DTV Transition: This Is Only a Test > Vast wasteland

Vast wasteland

That is me. I have all but turned a TV off. The stupid programming, 19 minutes of commercials for every hour of programming and if I'm told one more time to ask my doctor I'll kick the stupid thing in. Local news is more satellite feeds than actual reporting so I get more news on the internet than I do anywhere else. My TV is slowly becoming a DVD monitor. They did it to themselves with the reality shows and commercials.

I have no broadcast or satellite TV. The only thing my TV is used for is a Wii and some DVDs.

reply to mod_wastrel
And the best thing that could happen to the internet is if millions of people who post pointless yapping diatribes about what is or isn't best for society would lose their computers and internet access.

Before TV, I'm sure plenty of people were told to get their nose out of books or doing whatever and go do something useful. Now it's stop watching TV and playing video games and get off the computer and do something useful. There will always be something that is a catalyst for snobs who feel given activities are beneath them, and therefore, should be beneath everyone. I respect the fact that you don't like television, but I'm tired of people who think that they know what's best for everyone and think are the definitive source of what is good and what is not.

I love television. I also love to read. For me, TV shows are basically a visual and auditory version of a novel or series of novels. I certainly don't think it makes me stupid, or any less of a person. I'm stuck at home with a 2 year old all day and I'll take any form of escapism I can get. And no, I'm not an overweight slob of a couch potato. There's also plenty to learn from channels like Food Network. I'm a much better and creative cook because of that channel. There are some techniques you just can't absorb simply by reading about them in a cookbook, and cooking classes are expensive and require finding a babysitter (in my case anyway). There are also good educational and scientific programs on a variety of channels. Sure, I could read about those things, but I don't always have the time to sit down and read a 400 page book on a subject when I can watch a 45 minute program about what is essentially the same thing. If it's something that truly piques my interest then I'll pick up a book about it to gain more in-depth knowledge.

Some of my best bonding with friends and family has come through mutual interest in television shows. It's important to me, just like whatever is important to you and fulfills those roles in your life is important to you. I don't presume to know what that is, and I certainly don't presume to tell you that it shouldn't be whatever it is. Please try and respect everyone else in the same way. Your original comment maybe wasn't intended to be insulting, but it definitely came across that way to me.
--
You're watching Sports Night on CSC so stick around...

A lot of people love cocaine, too.

As long as someone's cocaine habit isn't shoved in my face, doesn't harm me, and doesn't harm innocent children, I really don't have a problem with it. It's their money and their life. Whatever someone wants to do behind closed doors - again, that doesn't harm other people who have no choice about being harmed by it, like a child - is none of my concern.
--
You're watching Sports Night on CSC so stick around...

In theory, I agree. The thing is, I don't think there is anything more harmful to children in this world--psychologically speaking--than TV. TV shows the best and the worst of everyone and everything, and someone with no experience of the world, like a child, has no idea which is which. Unless a child grows up watching everything on TV with responsible and caring adults who can explain and not try to hide from all of their questions, children will grow up to be somewhere between a little to totally screwed up psychologically and emotionally. By and large, parents haven't done that; they've just sat children down in front of the TV like it's a baby-sitter, and they can't tell what's real and what's not.

Just my opinion. Not trying to convince anyone of anything. That was your goal... feel free to carry on with that without me.

reply to danawhitaker
Any addiction be it drugs, internet, or TV effects many lives whether you see that direct result or not.

I personally am for the theory of letting everyone do whatever they want as the strong will survive. However, society can't handle what would happen during the time the "weak and stupid" are removing themselves from the genepool. Therefore it is in society's greater interest to ban many things and encourage "good and healthy" behavior.

reply to mod_wastrel

reply to mod_wastrel
without TV id never have been exposed to one of the greatest works of animated art in history. Loony Tunes.
--
[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports

As with any wasteland, there is the occasional oasis.

reply to ToxicDrew
You know, I don't think there's anything else you could have said to better prove my point... thanks.

reply to rid0617
reality show, 80% cost reduction, 30% viewer reduction, net increase in revenue.