Why you should throw out your TV

[Lauxa]

I find that when I have 100's of channels 24/7 my self-discipline is not strong enough to resist the temptation to watch. Also I HATE commercials. Now I watch YouTube or download stuff through iTunes or have my MIL DVR stuff for me and burn DVDs. Not sure if I spend less time on it, but the quality of the programs is higher.

[theDoomedOne]

I got rid of my TV a few years ago. I don't miss it.
The computer + internet is all anyone needs.

[LostJohnny]

Originally Posted by JHL

What? And miss The Simpsons??

Never!

There is some good stuff on telly. There's The Simpsons like you mention and also....erm....there's......let's see now....

Well, anyway there's The Simpsons.

But what I really want to say is that there are other, better ways of getting informed, entertained or whatever. Every second spent watching telly could be spent reading, thinking, or really enjoying yourself participating in something. Yes, we'd be missing out on The Simpsons but my point is that our lives would be so much richer for really living real lives that we wouldn't care.

When I move out of where I'm living at the moment I won't get a telly. For one thing I'd have to pay for it.

Graham

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by dor

» “The Secret” and TV: How Watching TV May Help Manifest Violence, Poverty, and General Negativity · Cultivate Greatness | Personal Development | Self-Help & Success Blog | Motivation Blog | Inspiration Blog | Business Blog | Self Help B
Standard TV Diet - Murder, Violence, and Suffering

The News - War, Disaster, and Suffering

Talk shows - Gossip and Slander

Sports - Winners vs. Losers

Commercials - Lack, Need, and Imperfection


The Solution - No TV


I have seen children raised without TV and with and the difference is remarkable (sure there are other factors but there was something a little disturbing about hearing a four year old wanting a particular brand of shoe).

I got rid of my TV years ago - just watch DVDs and use the internet - I don't miss it in the least.

I have been TV free for around a year. Never looked back.

[ProjectX]

I agree with the OP regarding TV. But I can also say the EXACT same thing about computers and the internet. The internet has made it more easier to access sex, violence, apathy, gossip, disasters etc. Don't get me started on games. They are as worse and even more addictive than TV, well it was for me personally. I never grew up really watching much TV but I did spend a ridiculous amount of time playing games and surfing forums. I've uninstalled all my games from my PC and selling them online and its been a huge relief for me. But still I can't stop thinking about playing them again. for me its as addictive as cigarettes.

Basically there are both good and bad sides of TV. Nowadays the only channel I really watch is the discovery and history channel, now and then sci-fi. I get to watch the simpsons and seinfeld. Currently I've been watching a lot of the olympics and seeing those athletes has inspired to go back swimming.
You just have to filter the dirt and rocks to get the gold.

[Wordsmith]

I've always loved watching TV - I choose the programs depending on content. Sci-fi is my favourite but there are so many interesting things also to choose from, health, nature, cooking, documentaries, interviews, music and comedies of course. When nothing appealing is on, I have books, internet, newspapers or occasionally visitors and conversation over coffee. The trick is to not let the TV control you (this can happen easily and for some maybe throwing away the TV is the only solution). When our TV died last year (after a lightning storm) we were a couple of weeks without one until the insurance arranged for another, but I didn't really miss it like I thought I would. We are watching some of the Olympics this week, and no amount of ads for hamburgers will convince me to eat them, just because they are on in between fast runners, fast swimmers, brilliant gymnasts and great teams. TV is like most things, neither very bad nor very good - just be discerning!

[JaredR]

I like watching TV. My favorite sitcoms make me laugh, and I now find myself thinking, "How would I put a positive spin on the situation if I were that character?" Sure, there are negative influences on TV, but whenever I notice one I just change the channel.

I even enjoy commercials these days. Most companies portray people as extremely happy while using their products. Now I've started focusing on the happiness being portrayed to the point where I don't totally realize what they're advertising.

TV isn't inherently positive or negative. To the conscious viewer, I don't see why it can't be a positive experience.

[freshwala]

i agree

though i think competition teaches kids important lessons too
winners vs loser
they learn this at school anyway i guess through sport.

but tbh i have a tv but i dont watch anything apart from documentrys and sci fi and at the minute olympics.

p.s. comedy is great too, its healing, if your against comedy then i think you have some issues.

[Rapid]

Recently I was watching someone else's TV and noticed numerous commercials about food/eating.

In a week or so, I'm going to go from no-TV (but surf on the net a lot) to roommates-with-TV situation. I'll probably come back here to post another experiment.

[jtracy]

I think that there are two different issues here. One is the content of what you are watching, and the other is the effect on you of watching television in general. As far as content goes, television has great potential but unfortunately it has not been realized. We are subjected to shows that are not only idiotic but portray people in very damaging ways. As far as the effect on you of watching television is concerned, I beleive there is actually scientific evidence that watching television rots the mind. They don't call it the "idiot box" for nothing. The other thing to consider is that watching television prevents you from doing more beneficial things. It stops kids from playing outside with their friends. It stops adults from pursuing a hobby or working on their job or cleaning up the house. Unless you can find one of the few shows that actually uses television at it's best advantage, it is best to just turn it off and go spend some time with your family or doing something else useful. Television watching is largely just a mindless habit. I think a lot of people do it because they are simply too tired to do anything else. But by then maybe you should just go to bed.