How much TV?

[micth]

Did a search, and no one's started a thread on this!
How much TV do you guys watch? And I'm also wondering how you guys think that TV affects Personal Effectiveness

I gave up TV about 2 months ago, and I've experienced much better results than I expected. I have so much more time, get some much more done. I also feel more motivated and have more energy. Since then I've read about a lot of the negative consequences from watching TV. Personally, I think that ditching TV, or reducing the amount of time you watch TV is the way to go.

[norbert]

I admit that I watch TV, around 1hr on an average day, when going to sleep. The only thing I watch is my favourite TV series, C.S.I. actually. But I don't watch anything else, even not movies. I think I'd better get these episodes from the Internet or order them on DVD but haven't got around that yet. I'd probably give up TV totally then.

[Hugh Hollowell]

I have not watched a whole hour of television for over 3 years.

On the upside, I now read 3-5 books a week.

On the downside, I can't talk intelligently about reality TV. (I think there is a contradiction in that sentance somewhere!)

[micth]

Originally Posted by Hugh Hollowell

On the upside, I now read 3-5 books a week.

Yeah this has been a huge change for me. I used to never read, and now I manage around 2 books a week.

"I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book." - Groucho Marx

[tjh]

I stopped watching television when I got hooked on computers in 1994. At the time, my television watching habits consisted of about an hour of television per day. Since then my television watching habit goes in cycles of watching a lot of television at one time or going months without ever looking at a television. The times I do watch a lot of television it will be for movies. I have HBO and Showtime and those are the only channels I will turn on the television for. Otherwise, I tune out CNN, sitcoms, reality television, etc. If someone is talking about a show, I will have no idea what they are talking about.

I never really thought about television being a problem until I saw this site - Kill Your Television TurnOffYourTV.com. After spending time on that site, I am more aware of how I spend my time watching television and what messages are being sent to me, both on and off the television. I think being aware of what is going into my mind has helped me.

As for how it affects Personal Effectiveness, I'd say it's about opportunity costs. The cost for watching television will be missing out on potentially more productive activities, and the cost for not watching television will be missing out on a mildly entertaining experience.

[Henry]

I watch PTI on ESPN and CNBC when I can. I'm going to do a trial of giving it up for a week in the near future. Or maybe give it up for 40 days for lent. I'm at about 1-2 hours per day. 4+ hours on weekends.

[cultivategreatness]

I would say this thread would have been more effective for the whole week.

Cuz I watch Lost, Survivor, and Chiefs Football. So I spend about 5 hours a week... I cut that crap out... Horrible waste of time.

Except the KC Chiefs football! heh.

[Rosi]

I haven't had a television for the last 10 years. I prefer to read a lot. Luckily when I moved in with my boyfriend a couple of years ago he didn't have and didn't want to have a tv either.
I can't join in conversations about tv shows and some people can't believe that I haven't heard of X or Y but I find conversations about tv programmes quite dull and a waste of time when people could be talking to each other about things that really matter to them.

[Andrew Russell]

Hmmn - I don't really like your options. I watch maybe 2-3 hours of TV a week. Significantly less than your 1-2 hours per day, but more than None.

A show has to be really good to make my "list". And I DVR anything with ads so I can skip them.

[Lucas]

I download episodes of Lost and The Office off of bittorrent (in HD and no commercials), so i guess I watch an hour and 15 minutes of TV a week.

[River]

At various times over the past decade we've been TV-free. We got rid of it again this past summer. (I personally find it very hard to sit and watch even for an hour but my husband is tempted and it was becoming too much of a habit with my older daughter.)

We do watch DVDs on the computer and we meet at a friend's home once a week to watch Battlestar Galactica.

[SenorKaffee]

None. When?

A TV is something you connect a videogame system to and a DVD player. I stopped watching the regular program over a year ago and never missed it.

I watched lots of TV when I was younger, I was a very bored child and teen. But in the end, it is all entertainment. Even the news are made short and exciting enough to be just another bit of entertainment. Not interested.

[toasterwater]

I think that another selection for 0-1 hours of tv per day should be added to this poll, or even change it to hours per week, maybe even month. This is because i dont watch "tv" in the sense that most others do. I dont have cable, or satellite, or even just basic tv, but thats not to say that i dont on occassion watch a tv series on dvd, or see some tv while out and about. lately the only contact that i have with tv is while im eating (i eat in a cafeteria, and there is are like 5 TVs that are always playing in there), but i even sit facing away from the TV. I would say that in the past month, i have not voluntarily watched TV, but that is not to say that i will never watch it again. I would also like to bring up the fact that when i used to watch tv, it consisted of alot of educational tv programs, i watched alot of the History channel, Discovery channel, etc. I learned alot from these and dont see how someone can condemn tv in its entirety.

Anyway, i would like to state that i chose "never" on the polls because that is closer to my situation than "1 hour per day". I would find it more appropriate to say that on average i watch tv sparadically, and less than 1 hour/month.

[Erki]

Besides motorsport, I only watch a weekly satire show.

[Stephen]

Being a fanatical supporter of Glasgow Celtic Football club Celtic F.C. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, I watch the football on a Sunday, usually which takes about 3 hours and usually a mid week european cup-tie every two weeks during that competition, again about 3 hours.

[Michael Chui]

I put "none", because I watch about 2 hours per week on average, and may increase that to 4 or 5 if I'm really lazy that week (meaning someone else is watching or left the TV on, I pass by, see it, and decide to sit down rather than be "productive").

[stalker]

No TV at all for the past 5+ years (IIRC). It feels great!

[kthdsn]

My tv is on most of the time although I rarely sit down just to watch it. I sort of half watch things while I'm doing other things, like surfing the net. When I do watch tv on purpose, I watch things like CSI and Criminal Minds. I wanted to go into forensics when I was in school and I find programs like this fascinating, although I do question how realistic they are (I'm guessing not very).

I also watch Lost, although as it's not being broadcast in the UK yet I download it, so it's not really tv as it's on the computer (rubbish excuse but I'm sticking to it).

I find when I don't turn the tv on I'm more likely to get stuff done, although I do have a tendancy to replace the tv with loud music and just sit there singing along doing nothing.

[Niki]

I dont watch TV since 2004, i really was addicted to it. I feel there is alot more productivity in my life since then !

[Rat-race]

I used to spend 4 hours a day watching tv. Now, it’s 1-2 hours a day. I’m aiming for 0 because I’ve realized that it does absolutely nothing in helping me achieve my long-term goals.
I’m now using that time to exercise and read – much more satisfying.

[SamBeaven]

2-3 hours a week.

Comedy shows, Japanese martial arts dramas, the odd cartoon.

Most of this is downloaded off t'Bittorrents.

Also I watch a few DVDs a week from a netflix-like UK service called Lovefilm.

[Trina]

I guess I will be the first to say it...

I am a TV addict. LOL. I watch TV on and off all day long. I am a big documentary junkie (and Netflix has a great selection) and I have TV shows that I watch every week. My husband tried to get me to do the 30 days with no TV thing with him, and I refused. LOL. I understand how TV can cause brain rot, but I am a stay at home wife/nanny and TV is my window to the world. I get my news from TV (and take it with a grain of salt, believe me). I get entertainment from TV (I love me some Bill Maher). And I get education from TV (I have watched documentaries on everything from sex to politics to trekkies). I love TV. LOL. One habit I do not want to break. I don't think that watching TV is any worse than sitting on the internet or playing video games for hours at a time. It depends more on what you are watching (or doing or playing) than how much. And I can say, I don't spend my TV time watching music videos or reality dating shows. :P

[Baltar]

Originally Posted by River

We do watch DVDs on the computer and we meet at a friend's home once a week to watch Battlestar Galactica.

You have good taste -- Battlestar Galactica is the best show on television. And that's not even just my opinion, I think TV Guide was quoted saying that. It's the only TV show I watch too (guess where my forum name is from? ). Sometimes I watch random TV when I'm tired (I know, not a good reason to watch TV.. gotta work on that), but I usually stick to the history channel unless they're showing something boring.

[Paul C]

Originally Posted by Hugh Hollowell

On the upside, I now read 3-5 books a week.

I'm impressed. And I thought My 1-2 books per week was something. Well, I've got to start somewhere.

Originally Posted by micth

"I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book." - Groucho Marx

Love that quote. Speaking of quotes, here is a quote site I often look at instead of doing the less interesting work within my coarse.

I chose zero hours a day, because I don't sit down to watch tv enough within a day to see 1-2 hours worth. And I must agree with the extra time freed by not subjecting myself to it (I consider the news to be the worst offender).

After going many months of not watching TV for the sake of watching TV as well as getting up at 6am now (nearly there), I have also noticed the void of time now avialable. Much more reading to be done! heh.