I didn’t own a TV from 1984 when i got divorced, until 2003 when i hooked up with my current wifey. She’s always been a big fan of TV, but more movies than network programing. Even after we got together and she brought a TV into the house, i rarely watched it, except for the occasional movie. TV has never been something i’ve had a lot of interest in. As far back as i can recall i disliked commercial breaks. I had a brief flirtation with cable when it first came out but i devolved to a veg that would watch a test pattern if that's all I could find. It took less than a year to again lose interest but it was not until i got divorced that i fully appreciated my aversion to TV. I didn’t have one and had no desire to get one.
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anyone else not watch TV?
- Thread starter runmikeyrun
- Start date
Alkali Ike
Gold Supporting Member
- Jan 1, 2011
- 2,848
- 15,640
- Disclosures
- I never actually learned to play very well
I love documentaries... especially music related documentaries. So I watch AXS TV sometimes. My wife loves the talent shows (Voice, Idol, etc.). Other than that, it's occasional streamed movies.
We don't allow our girls (8 and 10 years old) any non-school-related screen time of any kind Monday-Thursday. None. Zero. No iPods, computers, pads, TVs. Nothing. They play well together. We're all into volleyball. We get outdoors a lot. They're really into crafts.
On weekends we'll usually pile up on the couch for a movie.
We don't allow our girls (8 and 10 years old) any non-school-related screen time of any kind Monday-Thursday. None. Zero. No iPods, computers, pads, TVs. Nothing. They play well together. We're all into volleyball. We get outdoors a lot. They're really into crafts.
On weekends we'll usually pile up on the couch for a movie.
First of all... This >
I've gone thru stretches not getting sucked into the box, longest being like 1993-2006 not owning or caring about watching actors doing fake stuff, as me spending that time doing real stuff was more important.
Had one for a spell 2007-2015 when I was married, and to this day I believe that it was one part of the few reasons why out marriage got stale and caused us to grow apart.
I've since ditched it again, but did pick up a 17" laptop that was fine for a single dude to stream movies and music stuff on. Now that I have a girlfriend who's kind of a TV buff, we plug the laptop into a bigger monitor to watch some stuff daily, but she watches way more than me. We're also in our 50s, and aren't as gung ho on 'doing stuff' (or even standing for extended periods of time
) so it works for us now
I've gone thru stretches not getting sucked into the box, longest being like 1993-2006 not owning or caring about watching actors doing fake stuff, as me spending that time doing real stuff was more important.
Had one for a spell 2007-2015 when I was married, and to this day I believe that it was one part of the few reasons why out marriage got stale and caused us to grow apart.
I've since ditched it again, but did pick up a 17" laptop that was fine for a single dude to stream movies and music stuff on. Now that I have a girlfriend who's kind of a TV buff, we plug the laptop into a bigger monitor to watch some stuff daily, but she watches way more than me. We're also in our 50s, and aren't as gung ho on 'doing stuff' (or even standing for extended periods of time
) so it works for us now
Alkali Ike
Gold Supporting Member
- Jan 1, 2011
- 2,848
- 15,640
- Disclosures
- I never actually learned to play very well
First of all... This >
I've gone thru stretches not getting sucked into the box, longest being like 1993-2006 not owning or caring about watching actors doing fake stuff, as me spending that time doing real stuff was more important.
Had one for a spell 2007-2015 when I was married, and to this day I believe that it was one part of the few reasons why out marriage got stale and caused us to grow apart.
I've since ditched it again, but did pick up a 17" laptop that was fine for a single dude to stream movies and music stuff on. Now that I have a girlfriend who's kind of a TV buff, we plug the laptop into a bigger monitor to watch some stuff daily, but she watches way more than me. We're also in our 50s, and aren't as gung ho on 'doing stuff' (or even standing for extended periods of time
There is so much good episodic TV these days (not just movies). I just can’t wrap my head around dismissing all of it as crap.
THESE days, but the late80 s-90s was vacuous... I think Married With Children was top of the heap when I said "Enough."
These days there are a TON more edumacashunal docs, movies, and really good series of all kinds thanks to streaming services and even tons of free leaning stuff on You Tube.
Commercials were a HUGE turn off for me back then, too
Edit: the video I linked above was from 1992 as well
"Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance."
Neil Postman - Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business.
As far as I see it, TV is part of that sea.
Neil Postman - Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business.
As far as I see it, TV is part of that sea.
Since politics is verbotten here, can you specify some of the docs that turned you off of Netflix? There must be several if you see a pattern of misinformation.
I'm genuinely curious in case I'm being hoodwinked by their programming and not even realizing it.
Thanks
It is all political, so...
Try "Great Events of WWII in Color". Their researchers are mostly foreign left-wingers who come to conclusions based on cherry-picking historical events while ignoring the big picture. The last one suggests that the US was the cruel one during the war due to bombing, ignoring events like starving and burning POW's alive, medical experiments, and the rape of Nanking(and others) done by the Axis.
Ken Burn's "The Vietnam War". I normally love Burn's work but this one is quite misleading. Not as much political as historical events, causes, results, and situations. I'm not alone in that the veterans and history buffs I've spoke with commented on how off the mark he was.
Obvious left leaning programming like Letterman and his pick of guests, Obama's, etc.
'Nuff said. Let's get back to "Who doesn't watch TV anymore."
Late teenage to late 20s I hardly saw any TV. Whole shows passed me by completely. Reading books, playing and listening to music, chasing after women. I was way too busy. Also kind of contemptuous of vacuous commercial distractions, if I'm honest. Lived in some share houses that had TV. But hardly watched them outside of news, sports and music shows. I didn't really start to take it seriously until I worked dubbing video. And got to appreciate the broad variety of footage that was out there. And even then, books have much more complex story arcs, a God's-eye-view for character and plot development and prettier actors.
But the absolute best thing about TV... Got my daughter a dog. Figured it would be a good life lesson in being responsible for others. But she wasn't all that on feeding him every day. So so sorry, but she forgot. "I'll make it easy for you. When you go to turn on the TV, ask yourself, have I fed the dog? Then you'll easily remember." She's on holiday. I'm on nights. Next day I get up,TVs on. "Fed your dog?" "Not yet. I'll do it soon." Discussion was had. Some points were made.
Next day starts out much like the last. Except that after she runs embarassedly out to belatedly hold up her end of the bargain, I unplugged the TV and cut the plug off. Tears were shed. Mums were phoned. And that plug stayed right where it was. Wifey was all "it can't be open ended. You got to put a date on it." I'm all "Tell it to a hungry dog."
Months pass. Marks for schoolwork go up. Many books are read. (By all of us. Fair's fair. Nobody can watch TV.) But best of all, we got a girl who can now hold an adult conversation. And follow and understand it right through. Concentration gone through the roof. I was kind of sorry to put the plug back on.
But the funny part? There's 2 types of people in the world. Parents. "What a great idea." And non-parents. "That's abuse"
But that was the 90s. You couldn't do it now days. Too many devices. Me and her were reminiscing the other day and she said all you'd have to do is change the password. But to my mind that's the victim saying the rain don't have to fall on young and old alike. Expect that would take much of the power out of the message.
Next day starts out much like the last. Except that after she runs embarassedly out to belatedly hold up her end of the bargain, I unplugged the TV and cut the plug off. Tears were shed. Mums were phoned. And that plug stayed right where it was. Wifey was all "it can't be open ended. You got to put a date on it." I'm all "Tell it to a hungry dog."
Months pass. Marks for schoolwork go up. Many books are read. (By all of us. Fair's fair. Nobody can watch TV.) But best of all, we got a girl who can now hold an adult conversation. And follow and understand it right through. Concentration gone through the roof. I was kind of sorry to put the plug back on.
But the funny part? There's 2 types of people in the world. Parents. "What a great idea." And non-parents. "That's abuse"
But that was the 90s. You couldn't do it now days. Too many devices. Me and her were reminiscing the other day and she said all you'd have to do is change the password. But to my mind that's the victim saying the rain don't have to fall on young and old alike. Expect that would take much of the power out of the message.
Talking to a friend about TV ads awhile back. I like Rugby. He watches Aussie Rules. Due to the different sponsors, we hadn't seen an ad in common in years
In "Great Events Of WW2 In Color" they did make Truman out to be a huffy little turd at the very end, but it was a fascinating, informative, and well narrated look back all the way through it. If I remember correctly there was a thorough doc on the horrors of Nanking available at the same time.
I'm not a veteran, nor would I expect to get several together in the same room and have everybody see the same "big picture" as far as what shaped the Vietnam War.
Thanks for being specific. Yes, we can now not watch TV together again
Peace
I really don't watch TV any more either, but there are a few exceptions.
I have a computer hooked up to my TV, so when I do watch, it's probably something I'm streaming.
I have a computer hooked up to my TV, so when I do watch, it's probably something I'm streaming.
"If parents wish to preserve childhood for their own children, they must conceive of parenting as an act of rebellion against culture." - Neil Postman.
I like your style.
Took me a few reads to comprehend all this...
What you're saying is that TV can be a distraction that turns the mind into mush
If so, I agree with that, along with the internet as well. These forces can be used for the opposite and hopefully the majority of people are striving for a balance in their programming. Life isn't always about keeping entertained and distracted from real life. Cheers
Trying to keep it short as possible so big screeds of words don't put people off. Might've overdone it.
Saying turns the mind to mush is probably more loaded than atrophies the thinking skills. I'd add the role of peer pressure in viewing choices as well. TBH I never considered the effect on her social standing until just now. Hopefully the sympathy vote compensated for ignorance of what Phoebe and Chandler did last night.
Having said all that, she was always good at using money to get what she wanted. So I took the opportunity to raise me a little rebel. Figured she'd always land on her feet. So critical thinking and people skills would be the best things I could teach her.
Which is why, just before alcohol would become a factor in her teenage life, me and mummy got her blind drunk one night. You can never be sure that sort of thing worked. But we got enough calls about everyone is falling down drunk. Can you pick me up, please?
