Here’s a scenario sure to incite horror in some: Imagine being at home but not lying on the couch watching TV. Do you feel chills running down your spine as you contemplate this horrible possibility? Does your very soul scream at the thought? Then this article is for you.
As someone who has not owned a TV since moving out of my parents’ house 15 years ago, I would like to compare my home life to what I imagine yours looks like. Maybe I can convince you to give up the boob tube for more worthwhile pursuits.
Life With TV
I honestly can’t imagine what it would be like to own a TV again, it’s been so long. I do remember what it was like, though. On the weekends, the family would crash out on the living room couch and watch the screen flicker at us. We’d watch movies, reality shows, dramas, music shows, anything really.
We’d get up during commercial breaks to use the bathroom, make popcorn or grab a soda. We’d have whispered conversations about what was happening on screen during these breaks or even during the show itself, and I do remember feeling close to my family during these evenings. We were after all doing something together.
Negative Vibes
And really, that’s the only positive I can think of: You’re doing something together with family, friends or a loved one. Everything else just seems so negative. You’d come home from school, switch on the TV and nothing else would be done that day.
That little box has the power to drain the energy out of any room. I’m not sure if it’s the moving images, flickering lights or frequency waves, but most people seem unable to tear their gaze away from the screen.
What makes it worse is that TV is a very democratic medium, as in everyone has access to it and it is therefore tailored to a wide audience. Though this could be a great thing, it often isn’t.
The dumbing down of the news (and I dare you to name one news organization that isn’t guilty of that) and other information (try finding a good documentary on TV is like finding the needle in the proverbial haystack) testifies to that.
Besides the informative possibilities of TV that are squandered, the entertainment value is vastly overrated. Be honest: Do you really enjoy the massive waves of reality schlock piped into your living room? How often do you actually laugh at those insipid sitcoms?
Alternatives
Granted, there are also great programs on TV right now, and it’s a great way to catch a movie without incurring the expense of going to the cinema ($15 for a ticket, really?!), but thanks to the Internet you can watch shows and movies online for a small fee.
Just because I don’t own a TV doesn’t mean I want to miss some of these great stories being told, I subscribe to Netflix and I love it. Thanks to the web you can still catch your favorite shows, only now without commercial breaks and on your own schedule.
I hope I have been able to change your mind at least a little when you maybe think about getting rid of your television. To conclude, I have one suggestion: How about you completely switch off the TV for a weekend and see what you get done?
I guarantee you that you’ll be amazed at the energy you have and all the exciting things you did when you look back on the Monday after. Give it a shot, you have nothing to lose and only your independence to gain!
