How many of you folks...

[CrownPrinceBandar]

presently don't own or don't watch television?

Personally, I have gone through spates of TV, no TV. Currently, my TV is mothballed at my folks house.

I found that the more I watched TV, the less I did other things. It gave me a convienient reason to sit around and gel. Also, I have noticed that the less television I watch, the more transparent the programming and advertising have become in the snippets I do see. I see networks wearing their moralities firmly on sleeve in the programs they choose to air and the storylines explored within. It seems kinda ridiculous that some of these shows find it proper to resolve major probs within an hour's episode. I feel it feeds the "instant gratification" complex that some Americans seem to be saddled with, and that alot of Americans are labelled by in the larger world.

However, not to give TV a bum rap. I feel there are a few good programs on television today. Comedy Central for example, specifically the Daily Show. Japes aside, the DS cuts through all the crap and asks many important people (some Pres. hopefulls) important questions. It doesn't care if it offends... which is good. Discovery, and the History channels. Throw out the "Monster" this and that, education abounds. Lastly, good old PBS.

OK. I'll come down off my box now. I guess my real problem with television, and why I don't use one, is that there is nothing but crap on. Pure and simple.

[brainshrub]

1. No TV since 95.

It's great.

2. only use my television

to watch DVDs and videos that I rent.
Wouldn't mind watching the Daily Show if I had cable.

right now it's been 2 years like this.
Before that I lived with roomies who had a TV for about 2 years & before that I had been without one for around 4 years.

If I had one, I'd watch it way too much. The only way I can control myself with TV is cold turkey. I think the thing is insidious.

on edit: I also agree with you that when you step away from it for periods all the subtle programming/brainwashing aspects of the medium become more apparent.

[theorist]

3. I haven't watched TV for over a year.

I have a television to watch movies on, but that is rare as school takes up all of my time. I have come to be suspicious of any advertising medium (especially TV), because it presents a set of seductive images that tend to deceive the human mind. Advertisers are well versed in the field of human psychology, and consistently use the research done over the last century against us.

I feel that if you want to educate yourself you must read (and occasionally listen). The problem with the History Channel is that sensational historical events (wars, eccentric/cruel rulers, etc.) are presented disproportionately to the "boring" ones. This surely gives less analytical viewers a distorted vision of reality. Sometimes the programming is full of downright lies and massive amounts of speculation. Television (no offense) is the wrong place to go for education; it is an advertising medium and the operators not concerned with the content so much as the money. I can admit that public access, PBS, NPR, etc. are not as guilty of this.

[amandae]

4. I wish we didn't have a TV ...

I think of it as such a distraction for real life. Hubby is hopelessly addicted to it ... finds comfort in just having it on if he's in a room with one. As a matter of fact, he HAS to have it on if he's in the room with one ... otherwise he doesn't feel right!

I'm trying to limit the amount of TV the kids and I watch when I'm in charge (which is almost always when I'm home and not at school or work). Christmas break is coming up for us so I'll be home more and that TV will be eerily silent for about a month! Can't wait!!

:hi:

[dolo amber]

5. I watch the Daily Show

The kid watches Nickelodeon, so I see that now and then. Will always make time for any David Attenborough special on Discovery or PBS...other than that, it might as well be sitting in the yard.

[smirkymonkey]

6. I agree completely....

If I do turn it on, which is rare, I feel like I am bombarded by propaganda - social, political, cultural. It really is so obvious and transparent when you are looking at it from a distance. I can't watch TV because I feel so manipulated.

However, I do love Comedy Central - Daily Show and South Park. I don't have cable, but sometimes I think I should just for those two shows. Also AMC and the old WB cartoons on Cartoon Network are pretty good as well, not to mention PBS. (I watch the tube when I am visiting friends and family - it's kind of a guilty pleasure - only if I control the remote. Otherwise, forget it.)

[Tyler Durden]

7. SNOBS.

Film is Art, and I collect films.
The TV is autotuned to AMC, TMC, History, TLC, Discovery. That's it, with a little Sci-Fi once in a while.

I have read every book I own, I have completely remodeled my house, and am preparing to build a new one.

Don't need any excuse to watch "Lawrence of Arabia" again.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

11. I do enjoy TMC's "Silent Sundays"

I hate AMC since they've started pandering to the lowest common denominator and showing commercials.
Otherwise most TV is lousy...I do watch it when I've worked way too hard and want a stress reliever.

[Esurientes]

8. We just watch videos and dvds

I don't subscribe to cable and can't receive anything without it. My reason is about 50% financial and about 50% the fact that my daughter and I have problems tearing ourselves away from the tv and computer so we have gone "cold turkey" at home.

[geniph]

9. I don't watch, except for movies

and Queer Eye, when I remember it's on. I used to watch Farscape, when I could figure out its schedule, but the bastids at Sci-Fi cancelled it. I watch a lot of movies on DVD.

I can't figure out how anyone has TIME to watch TV. You could spend an entire evening watching TV, have no memory of what you watched, and have done nothing else the entire evening. That freaks me out. I mostly read.

One of my big problems with TV is commercials. I can't abide them, ever - I've been known to mute them at other people's houses - and my attention wanders while they're on. I tend to go do something else and forget to ever go back to whatever I was watching.

It weirds me out to go to a house where there's a TV in nearly every room. I don't really understand why anyone needs more than one TV.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

10. There is nothing that I watch regularly... like everyday

I do like to watch movies without commercials, some things on History, PBS and Discover... sometimes one of the little cable movie channels has documentaries I like.

But networks? Not for me. No more.

[ChaoticSilly]

12. I don't watch much...

Mainly the movie channels like HBO or Showtime. About the only network channels that are worth suffering through commercials are the Discovery, History and Science channels (especially on astronomy night). I'm proud to say I've never seen a single episode of Survivor, American Idol or any other "reality" show.

[toddzilla]

13. movies.

i download my movies online and watch em through the vid-out of my computer.

TV sucks.

[southerngirlwriter]

14. I killed my television in 1999.....

and have never looked back. TV is a tool of Satan. It makes people stupid, makes the better-looking candidate, not the smartest one with the best ideas, win almost everytime, and makes the brain atrophy. YOUR BRAIN IS MORE ACTIVE WHEN SLEEPING THAN WHEN WATCHING TV.

TV sucks!!!!!

[DrWeird]

15. You forgot cartoon network.

Samurai Jack and Adult Swim is the best programming on TV.

[VOX]

16. Barely look at it. Mostly used as a DVD viewer.

Get all my news via Internet sources and yes, DU.

Interestingly, after you quit TV, it's very hard to go back -- crap programming, too noisy, offensive to the senses, garish, ugly.

[kayleybeth]

17. Sheeeeiiiiiiiit

We have NINE television sets in our house. No kidding. And at least three of them are on pretty much all of the time (except overnight).

I understand your point, but for those of us who don't get out much, T.V. is our window to the world. Plus I don't know what I'd do without The West Wing, and The Daily Show, and Curb Your Enthusiasm, etc. Not to mention Bill Moyers and CSPAN.

T.V. can be a good thing if used selectively!

[newyawker99]

18. Hi foamdad!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: