television in that regard; with TV, you can either watch stimulating and educational programs such as one finds on the Science Channel, the Discovery Channel, the History Channel, etc... or you can watch Fear Factor and find out what Americans are willing to eat for money. With the internet, you can engage in intellectual and philosophical debate or play some interesting games... or you can troll the online celebrity-gossip rags and download bad porn. It isn't the medium itself, but how one chooses to use it.

 

[Electric Skeptic]

Words cannot express the loathing I have for people who would determine what other people are able to watch. "I'm not advocating censorship..." they cry, and then proceed to advocate censorship. It's not enough for them that they don't see material they dislike; NOBODY should be able to see it.

If you don't like it, change the channel. And stop whining that other people might see things that you don't like.

 

[shadowmage36]

TooCurious: Nope, not familiar with Hammerfall. Am familiar with Lordi, In Flames, Demons and Wizards, and many other bands of awesomeness and win.

For, as we all know, the devil is a loser, isn't he?

And Skeptic: You, my good man, have hit the nail on the head for this one. Television is one of the ultimate free speech tools. Almost anyone can (with enough time and effort) get whatever they want on (at least SOME) tv stations. And, if I don't like it, I don't watch it!

The fact that some people think that even changing the channel is too much for them to have to take responsibility for sickens me almost as much as people blaming violent video games for violent behavior in kids. I've played many a violent game, from GTA:III to several fairly graphic FPS games. I use them for stress relief. I am also over 18 and capable of determining what is right and wrong for myself.

There are parents, however, who feel that they shouldn't have to determine what is right for their children, be it TV or video games, and think that the state should just legislate it for them.

Normally, at this point in this discussion, I would make several disparaging comments. I shall refrain from doing so here for the sake of propriety. Suffice to say, a soft tongue I do not have...

...As I was saying...If you're going to be a parent, take some responsibility for your kids. You brought them into this world, and now it's your responsibilty to make sure they learn what's right and good, as well as what's not. Your responsibility, and yours alone. The state cannot take that burden from you. Your church cannot take that burden from you. You are the ultimate role model for your child, and they will listen to you if you take the time to explain the why of things.

</rant>

Edited for grammar and spelling.

 

[crazyfingers]

Is somebody/anbody going to take a stand against what's on television these days. I know we have all kinds of "groups" out there fighting hard but it seems like tv gets more out of control every year.

I'm glad the FCC is not backing down from CBS for that SuperBowl (hear they're still appealing).....

I'm not advocating censorship or anything but heck......

I know that I can turn the television off....but why should I have to?

Anyway, just venting...does anybody else feel this way?

Jack

I have no interest in television. I have not watched anything on TV, except for the 2004 elections, for about 3-4 years.

I do record to DVD, Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder and Dora for the kids.

Some day I may figure out how to search the programming on-line to find the old movies that I'd still like to have.

Prior to 4 years ago I watched some stuff on the Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel and History channel. But they also went to pot several years ago.

I would consider watching something on PBS if it ever occurred to me to actually check the programming.

General prime time TV is just plain stupid stuff and is of no interest at all.

 

[moogoob]

Ooh! Time for my input.

Ban reality tv! Especially Cheaters. Seriously I can't stand it, how they take advantage of ordinary people for the sake of entertainment. It's not like I can change the cha.... waitaminute! What's this NEXT CH. button on my remote?!? Omigod I don't believe it! I can change the channel when Cheaters, Hell's Kitchen, Fear Factor or Survivor MXXIIVCXICI comes on! Now I can avoid being offended and watch something worthwhile, like CSI Vegas and endless Star Trek and VIP reruns on Spike.

</sarcasm>