Is anybody else flirting with letting the TV go dead? Good idea/bad idea?

[NeilV]

I have a TV with rabbit ears. I didn't get a converter. I'm down to two channels (Fox and ABC). I haven't watched anything on TV for 3 weeks.

On the one hand, I think TV is overall a bad influence and I did not watch much before. I have a 2 year old and a 5 year old. I don't really want them watching most of what's on TV.

On the other hand, I really miss PBS and TV in moderation is not always a bad thing. I'm not sure that I'm not throwing the baby out with the bath.

Anybody else out there in this spot?

Anybody have an opinion?

P.S. If a moderator thinks this belongs in TG, please move it. I only put it here because there's no religion or politics involved.

[Joel]

I think about it from time to time, especially when I'm clicking through 100 or so channels and it's mindless show after mindless show. I do like PBS, History Channel and the like and some nights, after a hard day It's good to veg. I guess though I could just as well veg with a good book and expand my imagination a little.

[Sundance]

I am addicted.......... mainly the movie channels and
the winter. It would be a "good thing" to shut it down.
Sure wish I could just get the movie channels and
none of the other stuff. The only other channel I
watch regularly is CSPAN.

[dragonfly]

I could live without TV, but I enjoy things like the History Channel/ H International, National Geographic, Ovation, Smithsonian, and the news channels. It's not a must, but if I have my choice, I will keep it.

[magnet-man]

Well Neil, we did the roof top antenna thing for over a year and did get a converter box for our non-digital tv. We really ended up watching less tv and being selective about what we watched. But as luck would have it AT&T stopped by the house with fiber optic and I was signed up with faster internet and TV service. I now have 100 channels of garbage but really fast internet. You my friend are the proud owner of a free converter box. I will bring it and the antenna to the Bee Buzz. See you there.

[Natalie]

I stopped watching tv completely around 3 years ago and had been slowly tapering off my tv watching up until then.
Not really planned, just couldn't stand what was on television or to waste any of my time sitting in front of a mindless box with no interaction with other people.
There is simply nothing interesting enough to me on television that I feel like sitting there wasting my time.
I don't miss it at all and I don't feel out of the loop in anyway, I read 2 newspapers a day and I can catch up on daily events when I log onto the computer to check my e-mails. I also don't spend a whole lot of time on the computer either, I check my e-mails and the forums in the morning and then at night usually.
I have children and they would sit there all day and watch tv if you let them so I take it out of the room completely on sunday night and return it to the living room on friday nights.
I have parental blocks on all channels that I do not want them accessing.
They spend alot more time drawing, doing puzzles,playing games and interacting with family,reading and playing outside than they did when they could flip the tv on whenever they wanted.
I don't think tv is necessary on a full time basis.

[Ben Brewcat]

Haven't watched TV in years. Who has time? I don't think it's evil or anything (generally), but just spend my time on other things. Once you have a little distance from the bombardment, it's amazing when you see an ad or something how desensitized to the frantic blasting of noise, color and movement TV watchers become.

Not watching TV has become a big part of our lifestyle; we read more, talk to each other more, are more active and learn more.

[mgmoore7]

I virtually gave up the TV about 2 1/2 years ago. I have not missed it. Even then I was not a heavy TV watcher. I went from about 12 hours a week to 1-2 hours a month.

I have 5 kids all under the age of 9. There is nothing on the TV worth their time. We do still use the TV/VCR & DVD for educational movies and on occasion a PG movie for my wife and I to watch.

I am going to get the converter so I can watch something specific at times.

I have found that my s_x life is much better, I am happier, I don't worry about at much stuff in the world and spend my time doing more valuable and worthwhile things.

[Natalie]

I find we go to be earlier and no one falls asleep in front of the tv ;)

[Hambone]

http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/42894/2172530920103391520S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2172530920103391520yOjSiU)

[Robert Brenchley]

The rest of the family are addicted but I barely watch it. The wife complains endlessly about the time I spend on the computer, but at least my brain's engaged!

[drobbins]

get an observation hive
BTV rocks:D

Dave

[Michael Bush]

>get an observation hive
>BTV rocks

That's what I was going to say. You'll never even miss it...

[Hobie]

We have cable because it's packaged with the internet. But the primary thing the TV is used for is playing DVDs and video tapes. Gotta love Netflix. There's nothing on TV, and I'm very disappointed in the show quality on Discovery and Animal Planet, and someone please tell me why they have celebrity wrestling on SciFi? I could do without.

[NeilV]

I'm not getting cable, but I suppose it would be wrong to refuse Magnet Man's gift. ;)

I forgot to mention one humorous detail. We still do get the local Spanish TV channel. Weekend before last I went into the living room and my kid was watching a Spanish cartoon. I pointed out that they were not speaking English and that he does not speak Spanish, but he did not care. Something about them cartoons . . . .

What I do miss are Nova, Nature, Oklahoma Gardening, Austin City Limits and Globe Trekker, all on PBS.

Neil

[alpha6]

You will be shocked at how much more time you have to do other things without TV. I stopped watching in 1996 and haven't missed a thing. I get my news from radio in the truck and off the internet. I have so many projects going that there is no time to watch it. I like movies and will watch a couple on the weekend but thats about it.

The time you recover will be something you look back on as time not wasted.

[Hillside]

We had digital cable for quite a few years. Even with half a gazillion channels, there was never anything good on. Things like the History Channel are good, but after a while you realize they're showing the same stuff over and over. The cost kept creeping up until we finally decided it had become ridiculous. We cut back to basic cable and are saving about 60 bucks a month.

[scottsbees]

I would'nt go with out it. I don't watch movies or mtv, but I really like fox news, cnbc, history channel and discovery. I do like to read and learn, but watching selective tv does keep me in tune on whats going on in the world, plus I learn alot from watching RFDTV, a great channel.

My Kids do watch alot of cartoons, and there is alot of junk tv out there, but I do believe they learn alot from it also.

[chillardbee]

Haven't had cable for 6 years now and even when I did I never really watch it. but we do have a X BOX 360 that we use for our evening entertainment. Does that that count as TV?

[wayacoyote]

When I met my wife, I was addicted to tv and had satelite reception. Of course, I had little else going on in my life. I sat and browsed the web while watching show after show. However, our family adjenda was different. Our son watches maybe 1 hour of tv per week from our collection of educational videos. My wife and I watch (maybe) 2 hours tops at night. The tv is in the bedroom, so it just isn't a point of interest the rest of the day. I'm so much happier in my life.

[Tom G. Laury]

Around 24 +- years ago ours broke and we never looked back. I think my children benefitted and my wife & I also. Lots of reading; also to us it was an everyday thing to eat dinner together. When we went on vacation then it was a real treat to have TV!

[Galaxy]

I have three granddaughters, the oldest is 11. The have almost never watched TV (only a few movies from tapes or DVDs). I can't see where the lack of TV has harmed them in any way. On the positive side,


they are not overweight
they are excellent readers
they have plenty of time to do their homework
they know how to organize their own entertainment
they interact with each other, their friends and adults much more than if they spent time in front of the TV
there is no doubt that their interpersonal skills will be better when they become adults.
By the way they are not allowed to use computers either without direct adult supervision. Computers and the Internet are just as addictive as the TV. Just like TV, the Internet can take you away from interaction with real people and real communities, as we should all know.

[BEES4U]

I have not watched tv for more than 3 years and I do not miss it one milligram!
Ernie

[Tom G. Laury]

This is an issue which transcends political / religious / whatever ideology.

Gotta LOVE that COMMON GROUND!

TV just isn't worth the time

[Tom G. Laury]

Uhhh,...Galaxy?...hello?...hello?

Still waiting;...for the NEGATIVE side of not watching TV!:D:D:D

[indypartridge]

We haven't had TV since we moved to our cabin 5 years ago. Haven't missed it. We get Netflix and the kids get videos from the library: mostly old movies & musicals from the 40's & 50's.

As others have said, there are lots of positives and I can't think of any negatives.

[Zane]

The thing I like about tv out here in tornado alley is the live radar feedback in storm season. I have a weather radio but I like to see what's really going on.
I dont have a converter box yet but MAY get one.
I like watching the good cable channels but there is so much junk and my daughter likes to sit in front of it instead if chores so I'll stay off the cable until she moves out!!! my son who lives mostly w/ my ex, loves the "green" channel and food channel. I figure that cant hurt any? I like the history, garden, food, weather and hunting channels and maybe if there is an old western channel I'd go for that too!! but for now NO to cable, maybe yes to the converter.

[crazytranes]

My wife and I did not get a converter box either. We do not have cable, we feel that we are not missing anything. We seldom watched TV even before the conversion. I did watch the Presidential debates; that was the most TV I watched in a long time!

We discussed the possibility to just getting rid of the TV completely now that we are procreating. We decided to keep it since we do enjoy borrowing movies from the library and watching TV shows on DVD (We're big fans of Star Trek). :popcorn: Our plan is to ration TV watching for the whole family. The same with video games.

I grew up w/ no cable. I also was not allowed to watch Saturday morning cartoons. When we watched TV, it was Mister Rogers and Sesame Street (also Electric Company until they disappeared, and later Square One). I spent lots and lots of time running around outside playing with my brother and sisters and our friends in the neighborhood. I also read a lot (sister taught me to read when I was 4). I'm hoping that our kids will have similar positive experiences as a result of limited TV exposure. :)

[Aram]

LOL Tom. Funny, I too agree with every point Galaxy made.
We gave up the TV some sixteen years ago, when my oldest was born.
After teaching young children for more than ten years, if I was granted one wish, if I got to ask parents to make only one "sacrifice", I know what it would be. Get rid of your TV!
No question, the TV can be a tool for information or entertainment for adults (if they really have nothing better to do) but, to children it's just plain poison. There are no educational TV programs when you understand how young children learn.

[DaggerD]

Kill your TV!

TV is the worst drug out there. I got rid of mine years ago and have been living ever since. With TV we just exist.

[justin]

have not had it for 6 years, and i only had it then because my lovely wife was stealing cable when we were dating. itried netflix but was to busy to watch.my kids have movies they watch, and we occasionally rent movies but have never even tried for reception.i find the number of, and content of the ads infuriating.its like having an amway party every 9 minutes for 3 minutes, and then trying to stay intrested in the actual show as well." ask your doctor about justinosalx in some clinical studies it has helped to make people like you more dependant on people like us." it also causes baldness, erectile dysfunction, numbness, naseau. brought to you by electrasal.

[drobbins]

if you have broadband, check out

http://www.veoh.com/

it's from the major studios so it's legit
they have a lot of trash just like regular TV, but a lot of good stuff is available too
you can watch stuff on your computer or plug your computer into you TV if you have the right gear

(it's free):)

Dave

[beemused]

We quit TV many years ago and are asked often if we saw this or that on the tube. When we respond with the fact we do not even have a TV set in the home we get looks of awe and most tell us we are missing something. I'm now assured by the numerous responses here that we are not the only ones who are fed up with the trash infused with propaganda and that our choice is not as solitary as we had thought. -------------- But then most on this forum like to associate with bugs! :D

[erak]

I see my first post got censored. Sorry about that. So much for freedom of speech. I have been toying with the idea of cancelling my cable. I will not go the satellite route. My friend cancelled his tv long ago with no regrets. I am finding I can watch whatever I want over the internet. If my tv died today, I would not care.

[Josh Carmack]

The rest of the family are addicted but I barely watch it. The wife complains endlessly about the time I spend on the computer, but at least my brain's engaged!

Same here, we recently moved and left the dish where it was. I'm going to conveniently "forget" to move the dish or pay the bill. My wife and four girls eat the darn thing up. When this TV is on the brink I'll probably not replace it. 1500 bucks would buy a lot of books etc that are much niver than the next BS episode of Lost House ER Grey etc etc etc

While the computer can be just as addictive, your brain is much more engaged, and much less bombarded by crap.

[hillbilly1]

totaly solar here on the farm.could have tv but that would be a waste of time.early to bed early to rise.then do it all over agan & agan & agan. never ending.

[crazytranes]

Watched Super Size Me the other day (slow night at work), this statistic caught my ear:

"The average American child sees 10,000 food advertisements per year on the TV. 95% of these are for sugared cereals, soft drinks, fast food, or candy." -Kelly Brownell, PhD. Professor, Yale Center for Eating and Weight Disorders

Quick math: assuming 30 seconds/ commercial:
That's 83hrs 20min of commercials/year

Assuming 10min of commercials per half hour cartoon:
That's 250 hours of TV per year

Here's the clincher, though (assuming his figures are accurate): Not every commercial on TV is for food. There are also commercials for toys, other shows, public service messages (that's assuming it's like when I watched TV as a kid).

So, by ditching the TV you gain approximately an extra hour per day with your family. :D

[ScadsOBees]

I got a converter box, haven't used it for 4 months now. Doesn't help that I don't get much signal.

But I can pretty much watch whatever I want on the internet (I like the old inane shows, the kids love Mcgyver :), just watched airwolf, wow, a helicopter that can fly 20,000 miles without refueling! ), plus the library dvd's for the kids plus netflix its on way more than it should be.

But it is still a secondary activity after family suppers, reading, playing, working etc.

Turn it off and you probably won't miss it much.

[berkshire bee]

SO I think it's been well over 10 yrs since we cancelled cable. I'm not sure how much we've saved, but if the rate stayed the same ($29/mo) it would be well over $3000. The only negative I've found was that when the planes crashed on sept 11th, I had to go to my dad's to see what was going on.

Now if I'm at someones house, and they're watching tv,after hearing the same loud commercial over and over, I want to Scream!

[Tom G. Laury]

The GOOD IDEAS have it by a wide margin.

All kidding aside, this is one issue which people from highly divergent viewpoints can agree on. In fact, no one on this thread really supports TV time as a positive influence. But they all like bees too.:o

[walking bird]

Okay, wait a second Tom, gimme a shot here...

I agree that the preponderance of TV is a waste of time. And I admit, right here in public, to having contributed to that at one point in my life, having written for TV for awhile back in my misspent youth.

So maybe I'm a little biased... but there is some good stuff, and I think TV, just like movies, books, radio, and all media, has its place.

Sure, like those other media, it's mostly junk. So don't watch the junk. But for up-to-the-minute coverage of important events it's hard to beat(it's critical around here, for instance, during brush fire season); sports (it's the World Series, Nurse Ratchet!) and the occasional flashes of brilliance (The Sopranos) it's worth having at least one sitting around.

And hey--- think of all those jobs you're saving out here in my neck of the woods by continuing to watch once in awhile. It's the American thing to do! :D

[crazytranes]

WB, I agree that TV has it's place. For us, that place is in the corner of our Guest Room/Den. We use it to watch movies, TV series on DVD (LOVE Star Trek and Dr. Who!!), and for the Playstation. We support your locals by buying TV series, but we avoid the broadcast shows because after watching a show on DVD, I just can't take the commercials anymore.

For us, the radio provides all the news and weather that we need. Then again, we don't deal w/ Brushfire season in Maine...

[Eaglerock]

I am addicted.......... mainly the movie channels and
the winter.

And the Winter Channel? ;)

OH I get that channel...it's snow... mostly is the cable isn't connected. :lpf:

[R Chance]

One of the best things, in our family at least, was to get rid of the TV completely. As stated above, the kids spend evenings reading a book, drawing,ect. We as a family spend more QUALITY TIME together than we ever did with the tv on. Besides, it's all "reality tv" now, ....ugh! I remember when tv was better than reality, I get a belly full of reality on a daily baisis, and don't care for it all night too. I'm not saying it's all bad, just that it's not worth picking through the trash to find the good stuff. Besides,.....ever wonder why they call it PROGRAMMING? Just a thought....Rob

[uncletom]

I went 10 years with out a tv, then I got married. the lovley Elizabeth wanted a tv, so I got her one. Which ment I needed electricity. And a dish too. Then she wanted running water and indoor plumbing, I got her that too. Then a telephone, cell phones, microwave oven, computer, a car, another car, a new car....... It never ends. My life was so much simpler before TV.

uncletom

[DebCP]

Hi Neil,

My husband and I decided to ditch our cable about 5 or 6 years ago when my kids were younger. It didn't happen so much due to it being a bad influence, I just became tired of paying $50.00 a month for something I didn't have time to use and that my kids would fight over.

Interesting thing is that after all this time we finally got around to putting up a powered antennae and hooked it up to the TV. Since we really don't watch it unless I really want to see something special (superbowl has been about it so far). My teenage daughter recently found out that we had access to real television (just not cable) again. I was afraid she'd start sitting in front of the tube like a junkie, but instead she just said "Cool" and went back to whatever it was she had been doing outside. I don't think she's watched anything on it yet, which makes me very pleased.

We didn't realize how much quality time the tube sucked out of us until we had been away from it for a few months, and wouldn't want things any other way now.

DebCP

[Eaglerock]

I went 10 years with out a tv, then I got married. the lovley Elizabeth wanted a tv, so I got her one. Which ment I needed electricity. And a dish too. Then she wanted running water and indoor plumbing, I got her that too. Then a telephone, cell phones, microwave oven, computer, a car, another car, a new car....... It never ends. My life was so much simpler before TV.

uncletom

Dear Mister Uncle Tom, Good thing you have some of those things or we wouldn't have heard your story..... :rolleyes::

However, my life was so much simpler before I got a wife. :lpf:

[luckyducky]

We haven't had TV channels for about 5 years, the internet is all we need for the latest and greatest breaking news ( in my opinion). Don't miss it one single bit, no commmercials no wasted time channel surfing, no of that, I love it! The down side is, we do watch movies on our DVD player, and we watch lots of movies, luckily we enjoy rewatching many of our movie collection. I suggest trying it for a bit, see if you won't mind not having it in your lives.

[Hobie]

We've been getting old TV series on DVD, thank you Netflix. It's great to be able to watch with no commercials, and you don't need a 2 hour time commitment. It's still mindless entertainment, but easier to rationalize!

[uncletom]

Eagle,

Sometimes I think the computer is worse than the tv.....

In all Honesty, and its no small coincidence that I say this on mothers day, I kept my wife barefoot and pregant, and she keeps me broke and sober and I wouldnt have missed it for the world. ;)

uncletom

[bejay]

I think the computer is worse also, should probably get rid of the computer and tv as they are both a big waste of time, just look at this thread of useless crap.

[The Honey Householder]

I think the computer is worse also, should probably get rid of the computer and tv as they are both a big waste of time, just look at this thread of useless crap.

I got rid of the TV 16 years ago and now I have 8 kids. Luckly I found the computer and have learn to post useless threads.:popcorn:

[Countryboy]

I grew up without a tv. (In my teen years, someone gave Mom an old black and white tv that might show a picture if you stood on your head holding the antennas just right. We didn't watch it very often.)

Oh, I told myself that when I grew up and got rich, I was going to have me a nice fancy color tv. So I got me one....nice color picture. I didn't get any tv reception, so I had to get satellite. For a while, I would watch old cartoons like Bugs Bunny or Tom and Jerry.

But I like to do other stuff too.

And then I got tired of paying $60 a month for satellite, when I was lucky if I would watch tv 2 evenings a month. So I turned off the satellite.

I still have that nice color tv. I think it still works. I haven't turned it on in 4 or 5 years.

[Tom G. Laury]

Countryboy, I'm right there with you. No TV in our home for +- 25 yrs.
I am not fanatical about anything, just so obvious with children. Books, conversation, at home.
This is one " issue " that people from widely varied political religious educational level etc., etc., find a broad common ground. For a healthy family environment, the less TV the better. :gh:

[BenMidTenn]

In 2000 after continually refining our video collection we decided as a family that we (personally) would be better off if we got rid of t.v. and video (at that time no dvd.) We taped the screen up with duct tape, put it in a wagon, marched it out to the side property, asked it if it had any last requests, and shot with our .22. It was great! We got rid of all the videos, the vcr, and the rewinder. We also through Nintendo out with it.

At first there was a short time of withdraw, but soon the children started busying themselves with books, arts and crafts, learning musical instruments, playing together and getting along, spending time outside, handwriting to penpals, and farm related interests. We also noticed that the wild foolishness, that usually was the cause for someone getting in trouble, cut way back. Alot of the foolishness was repeating or acting out some fool scene from some video. Alas!

In the nine years since we got rid of it, our home is relatively peaceful. We still have seven, healthy, active, younguns' at home, but they are a joy, and getting rid of "the box," has been to our advantage.

You can get news and weather from the internet, the radio, word of mouth, news paper, etc. As far as The History Channel, or The Discovery Channel, here is a profound thought...Why not read a book? You cannot put the t.v. on hold, but you can put a book down and go take care of needs as they arise.

We also read books aloud as a family. We read missionary stories, books by great Christian minds, and listen to great music. This has built family unity and family enjoyment. We write alot about this on our site Pilgrim Believers (http://coveredbaptists.proboards.com/index.cgi).

Obviously, we have a Christian emphasis, but anyone would benefit from these same principles.

Ben

[The Honey Householder]

Right on Ben,
That TV was good for one last fun family night. I would have Ebayed all of it and went on a trip instead. Well with the price of gas it would have to be close to home.:doh:
Ron

[Tom G. Laury]

Who got to shoot first? Did they kill it one shot? Yardage? Caliber?
Did you take photos? :D:applause::D Did you bury it? How ceremonial was it? :D

[BenMidTenn]

Tom asked:


Who got to shoot first? Did they kill it one shot? Yardage? Caliber?
Did you take photos? Did you bury it? How ceremonial was it?

O.k., Tom, here's how it went...

First we renamed the box with the name of an infamous Old Testament diety, Dagon, (half human, half fish, like the Little Mermaid.) Then we taped it up with duct taped to keep any internal matter from blowing out when the screen went.

We marched approx. 50 yards to the side property, away from the house and where our bullet had nothing but thicket to fire into (if it went clean through.)

We used our Winchester .22 caliber single shot, loaded with a .22 long. Since it was a single shot, we fired only one after giving sentance and asking for any last requests or remarks...it made none. I got the privilege of dispatching it from our presence.

Unfortunately, we took no photo's, but it was a small Panasonic. It left a long line of descendents in it's place. It was unceremoniously thrown into the trash can and taken promptly to the local dump (we have to carry our trash to the local Conenience Centers.)

It's cohorts, the tape rewinder, the vcr, and literally hundreds of tapes were first smashed to smithereens with a splitting maul, and then dumped into empty trash cans. They too were promtly taken to the dump.

It was quite liberating. I can't be sure of it, but we probably had some type of delicious meal and dessert that night in celebration, (but then, we do that every night!):D

Ben

[Tom G. Laury]

Ben:
Thanks for the grins!:D

What a hilarious mixture of humor and seriousness, I bet the kids told all their friends! Meaningful and meaningless at the same time.

[walking bird]

Wow. Seven kids.

Seems to me like the TV might have actually been a good alternative awhile back.:D

[Hambone]

If I walk though the living room and hear one more song from some crap movie called Momma Mia. My TV will be going dead. I am going to smash it into a million pieces.

[NasalSponge]

We got rid of ours in the 80's when we began having kids....now I have a 46" LCD......oh well.:(