Sigh...Television is trying its hardest to reenter our lives. I haven't lived in a house with a tv, in over two years, and I rather enjoy it.* Furthermore, I take a sort of elitist pride in not only telling people that, "I don't watch that show" , but in fact, "I don't even own a television." Still, despite the joy I receive from delivering such lines, I'd like to believe that there are deeper motives for my crusade against tv. I shall list some of these reasons below, in an attempt to convince myself and others of the wasted time, money and energy that the box we call TV really is.
1. Children who have televisions in their bedroom score seven to nine points lower on standardized language and math tests than children who do not. (This statistic was used by Rafe Esquith in his most recent book, Lighting Their Fires) In other words, TV has the potential to make us stupider. And yes, I just used that word.
2. Many shows (not neccessarily most) on TV are extremely graphic. Violence, offensive language, and sexually explicit material are rampant on TV, even if they can be carefully avoided by discerning viewers. The point is though, I would be buying into something that I fundamentally disagree with on many levels.
3. Aside from simply being offensive, many other shows are mind numbingly inane. I haven't watched MTV for years, but if it has "progressed" at all since 2002, I can only assume that the entire channel, and many others like it, have become so ridiculous that I'm actually concerned that human beings exist out there who are willing to subject themselves to watching such idiocy.
4. It will suck up my time. I haven't checked my personal email in weeks. My laundry pile is overflowing, I have stacks of papers to grade and the bishop has called my house twice in the last week...(I feel a calling coming on.) Why would I invest in anything that would potentially suck away any of my time? Between facebook and blog stalking (which I do more frequently than actual blog writing) I already spend a frightening amount of time getting very little accomplished. It seems that TV would only add to this problem.
5. We have this thing called the internet. The internet is so great. Not only can you waste hours on it doing nothing at all, but occasionally you can waste 1/2 hour increments on it too, by watching your favorite television shows on hulu. Look, I'm not proud of this point, but I'm just saying, I can watch The Office online, and Dean has discovered a questionably legal way to watch numerous Hockey games online, so what real advantage does a television set offer?
6. Televisions are unsightly. I find the idea of flat screen tvs extremely appealing. They are small, out of the way, and do not have to be the centerpiece of the room. And yet, my fundamental opposition to TV will prevent me from ever shelling out the kind of money required to purchase one of these babies. As a result, I'm left to choose between the other TV options which in my humble opinion are bulky, ugly, dust collectors.
7. TV is expensive. Even if you do not buy a TV (and have a free, functional one offered to you as we have had recently) cable is expensive. In my mind, as a non-tvite, I see no point in buying a tv but not having cable. But, a cable package that has any worthwhile channels is expensive. Even if that expense is only say...$50 a month, that is still a lot of money! I keep trying to figure it out in my mind. If we theoretically had $50 a month to blow on a cable bill, does that mean that right now, without TV we have enough for me to spend $50 on new clothes each month? The possibilities are staggering... Plus, cable is not the only expense! If you get a TV, you have to have something to put it on. If you get something to put it on, you have to buy something to plug it into, etc. It reminds me a little of that delightful childhood favorite, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, only that was a book and therefore worthwhile.
Well I guess that about does it for my TV con list. There are a few small pros to getting a TV. I have yet to decide if they measure up to the rather impressive list given above.
1. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Best part of Thanksgiving minus the food. Haven't seen it in 3-4 years now. Sounding really tempting...Plus, it's part of the Basic cable package.
2. Larger, legal access to televised hockey games. The legal part might be overrated.
3. Food Network. I admit, they too have succumbed to a lot of ridiculous inanity, but still, there has to be something that is still good and holy in the land of tv.
Well, that's all for now. I'll let you know which side wins out.
*Okay, that's not entirely true. In Sandy, we had a huge hulking TV in our living room for quite some time, but it never worked and we didn't have cable so I'm not counting that.
4 comments:
One word for you, Taylor; Tivo. It keeps you from mindless channel-surfing, you end up watching only what you record, and then you can fast forward through all the "inane" commercials that are the bane of tv watching! :) My parents have never had cable and are perfectly happy (well...my dad would like ESPN...).
I will agree with Rachel with the Tivo suggestion. You know that we are all about that. But, I will be honest and say that Tivo usually just enables us to record and watch more in less time. We still spend our time watching inanities, but at least we do it in the most efficient way possible.
I think the most important thing (as in most things) is balance. Adding television to your life will add some great fun, entertainment, and education, but it takes a level-headed element of self control to monitor your intake. One has to make personal guidelines. For example, we only have the TV on if we are sitting and watching it. We must limit ourselves to a certain time limit a day. We will not allow our Tivo to get ridiculous things like "America's Got Talent." No TVs will ever be in our kid's bedrooms. Stuff like that. It's very important to have limits, I think.
Sometimes, it's just easier, though, to not get involved at all. On the one hand, I would say you're missing so much good TV this year, but on the other hand, who cares?
If you get a TV, you won't regret it, but if you don't, you probably won't regret it either.
TAYLOR!! You NEED to inform us of this "legal" online hockey game action! This is an issue we have to and I would be the hero if I found a way to make hockey games more accessible than a radio feed on nhl.com ;)
As to all of this TV stuff, you know my sister doesn't have cable and I think it is awesome, especially for her kids!! The only reason I think is nice about having a TV is movie watching on a bigger screen. Oh... and we have a Wii... and that is pretty fun... But aside from that I am watching WAY to much TV and I hate it! I wish I wasn't! We don't even get hockey even with our TV... So I agree with you and say stay TV free!
Though now I think about it, I may regret many dumb shows I watch on TV, but that documentary on cuttlefish and the one on the Ice Hotel... definitely worth it ;)
(cuttlefish are so cool!)
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