I'm going to quit watching so much TV

[PosterChild]

John Metz
DFW.com


I used to be proud, so very proud, that I could honestly say I didn’t watch much TV.

Nothing makes one feel more like an adventurous, life-seizing superhero than putting "dont have time for tv" in the "Favorite TV Shows" field of a Facebook profile. That’ll show whoever’s looking that I’m not a lazy slob with no life!

But what’s that they always say about pride coming before a fall? Tragically and slowly, I’ve returned to the comforts of the warm, glowing box. It wasn’t until a few weeks ago, when I woke up one Tuesday, and my first thought was of getting to watch The Biggest Loser that night, that I realized how far I had fallen. I was scheduling real-life interactions with human beings around TV shows — crappy ones!

My regression didn’t happen overnight. A couple of years ago, I felt left out of everyone else’s Lost fanaticism. I invested a great deal of time catching up on DVD so that I could, in real time, hang on every twist in this far-fetched phenomenon. When the show came back after a 47-year hiatus, my DVR was set. Hey, it came free with my cable and Internet service. Gimme a break. (Now there was a good show!)

Last summer, I acquired a roommate with whom I share bills, chores and a bed. This can be very dangerous when it comes to TV viewing, because your shows + their shows = twice as many shows. Hence I got hooked on The Biggest Loser. Each episode is two hours.

Even with skipping through the commercials, having BL on meant being bombarded with promos for 30 Rock and Celebrity Apprentice 2, also on NBC. Naturally, the DVR soon was set. The little red light came on almost every night. There was even a program we loved on Monday nights, but I’ve already forgotten what it was. Not time well-spent.

So things got out of hand, and I’m to blame. Partly. It’s also the economy’s fault. Where once I casually went out for dinner, drinks and a movie with friends on a weeknight, I now am regrettably cognizant of shrewder ways to spend $40 — like getting an oil change, procuring quarters for laundry, sponsoring a child through ChildFund (yes, I do). Or, you know . . . paying my cable bill.

Sadly for me, each aforementioned show ended its season this week. Far, far sadder is that I care. I let dumb shows become things I looked forward to. I’m pretty sure I can do better.

Now that the spring television season is over, I vow not to let myself get dragged into Bravo’s Fashion Show or . . . forget it, I don’t even want to know what’s coming on. Count me out.

I’d challenge everyone in my generation (Y, on the cusp of X) to not waste your youthful looks and energy letting TV become a ritual this summer. A little TV is OK; a life that revolves around it is not.

Instead, try doing stuff. Barbecue with friends, or, if you’re cannibalistically inclined, barbecue friends. Take an evening swim. Even if you look at Us Weekly in the hammock while sipping on a Red Bull, at least you’re getting fresh air.

As I’m constantly telling everyone, I’m not one to relentlessly push my ideas on people. But I, for one, am going to be using my mind this summer as I take a few classes, plow through some tough books and hone my talents. I’m going to see the Cats run the bases and watch fireworks light up the sky. Hell, maybe I’ll even grow some vegetables.

What I do isn’t important. What matters is getting that "Favorite TV Shows" field down, and the "Activities" field up.


http://www.dfw.com/158/story/127365.html

 

[PosterChild]

I only turn my tv on to watch a game, rarely even watching cable or local news, not because i'm above it but it holds no interest for me right now. I have sent this article to a couple of friends who really do need to read it! Great line in there made it worth the read.

 

[CATCH17]

I dont watch much Mon - Fri but I catch a little more on the weekends.

 

[Hoofbite]

I watch very very little TV.

I just don't have a set enough schedule to watching anything. I picked up on some show a few weeks ago about a dude living with bears and even though I thought it was awesome, I only watched for like 2-3 weeks before ditching it.

 

[Ren]

I hardly watch any TV less then 2 hours a week (way more during football season), there's nothing good on TV anymore. It honestly seems that everything now is just some crap reality show who's sole purpose is to film drunk people having sex under the sheets in IR

 

[PosterChild]

In the interest of accuracy and full disclsoure(1) Online time has replaced tv time to a great extent (2) Once NCAAF and NFL cranks up, tv time will markedly increase.


Funny thing, they're were just having a discussion on The Ticket about one of the on air dudes observing couples dining out and not communicating w ea other but staring at their phones/text messages.

 

[PosterChild]

I hardly watch any TV less then 2 hours a week (way more during football season), there's nothing good on TV anymore. It honestly seems that everything now is just some crap reality show who's sole purpose is to film drunk people having sex under the sheets in IR

Yep. The "Reality" Shows prob spurred my turn away fr tv.

 

[Dallas]

Im not someone who sticks his nose in my friends business. It's their life, not mine. Serious health issues are another story. I have a friend whos a big-big guy. I tell him often that he has to start taking better care of himself, for his and his daughters sake.


Intruding on anything else I believe, is none my business.


All you are saying is...."Have I got a life for you."

FYI: I rarely watch tv. The only time it's on is if I am watching a movie or some cartoon w/ my son.


I don't see any harm if a person wants to catch Dexter or Grey's Anatomy.


Dancing w/ the stars on the other hand.......... (Chief)

 

[lewpac]

This is a good thread to bring up a book I read when I was in my early 20's.......

"The Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television" (Gerry Mander).

This guy was a top exec. in the advertising industry. After a career filled with guilt and selling his soul, he wrote this book to "out" the industry, primarily the industry with relation to television. He covers everything from the commercials to the actual programming, and how it's truly the "brainwashing of America".

It's on par to "On a Clear Day You can See General Motors" by the now notorious John DeLorean. Say what you want about DeLorean, but he's the guy who put the Pontiac division of GM on the map. He too exposes the auto industry for what it is. That, no matter what they say about safety, mileage, comfort, design, "going green", whatever..................the bottom line is PROFIT, and they'll do whatever it takes to get it.

This book....................no matter what they say in the TV buis., it's all about getting YOU to think the way they want you to think, and plunk down your dollars they way they want you to. Sounds all "conspiracy" and "illuminati" and all, but read the book and it makes perfect sense.

I didn't watch ONE SECOND of TV for over 15 years. Didn't even have cable piped into my home. But then I met my wife and I wasn't going to impose my thing on her or anyones else. So since then, we have a more "normal" household and her and the kids watch their share of television. All I ever watch are the ball games and the races, and some news.

 

[PosterChild]

This is a good thread to bring up a book I read when I was in my early 20's.......

"The Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television" (Gerry Mander).

This guy was a top exec. in the advertising industry. After a career filled with guilt and selling his soul, he wrote this book to "out" the industry, primarily the industry with relation to television. He covers everything from the commercials to the actual programming, and how it's truly the "brainwashing of America".

It's on par to "On a Clear Day You can See General Motors" by the now notorious John DeLorean. Say what you want about DeLorean, but he's the guy who put the Pontiac division of GM on the map. He too exposes the auto industry for what it is. That, no matter what they say about safety, mileage, comfort, design, "going green", whatever..................the bottom line is PROFIT, and they'll do whatever it takes to get it.

This book....................no matter what they say in the TV buis., it's all about getting YOU to think the way they want you to think, and plunk down your dollars they way they want you to. Sounds all "conspiracy" and "illuminati" and all, but read the book and it makes perfect sense.

I didn't watch ONE SECOND of TV for over 15 years. Didn't even have cable piped into my home. But then I met my wife and I wasn't going to impose my thing on her or anyones else. So since then, we have a more "normal" household and her and the kids watch their share of television. All I ever watch are the ball games and the races, and some news.

Well, you can be certain that certain ppl will try, as you phrase it, to impose certain things like looking at their ads thru various methods, that's not yours or anybody else's imagination, but you don't have patronize them, ya know. This is my philosophy in lots of arenas.

 

[DallasCowpoke]

He covers everything from the commercials to the actual programming, and how it's truly the "brainwashing of America".

If you have a brain that's "washed" by anything you see on a TV show or movie, you need to be using the delicate cycle anyway.

 

[lewpac]

Even if I never read that book, I'm just not that entertained by TV........network and cable stuff.

The ball games are a must. A little news too, but the internet has it all over TV news for my dollar to be current. I have acquired no taste whatsoever for The Big Three or any other cable "news", as I'm convinced that THEY TOO have an agenda their promoting. Be it "FOX Right" or "MSNBC Left", I don't trust any "news" I get from the TV anymore...................From Dan Rather to Bill O'Reilly, up and down and everyone in between, it's not "news" anymore. It's opinion and editorial depending upon their bent.

That leaves movies. The television set is good (HBO, Showtime, etc....) for a movie or two from time to time that I wanted to see but didn't get the chance to go to a theater when it came out.

I've never seen an episode of Cosby, Friends, Frazier, Everyone Loves Raymond, etc., etc., etc......................Just not interested. I DID however made an exception with Seinfeld.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I stopped watching network/cable TV over 2 years ago.


I watch all my shows on Hulu.

Fringe
Sarah Connor Chronicles
ReGenesis
In Plain Sight
Lie to Me

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

In the interest of accuracy and full disclsoure(1) Online time has replaced tv time to a great extent (2) Once NCAAF and NFL cranks up, tv time will markedly increase.


Funny thing, they're were just having a discussion on The Ticket about one of the on air dudes observing couples dining out and not communicating w ea other but staring at their phones/text messages.

yeah because vegetating online is so much better than watching tv

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

I didn't watch ONE SECOND of TV for over 15 years. .

I call bs, that is impossible

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

yeah because vegetating online is so much better than watching tv

It actually IS better. Internet/connectivity etc is the future... the shape of things to come.

 

[lewpac]

I call bs, that is impossible

No, it IS possible, because I DIDN"T WATCH ONE SECOND OF TV for OVER fifteen years.

Why is that so impossible for you to fathom?

TV wasn't even available until the fifties. What did ALL THOSE PEOPLE who lived for EONS OF TIME do before 1953?

Between 1983 and 1998, I NEVER watched ONE SECOND of television! I visited, read, worked out, etc................and couldn't even be bothered with such a trivial thing as television.

Your amazement and shock at such a concept only proves the point of the book I referred to. The idea of NOT watching the boob tube only adds to the idea of "a nation of sheep". With all the annuls of human history, and TV only being around for 50-some years, some people can't imagine life without it.

I concede the addage: 78 channels and NOTHING on....................

 

[lewpac]

yeah because vegetating online is so much better than watching tv

This from a guy who is, as we speak, "vegetating online" to post his thoughts......

 

[WoodysGirl]

No, it IS possible, because I DIDN"T WATCH ONE SECOND OF TV for OVER fifteen years.

Why is that so impossible for you to fathom?

TV wasn't even available until the fifties. What did ALL THOSE PEOPLE who lived for EONS OF TIME do before 1953?

Between 1983 and 1998, I NEVER watched ONE SECOND of television! I visited, read, worked out, etc................and couldn't even be bothered with such a trivial thing as television.

Your amazement and shock at such a concept only proves the point of the book I referred to. The idea of NOT watching the boob tube only adds to the idea of "a nation of sheep". With all the annuls of human history, and TV only being around for 50-some years, some people can't imagine life without it.

I concede the addage: 78 channels and NOTHING on....................

So how'd you get your Cowboy fix during that time?

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

No, it IS possible, because I DIDN"T WATCH ONE SECOND OF TV for OVER fifteen years.

Why is that so impossible for you to fathom?

TV wasn't even available until the fifties. What did ALL THOSE PEOPLE who lived for EONS OF TIME do before 1953?

Between 1983 and 1998, I NEVER watched ONE SECOND of television! I visited, read, worked out, etc................and couldn't even be bothered with such a trivial thing as television.

Your amazement and shock at such a concept only proves the point of the book I referred to. The idea of NOT watching the boob tube only adds to the idea of "a nation of sheep". With all the annuls of human history, and TV only being around for 50-some years, some people can't imagine life without it.

I concede the addage: 78 channels and NOTHING on....................

so how did you feel missing the Cowboys SBs during that time period, must have hurt knowing they were on tv and not seeing them. You never even got to see the triplets in action.