I guess I never really was a big TV watcher, back when I was younger, maybe in grade school, I remember getting my first computer, a 25 MHZ PC (I am not so techy now, back then it seemed easier) and Brian and William helped me overclock it to 33MHZ and upgrade RAM. Anyway, I would work on my computer, get AOL or Juno email, dial up to local bulliten boards. Play video games. The computer was in the dining room, and it was angled such that I could see the TV in the living room. My sister and parent’s would watch evening TV programming, and normally I would have my eye on it 25% of the time, to be somewhat social. I remember complaints from my mom and sister that I wasn’t spending enough time with them, always on the damn computer, and maybe that was true…..but I always felt like TV “drained my brain”…..
I didn’t want to BE TOLD WATCH TO SEE, WHAT SOME GUY THOUGHT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN NEXT IN THE EPISODE. At least with a video game, or a computer and email, I could create my destiny. One of my favorite book series was “choose your own adventure”, I remember during some Art Classes in grade school, Ms Discola would read it outloud to us while we worked on our school projects. For those who don’t know, the way “choose your own adventure” books worked was that during a critical decision in the book came up, you had choice A or choice B, and each had its own page number to flip to in the book to see the outcome of that particular choice. It was kinda cool in a group setting, because we would raise our hands to vote and the winning vote Ms Discola would flip to and read aloud.
Maybe its because I’m a control freak that I like it this way, maybe that’s why I LOVE THE INTERNET. Because the internet, you can read anything you want, 10% , 50%, 100% of it, bookmark it, click another link, watch a video. And its disrupting advertising. TVs days are numbered, soon you can just use a monitor, or Bluetooth a program to your TV big screen to watch a movie or a youtube channel.
INBOUND vs OUTBOUND. PUSH vs PULL.
Its awesome, big media companies and advertisers are getting shook up. They are losing their power from telling us what to watch, when to watch it. But then again, being back in America, I see that the internet still is influencing people to “tune in” for tonight’s episode of some TV program. And chat about it on facebook, twitter, etc etc.
Being in China, I really was cut off from all this TV. And in Florida, man every commercial is some politicial bad talking another politician, or a lawyer convincing you to call him to sue a company for injuries. Its actually kinda disgusting for me to even watch.
Maybe there is some positive in TV – it gives people a common topic to discuss – I remember in school or at my dayjob people would discuss last night’s episode of “blah blah” or the sporting game. Maybe I’ll be less social back in USA if I don’t watch the same TV and sports games as my friends and colleagues? Oh well!
By not watching TV, you save so much time, you have so much more control over your time. I guess I am a workaholic as well, and that by not watching TV I am able to work more….but hey, I love to learn, and watching TV sure as heck isn’t the fastest way to learn. I don’t think anyone can disagree with me on that one. Watching TV normally makes me feel dumber afterwards.
Comments
I wasn’t a big TV watcher either, except news from TV, cause i like to know whats happen today or tomorrow or whats happen out of my city, my country…..etc, normally I turn on TV and choose MTV channel, haha! most time spend with my computer, as you said we can search everything from INTERNET,also you can watching some funny movie or video online too if you want too,I never watch TV since I moved to my new apartment 😉
I used to keep TV on as background noise when i was home alone….but I think it did distract me. It also doesnt allow you the quiet time to really think and get work done.
but TV probably also helping you with your english, right Wendy?
hahah sure, a part of the way learn english is from an american movie show and I love it so much! normally, I used to keep TV on as background noise when I was cleaning the house, lol but most time is MTV channel, I like to watching” American top model show”;-)
haha, sure i think a lot of Chinese learn english from watching american TV!
DEAR MIKE,
I’M WITH YOU ON YOUR ARTICLE ABOUT TV. WHAT IS THE FASCINATION OF ALL THESE MURDER MYSTERIES AND PROGRAMS WITH VIOLENCE. I HAVE CABLE AND THEY BOAST ABOUT ALL THE CHANNELS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND THEY ARE MOSTLY OLD REPEATS AND ALL KINDS OF VIOLENCE. EVEN PBS, CONSIDERED TO BE MORE INFORMATIVE IS HAVING MURDER MYSTERIES INSTEAD OF CLASSIC STORIES SUCH AS THOSE BY JANE AUSTIN OR CHARLES DICKENS. TO ME TV IS A WASTELAND. ALL I WATCH,UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING EDUCATIONAL AND WHICH IS FEW AND FAR BETWEEN, IS PROGRAMS ABOUT THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS. I JUST HEARD SOMEONE SAY THAT THE WAY OUR CAMPAIGNS ARE RUN NOW WE AREN’T GOING TO BE A DEMOCRACY ANYMORE, BUT AN OLIGARCHY, WHERE THE WEALTHY WILL RUN OUR COUNTRY.
I REALLY ENJOYED READING THIS BLOG OF YOURS.
BEST WISHES,
UNCLE BILL
Hey Uncle Bill,
Glad you liked the post…..maybe this means im getting old, remember my dad saying things like this hhaa hahaha
Besides Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Food Network, and HGTV (I know I’m a woman… shut up!) I completely agree with you. If a show offers nothing but a way to burn away time you can’t think of anything better to do with then it has no place on my TV!
Perhaps its now an occupational hazard – little to no time to waste on things that have no real value. Unless of course it House M.D. – I’ll have to think of a good excuse to cover my ass if anyone should ever note that discrepancy debunking my conviction.
My phone is so cool, I pull youtube how to videos on demand, learning on the go
Dont want to wait for some tv show to come on
U watch the cooking channel too?
TV is very entertaining but is not conducive to increasing your productiveness, especially the type of TV most people watch. I’ve got nothing against TV but I don’t have much time for it!
I think its getting like that in china too, saw some really idiotic shows like reality dating shows lmfao
some TV show are interest, depend on what you are watch 😉 I was interested in JiangSu TV channel in a couple of days before, they show real history in our life, kind of touching and teach people how to understanding others……. but as Marshall said I dont have too much time for it either!
Comr on wendy, dont be shy u watch stupid tv too sometimes
But I think when tv is on mobile phones more people will watch again