The battle of the TV continues.
A year ago we moved into our place and didn’t plug the TV in. In fact it stayed in a closet waiting to be given away or something. But this past winter a storm came and we took it out to watch the news.
It was a little hard setting it up – we had to use a wire coat hanger as the antenna and we constantly would have to readjust the “antenna” in order to get a picture that we could actually see. Well, after that night the TV was put back into its closet but somehow it would come out every once in awhile for us to watch it – but it would always go back into the closet.
As the weeks past, we started to see it out more often. It was making itself at “home” in our living room. It got a new antenna so it wasn’t so hard to set-up and watch.
Now, 4 or 5 months later we see it almost every night.
Is TV bad? Should we fight the urge to watch it?
There are some of you out there that can actually have a TV in your home and be strong enough not to turn it on – or if you turn it on you are able to turn it off after a short period of time. I am not one of those people. I have a problem. I am the TV world's dream person – if a TV is on, I become a zombie. I am unable to move except my fingers to change the channel on the remote control. My butt grows roots into the couch so it prevents me to get up and be productive and I stay there until it’s time for bed. I know, it’s pathetic.
So, next weekend we are having a garage sale and the TV is going in there. We are starting the weaning process this week. The TV did not go back into its closet on Thursday night – it went out to the garage with the rest of the garage sale items.
So, is TV bad? For me, yes. But there are others that are affected by it too.
As part of a scientific study in 1971, 184 German TV watchers agreed to quit TV cold turkey. According the Society for Rational Psychology, the group showed a sudden increase in moodiness, child spanking, wife beating, extramarital affairs, and less interest in sex. Several of the subjects had to go back to TV after only a few days. Although they were being paid, no one lasted more than five months. However, once back at the tube, all of their behavior returned to normal. (Uncle John’s Gigantic Bathroom Reader, Are you Dying to Watch TV, p.162)
Don’t worry – I’m not going cold turkey. We’ll still podcast The Office.
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10 comments:
If you're not watching Heroes at nbc.com, then you are not livin'...
I agree with Todd. Now that we don't have cable, I watch Lost on abc.com and Heroes on nbc.com for free. I still have to download The Office, though. We're keeping the TV just for the movies and games, but we have so much more time now that we're not flipping channels and watching stupid shows!
Yeah...been off the TV thing for over a year now. Wonder how I ever had time for it before because I don't have time these days! It's a good thing to give up. I say that hypocritically, having just purchased a mammoth flat-screen that we're going to use for movies. haha
Good for you, guys! Hey- plenty of time for some good books or gardening or canning...or mamma-ing! You won't be bored, for sure! Emily- are you guys TV-free (like, no hookup at all?)
Garage sale?!? You said the TV was going out to the garage for a little TV vacation! And, of course we have been seeing it every night - it was getting lonely and starting to have attachment issues.
Seriously, though, it is time for that thing to go. Sounds like we'll have to start podcasting Heroes, though, too.
So??? What was the verdict? Did the TV sell this weekend or did it sneak back in the house for some lemonade when that fateful buyer came through?
Nope, despite my best efforts to distract potential buyers ("look at this lovely dish rack") the TV sold. With one last look back and a tear forming at the corner of its eye, the TV rode off with its new owner. I feel such a void. At least it left with its friends - the DVD player and the VCR. *sniff* Now I guess Sonja and I will actually have to talk and stuff.
Good for you! And, as long as TV has its friends, it won't be lonely. Sonja isn't so bad to talk to, you guys will do alright (but if the beating increases like it did in the study, we should talk...)
Hey Tracy,
We have a TV (2 now actually) but we've never purchased cable and we can't pick up any local stations where we live either. I rarely feel that we're missing out. Just another monthly drain on our finances.
Hey you two...with all of this spare time we should be getting some more posts...what are you up to??
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