Switch off that TV
August 6th 2008 23:27
My friend was on the phone.
“What are you watching on TV at the moment?”
“Nothing.”
“Oh good. I can come over and watch this program with you.”
It didn’t seem to occur to him that maybe the reason I wasn’t watching television was because I didn’t want to. It’s not the first time I have received comments about television that make me think I have a completely different approach to it than most of my friends.
Someone once asked what I usually watched on a Tuesday night. When I replied nothing, they told me I should watch a certain program because it wasn’t too bad. I’ve had people come over and ask what was wrong with me because I wasn’t watching TV. I’ve even had a friend come over and switch on the TV, as though they were fixing a problem I didn’t even know I had.
Don’t they get it? TV just isn’t that important to me. I only watch TV if there’s something worth watching. If my TV is switched off, it’s because I don’t want it on. I enjoy having my TV off.
My sister lived in a group-house without a TV for about six months. Most people think that sounds boring. I think it sounds absolutely blissful. She told me once that, because they didn’t have a TV, they were forced to speak to each other. Shock, horror! Then again, maybe some families could do with a little of the same thing.
I have nothing against television, per se. There are a couple of television programs that I find very enjoyable and worthwhile – and so I watch them. Documentaries often teach me – and my kids – things that I may not have learned otherwise. Current affairs programs keep me up to date on what’s happening in the world and in Australia. TV can be good.
But there is a big difference between switching on the TV to watch a worthwhile program, and leaving it constantly on. When the TV is left on, you get sucked into whatever is showing. You end up watching programs that you may not even like. The TV demands your attention. It is much harder to get motivated to go and do something, when the TV is on. It’s also much harder to talk to people. When I watch a program on television, I switch off the TV as soon as it’s finished. I know if I don’t, I may end up wasting half an hour to an hour watching a TV show I don’t even really enjoy.
I also have big concerns with television in relation to children. Many children would spend more time with Homer Simpson than they do with their own dad. Quite a lot would be influenced by television – to a greater or lesser extent. TV helps children decide what to think, how to act, what to wear, what to buy and what values are important. This is not always a bad thing. Good quality kids shows can teach kids about values, basic reading and writing skills, current affairs, history and science. However, most kids do not have the ability to judge what is a good or bad program. Nor do they realise that not everything the TV tells them is necessarily correct.
And so to all those people that made comments to me about the TV, I have a few comments of my own.
“Are you sick or something? Is that why you’re watching TV?”
“Oh great. You’re only watching TV. I can come over, switch it off and talk to you.”
“And what do you usually do on a Tuesday night, when you’re not watching TV?”
“What are you watching on TV at the moment?”
“Nothing.”
“Oh good. I can come over and watch this program with you.”
It didn’t seem to occur to him that maybe the reason I wasn’t watching television was because I didn’t want to. It’s not the first time I have received comments about television that make me think I have a completely different approach to it than most of my friends.
Someone once asked what I usually watched on a Tuesday night. When I replied nothing, they told me I should watch a certain program because it wasn’t too bad. I’ve had people come over and ask what was wrong with me because I wasn’t watching TV. I’ve even had a friend come over and switch on the TV, as though they were fixing a problem I didn’t even know I had.
Don’t they get it? TV just isn’t that important to me. I only watch TV if there’s something worth watching. If my TV is switched off, it’s because I don’t want it on. I enjoy having my TV off.
My sister lived in a group-house without a TV for about six months. Most people think that sounds boring. I think it sounds absolutely blissful. She told me once that, because they didn’t have a TV, they were forced to speak to each other. Shock, horror! Then again, maybe some families could do with a little of the same thing.
I have nothing against television, per se. There are a couple of television programs that I find very enjoyable and worthwhile – and so I watch them. Documentaries often teach me – and my kids – things that I may not have learned otherwise. Current affairs programs keep me up to date on what’s happening in the world and in Australia. TV can be good.
But there is a big difference between switching on the TV to watch a worthwhile program, and leaving it constantly on. When the TV is left on, you get sucked into whatever is showing. You end up watching programs that you may not even like. The TV demands your attention. It is much harder to get motivated to go and do something, when the TV is on. It’s also much harder to talk to people. When I watch a program on television, I switch off the TV as soon as it’s finished. I know if I don’t, I may end up wasting half an hour to an hour watching a TV show I don’t even really enjoy.
I also have big concerns with television in relation to children. Many children would spend more time with Homer Simpson than they do with their own dad. Quite a lot would be influenced by television – to a greater or lesser extent. TV helps children decide what to think, how to act, what to wear, what to buy and what values are important. This is not always a bad thing. Good quality kids shows can teach kids about values, basic reading and writing skills, current affairs, history and science. However, most kids do not have the ability to judge what is a good or bad program. Nor do they realise that not everything the TV tells them is necessarily correct.
And so to all those people that made comments to me about the TV, I have a few comments of my own.
“Are you sick or something? Is that why you’re watching TV?”
“Oh great. You’re only watching TV. I can come over, switch it off and talk to you.”
“And what do you usually do on a Tuesday night, when you’re not watching TV?”
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