Are you aware that I have not owned a Television for 5 years?

[Miss Neecerie]

I have a tiny (i think its 13 inches) tv.....hooked up to rabbit ears in case I want to see something....

Its rarely on.

I will someday get a tv big enough to watch movies on...so that I dont watch things on the PowerBook anymore....its fine for just me...but friends cant come watch movies with me.

I don't have cable or DirectTV..or whatever...probably wont get them.

I do watch things at my mom's house while visiting, but don't schedule my visits around programs....hehe....

TV is just really such a non event in my life...

 

[Fletch]

I have TV, but most TV stinks on ice. I only have cable so I can get TCM and news channels and stuff.

I wish more people would experiment with narrowband TV such as the British used in the 1930s. Mostly it's a few EE geeks who are perfectly happy with a minicam or video feed. But I see possibilities in performance art or just the recreating of old broadcasts.

 

[Tommy Fedora]

TV is what you make it.
There's so much quality viewing available now that you're missing out on so much by not turning on the tube. Sure, there is also a vast wasteland out there but if you pick and choose what you want to watch it can be rewarding. Aside from TCM how about the Planet Earth series on the Discovery channel, or just about anything from the History channel. It can be an education.

 

[Lady Day]

We had the TVs and cable growing up, and I remember my bro and I crying when my Mama had it turned off. There was a TV in every room growing up in every room, and everyone was always on. We never really talked as a family.

Then, a few years ago, I gave "Turn of TV week" a try, and never looked back. I sold my 24'' (that I kept in a studio apt :eusa_doh: ) and had tons of room. I discovered so much more free time, and i have never looked back.

I netflix TV shows and play them on my computer that people tell me are cool. If I dont like them, I dont watch them. I think the big thing is commercials and the interruption they give to a good show. :rage: I HATE commercials.:rage: So I consider the TV a commercial box. Yuck.


LD

 

[mikepara]

TV isn't the problem.

A Couch potato lifestyle is the problem. All TV's come with an off switch.
You can be selective, read the listings and choose what to watch. It doesn't have to stay on.
No TV so you sit in front of the computer instead? Think the FL / Ebay/myspace is any better than a good Cary Grant Movie?

I love to read a book, go to a show, go to the movies, go to a game, go to a dance or a gig... But for the rest of the time TV is fine by me.

 

[Fletch]

A Couch potato lifestyle is the problem. All TV's come with an off switch.

Indeed, that was Dr. Zworykin's favorite thing on TV.

 

[olive bleu]

TV is what you make it.
There's so much quality viewing available now that you're missing out on so much by not turning on the tube. Sure, there is also a vast wasteland out there but if you pick and choose what you want to watch it can be rewarding. Aside from TCM how about the Planet Earth series on the Discovery channel, or just about anything from the History channel. It can be an education.

I have to agree, actually. we just got a new cable package and now have Animal Planet , the Discovery Channel, and national geographic. My kids are nuts about Animal planet.They love the computer, but no matter how much cool stuff i show them, they only want to use it to play video games.They will gladly peel themselves away from it without a fuss, if there is anything interesting on any of those nature channels.We are a family of animal lovers, so
we actually have some pretty great "family discussions" about lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

 

[Mojito]

I enjoy TV, but I'm not a slave to it. I love my docos (and yes - both the American and the original British Antiques Roadshow!) and classic movies. I don't have it on for the sake of having it on - if there's not something that appeals to me, and I don't want to watch a DVD, then off it goes. I live an active, outdoors lifestyle anyway, and enjoy running and outdoor sports. I also spend much of my weekends socialising, so may not switch on the TV (or the computer, for that matter) from Friday night to Sunday evening.

I'll say one thing, though - TV does wonderful things for my elderly father, much as we tease him about it. He's was a journalist who later joined the diplomatic corps, and he loves news. He's also had multiple bypass surgery, and suffers crippling arthritis. While the family tries to get him out as much as possible for lunches etc with his old cronies and his grandkids, and my mother does aquarobics and other exercise with him, he still spends much of his time housebound. With cable, he can have a selection of 24 hour news channels - not just Australian, but American and British and a sprinkling of other nationalities. It runs all the way through from the sensationalistic dross to good solid reporting, and he loves it all - not just the quality material, but analysing the rubbish as well. And it keeps him in touch with current affairs in countries he has lived in and loves very much. Also easier on his eyes as, although he loves the print media and his PC, he is blind in one eye and his sight's not much better in the other.

 

[Sefton]

I have a large library of books that gather dust if I turn the tube on. My sketchbook stays closed too. Records go unplayed...

I grew up in the 70's and the TV was always on in my home. The total amount of electricity used must have been enourmous! I gave up the tube for several years when I was in college,but I have one again. A little 13" set that I try to keep off as much as possible. My spouse is something of a TV addict so it's a bit of a (friendly) battle. She's more of an internet addict so that helps her for the times that I've got the tube off. As for myself,I'm much like the others who have posted what they will watch: TCM is the main reason for having a TV.

I actually think that TV was better in the past before cable. Sure,there were lots and lots of dumb programs (Fantasy Island ,Three's Company or that ultimate time waster:The Battle of the Network Stars! ) but there was also a lot of old movies to be found spread across the dial late at night. I watched untold hours of wonderful classics back then. Remember whenTV stations went off the air at the end of the day? Now it's never ending infomercials or gossip shows...

Another thing that amazes me is the difference in the TV commercials. The old ones that we thought were loud and obnoxious have got nothing on the volume you get now. Fast cuts and blaring music for everything. ouch!

Right now my books are getting dusty as I spend too much time typing in front of this non-tv screen...

 

[Amy Jeanne]

but there was also a lot of old movies to be found spread across the dial late at night. I watched untold hours of wonderful classics back then. Remember whenTV stations went off the air at the end of the day? Now it's never ending infomercials or gossip shows...

That's exactly how I originally became enamoured by old movies when I was a kid. I LOVED staying up late, even on school nights. I had a TV in my room. I would scour the TV Guide for the oldest movie playing and tune in.

Then the station would go off the air, a test pattern would be up for a few hours, then the National Anthem, then some Home & Garden show

I do have fond memories of my TV.

 

[lindylady]

I have a TV, but I use it mostly to catch the news as I get ready in the morning and TCM. Except for one or two favorite cartoon shows, I didn't watch too much television as a child, either. I was a nerdy bookworm lol But this isn't to say that TV is worthless. There are some networks and shows of interest. The only problem is when people become obsessed with the TV and turn to it 24/7. I had a roommate who would come home from work and watch TV to relax, fall asleep to it at night, and watch it all weekend. Even if there was nothing on, she would doggedly find SOMETHING, no matter how asinine or pointless it was. She just couldn't turn the thing off. I'm not judging people's individual choices of entertainment. I just don't think that it's healthy to glue oneself in front of the television and let that be one's sole source of entertainment and connection to the world.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

I actually think that TV was better in the past before cable. Sure,there were lots and lots of dumb programs (Fantasy Island ,Three's Company or that ultimate time waster:The Battle of the Network Stars! ) but there was also a lot of old movies to be found spread across the dial late at night. I watched untold hours of wonderful classics back then. Remember whenTV stations went off the air at the end of the day? Now it's never ending infomercials or gossip shows...

Yep, I agree. The regular programming in the 70s was what made me leave the thing turned off, but those obscure old cult classic movies were the best!
If not for the local monster movie hosts, (every city had one I think )
I would have never experienced such science fiction classics as, Plan Nine from Outer Space, The Creeping Terror, and Prince of Space, to name but a few. lol I lived for that stuff when I was a kid.(Still like it now,... )

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Are you aware that I have never been to Vegas?


Are you aware that I have not seen one single episode of "American Idol"?


Are you aware that I am aware that you don't care whether you're aware of this or not?


.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Am I aware that you have not owned a Television for 5 years?

I was not aware of that.

Which one of you has been keeping things from me? Welll? Who is it? Oh, Mr nobody, was it? Well, noone's getting dessert until we find out who's been keeping things from me!

bk

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

I have never been to Vegas, never watched American Idol, and I don't own a cell phone.

 

[Twitch]

I'm with Hemingway on this one. I choose what I desire to watch instead of staring at much of the silly big 3 network stuff. With satellite I can see History Channel, Learning Channel and Discovery plus more of those types of, dare I say "educational," channels. I enjoy mindless escapism entertainment at times too. I have never watch any "reality" show though.

Had a recent conversation with an old friend who watches no TV and while we share much of the same interest in subject matter he was woefully ignorant of what was going on in the ever-changing scientific field and recent discoveries in history that was profiled on the above channels.

While I'm an advocate of books with about 1,000 in my library, up-to-date programs that cover myriad of subjects with the latest discoveries and updates inform those that wish to be informed. Books are expensive and some subjects become outdated quickly requiring more purchases and space. Talking to my old friend was like talking to Rip van Winkle as most of his knowledge was out of date as to scientific and acedemic theory, knowledge and insights.

He hasn't seen a classic movie in decades! I can't imagine not watching one once in awhile along with more recent movie fair on DVD.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I have never been to Vegas, ...

Good to know we're not alone.


Let me just add that I have no desire to ever go to Vegas ... sober.

.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Good to know we're not alone.


Let me just add that I have no desire to ever go to Vegas ... sober.

.

Same here, or I would have already done so.
But I have already seen it on TV.

 

[ValleyBoy]

Vegas isn't what it's cracked up to be.

 

[Mindraker]

Are you aware that I have not seen one single episode of "American Idol"?

Don't worry, you haven't missed anything.