Earlier today, I was driving around when I noticed one of those ALL-CAPS, "KILL YOUR TELEVISION" bumper stickers.
I cannot think of a more culturally uninformed, and frankly, bigoted attitude. Talk to the "Kill Your Television" advocates, and you're likely to get one or more of these attitudes:
Most commercial television is chock full of attempts to urge you to buy stuff you really don't need to thrive intellectually, spiritually, nutritionally, materially, cosmetically, or even medically.
Why be glued to the tv and watch insipid "talent" contests, Britney/Lindsay/Paris exposes, football, or cliche-ridden situation comedies when you, and the ones you love, can go mountain biking, hiking, swimming, sailing,etc? In short, enjoying life rather than just watching it?
Why should I pay $100 a month for digital cable when I can buy three entiching books for the same amount?
Well, let me tell you something.
While each of those arguments have some validity, they fail to take into account that there are some superb television programs. Except if you don't have a tv or never turn it on, you might not know about them.
Just this coming week you can watch:
A History Channel show about "How The Earth Was Made."
A PBS docuementary about Ben Kuroki, the first Japanese-American war hero, and later a force against racism;
A PBS "Live From Lincoln Center" special, featuring acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo-Ma;
A History Channel show entitled "Save Our History," which this week is dedicated to the efforts involved in preserving Boston's historic African Meeting House;
A Travel Channel special on ten great American national parks;
On the Discovery Channel, a "MythBusters" presentation on why the Hindenburg blew up;
That's not counting the stimulating interviews conducted by host Charlie Rose. Monday's guest: distinguished actor Sir Ian McKellen.
There may also be breaking news you'll want to learn about- and even watch as it unfolds. Or commentary, sometimes even featuring guests such as the proprietor of this place.
But if you purposely don't have a tv, you are in no position to render fully objective on the medium.
Listen. I don't watch all that much TV. I'd rather be out doing active, stimulating things- at a bookstore, at a movie theater, by or in a river or at the Pacific. To each his or her own, but I do not endorse hours and hours of successive television watching.
But I am not one to condemn all television with one brush. There's lots of crap, but some good as well. And in listing the good, I have only begun to scratch the surface.
KILL YOUR TELEVISION? No. Just turn it off, go out in the world, come back and relax. If you haven't yet "killed your television," it might offer you something interesting when you turn it on.
There are hundreds of excellent books that TV watchers are missing, such as my own latest, *Merle's Door,* by Ted Kerasote, a dog memoir so brilliant, informed, and effecting I can only hope he gets a few minutes on *Today.*
There are thousands of great outdoor activities that fill the mind, engage the senses, and improve the body. How many of them are you "missing"? So much to watch, so little time.
Candy is nice. Too much makes you fat. TV may have some nutrition, but it's 99% empty calories.
instead i watch TV ONLY on my laptop, either fullscreen or in the corner as i work (or surf)
itunes and amazon's unbox allow me to order the season in advance, get the shows as they come and watch them without commercials as i wish.
it also allows me to catch up on the first season of interesting shows.
this, to me is the ultimate freedom, whether i'm watching a show on the train or in a park. its not the tv we need be rid of, its the delivery and chain to the livingroom couch.
some things are worth watching and some make good, entertianing background.
the anti-tv snobs are similar to the moralizers or professional non-smokers.
live and let live. for some shows (stupidly not available for download) i might rent a dvd after they are released, but that happens less and less.
i really dont understand why all cable channels arent at least available for viewing online.
the biggest hit on cable, "the closer" is available EVERYWHERE and the ratings are doing just fine.
There is one paramount issue right now and it is the War on Iraq for it's resources and military importance. The lies emanating from the TV "news shows" regarding this war of aggression are reason enough to boycott the medium. Don't kill your TV - boycott it! Watch less, buy less (literally and figuratively) and most of all BELIEVE less. Be a skeptic of all that emanates from the tube and your corporate run gov't. The boycott is the most powerful weapon the "people" have. Obviously more powerful than a vote at election time.
Not only do I have the peace of mind knowing that there is no choice but to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines to minimize TV exposure for kids under 2, but my wife and I have discovered a few extra hours per day that we've been using for far more productive things.
While Mr. Shaw can attempt to defend television, I should remind him that most of the examples of worthwhile content that he provides could easily be learned or experienced in person or through books. Or (and hold onto your hats here) by talking to people or attending classes or lectures. Dynamic and interactive means of instruction result in far better retention of information than passive reception of information from only one perspective.
Remember that television programs only provide one point of view and people are notorious for taking things seen on TV or in print as correct and authoritative. Learning through experience, conversation and discussion allows one to develop and exercise the critical thinking skills that this country desperately needs.
I killed my television and have no regrets.
"While each of those arguments have some validity, they fail to take into account that there are some superb television programs."
Hey, I agree completely, in fact there is a lot of excellent TV. Plus there is a huge number of excellent movies and intelligent documentaries that can easily be rented or watched through pay-per-view.
Unfortunately that's the problem. There is so much intelligent, exiting and thrilling TV that Americans are spending (on average) over 4 hours per day and over half of all their leisure time sitting in front of the tube.
Why ?
Because TV is addictive.
In the February 2002 issue of Scientific American, in an article called "Television Addiction Is No Mere Metaphor". You can go to the Scientific American website and do a search for "television addiction". The authors describe how watching TV actually puts
people into a light hypnotic state during which their brainwaves slow down to the point where Alpha brainwaves dominate.
Contrast this with reading. While reading people's brains are much more active. Reading involves decoding the marks on the page and then co-creating with the author every sound, smell and image in their mind's eye. Like having a multi-million dollar movie studio within their brain. TV viewers on the other hand are just passively fed every image and sound (and every advertisement and product placement).
Reading is also self-limiting. Unless it is for school or work it is very rare to hear of someone spending over 4 hours per day (every day) reading for pleasure. Because reading does take an effort, most people after a couple of hours of reading want to take a
break, stretch their legs, talk to someone, etc.
So please consider... next time you want to sit down and watch a science show or history documentary, why not instead read a trashy novel or comic, you'll give your brain much more of a work out.
As for news, I'm sure most people here would agree that the internet is a much better place to get ones news than TV.
Best vacation I ever had.
Don't scrutinize or attack the media. Scrutinize, consider and evaluate the content.
I agree TV has an addictive draw to it. I also agree that reading can be more beneficial but blanket generalizations are meritless when applied to everyone, every TV program and readable publication.
To some extent, what is good or bad in the various visual and textual media is subjective and personal. Not all TV is bad and not all reading is good. Some TV programs are better than some books or articles. Evaluate the content, especially today when content becomes almost transparent to media.
Not everyone turns into a vegetable when watching TV. When one is prone to think with a program and gets involved, it's probably more beneficial. For example, West Wing episodes get me involved, thinking beyond the program's plots and into real life politics and situations. When I see a classic thought provoking movie such as Citizen Kane, Patton, Rear Window, etc. on TV, is that cause for concern? When I watch such movies on a DVD on a computer, am I a computer addict?
After a long hard day at work, relaxing in front of a TV for entertainment or to learn something new is beneficial. The key is not to over do it. Some jobs give brains good workouts and relaxation in the evenings is appropriate.
I would rather watch one hour of a good documentary on PBS, Discovery, History Channel or a similar channel than read an article in most magazines or a story in most newspapers. A good documentary is better than a mindless sitcom but not everyone agrees as evidenced by ratings.
I like reading and read plenty, more so on the internet lately. I also like listening to music and that affects the brain.
Let's see if Scientific American will report the effects of blogging on the brain.
Save TV.
Just ask the Red Hot Chilli Peppers:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFbfGByi7x8
Oh yeah, the History Channel.... Check out who owns that--there's a corporate slant to it all.
Killing your TV is not the answer. Demanding a change in how the government lets the big corporations control it. That would help.
JOIN FREEPRESS.ORG. You'll get some answes.
It was 1976.
Have I missed anything?
It's amazing to think just how many people looked the other way while this occurred. How many people helped accomplish this as thier JOBS at work. How does one rationalize this ? What, to feed your family. We are all SELL-OUTS; and we are about to pay big for our selfishness, and ignorance.
If the FCC had been doing thier jobs representing
OUR INTRESTS, we would not be having this discusion right now. If you are not upset about that yet, just wait. It will get worse. And unlike your friend, I am informed.
Thomas Jefferson was right about the need of a media who shared the intrests of the People. Which brings us to a more important question. What ever happened to Investigative Journalism ?
Are you getting the picture ?