quote:

ORIGINAL: Kaliko

Oh, I always think I use things as crutches. I'm constantly trying to self-improve. I don't have any particular reason to think I use TV as a crutch, but I wonder if it is a crutch in general and I don't realize it. Does it prevent me, as you said, from facing certain things that I don't have to think about if I watch TV?

Things is, I don't really watch much TV at all. The little one in the kitchen I use more than anything to keep me company while cooking.

It just seems like there are these big (or little) black vacant boxes taking up space in my house and it's starting to make me feel surreal. Like I should be experiencing the moment more, rather than watching other people pretending to experience the moment.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Kaliko

It's rather ironic that I'm watching a television program on PBS right now that is making me consider getting rid of my television. Not because the show is bad - not at all - but because the speaker is making me think about things.

Have you shot your TV? If you've gotten rid of your TV, did you find it difficult?

My only concern is that I am alone in my house a lot. I use the TV as background noise. But is that a crutch?

*finishes counting years on fingers, lol*
I went 19 years without regular tv, as nothing showed up here without cable or satelite(sp?). These past almost two years, because of some digital box I bought, I can get two or three local channels if I want to, but so far all we use it for is to watch Saturday morning cartoons.

We watched VHS and DVDs instead for 19 years...and I have to tell you that watching what I wanted, when I wanted, whenever I felt like it...without any blasted commercials...has spoiled the heck out of me. Walmart's $5 DVDs in the bins are a blessing, and I find great deals at Sams, especially for seasons of old tv shows. About two years ago I bought all the episodes of Firefly at Sams for only $13. I also haunt flea markets and pawn shops for DVDs and often get them for only $2 each. For spring and fall, my DVD budget is $40 per month, and I try not to go over this unless it's something on sale that I absolutely must have, lol, during summer when my bills are uber low, I allow myself more leeway. I have all of the Buffy, Angel, Babylon 5, Star Trek TNG, seasons, and am working on getting the last of dozens more. (Waiting for the last season of NCIS to sell for less than $40, etc., lol.) Am. Very. Spoiled. I really cleaned up with Black Friday sales this year, snagging some $40 seasons for only $15.

For new movies, I go to that red box at Walmart or Kroger. Friends have C-Box 360 or Playstation 3 and have downloaded Netflix, but I don't have those gaming systems...I do love the idea of watching all the movies I could want for only $8 per month...but...after a while the same movies would keep popping up, right? This past week I watched a Gamera movie, the one where the kids make the controls on a little submersible do the opposite. It was exactly what I wanted to watch at that moment...and interruptions by phone or bathroom breaks didn't make us lose a single minute due to the good ole pause button.

I can get better news stuff over the internet, from a wide variety of sources. Often when I want to see what new scandal is brewing, I look in politics and religion at CM and then take it from there. These guys find the best links anyway, when trying to prove their point. Watching news on tv is DEPRESSING, and I have to watch out for that so I am not overloaded. Bar fights, stabbings, missing children, freeway pileups with all the blood and gore...I can do quite happily without the tv keeping me all up to date and stuff.

It has been so peaceful in my home, and I enjoy my massive DVD and VHS collection (picture on average 20 movies per month...for 19 years).

That reminds me. At this time of the year I try to watch Meet John Doe (a black and white movie with Barbara Stanwyck(?) ), as well as It's a Wonderful Life. Already watched both Grinch movies, the old one I grew up watching on tv and the newer one with Jim Carey.

quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyHibiscus


If you watch tv on the computer, aren't you still watching tv?

quote:

ORIGINAL: stellauk

I haven't shot the TV but if I get one more letter, phone call or house call from the TV Licensing people I am probably going to strangle one of them.
.................................and not buying a licence.

The last time I even had to say 'Well you know, sometimes I hear voices in my head and it might be from the BBC, does this mean I need a licence?'

quote:

ORIGINAL: barelynangel


To me, i simply think people have gotten rid of TV's because the type of entertainment they found on the TV can in all actuality be found on the internet with more availability for their preferences.    I think many people use computers more to stave off lonliness than they do the TV's, i think people are more able to get lost in fantasy online than they do on TV, i.e., games, MMORPHs i think they are called, chatrooms, discussion boards etc.  all of these concepts allow you to create on some level a fantasy to engage in, a level of fantasy about people you are speaking with (as most people never meet), etc. 

So too me, i think a computer is more dangerous an addiction then TV ever is, simply because it allows more avenues of everything TV offered and more interactive into fantasy and addiction of your passions so to speak with all of the discussion boards, and articles, and youtubes etc. 

angel