The Vast Wasteland....

The Vast Wasteland.... (Full Version)

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smileforme50 -> The Vast Wasteland.... (3/8/2015 10:41:13 AM)
In May 1961....almost 50 years ago, then FCC chairman, Newton Minow gave a speech that has been remembered by many: ""When television is good, nothing — not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers — nothing is better. But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite each of you to sit down in front of your own television set when your station goes on the air and stay there, for a day, without a book, without a magazine, without a newspaper, without a profit and loss sheet or a rating book to distract you. Keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that what you will observe is a vast wasteland. You will see a procession of game shows, formula comedies about totally unbelievable families, blood and thunder, mayhem, violence, sadism, murder, western bad men, western good men, private eyes, gangsters, more violence, and cartoons. And endlessly commercials — many screaming, cajoling, and offending. And most of all, boredom. True, you'll see a few things you will enjoy. But they will be very, very few. And if you think I exaggerate, I only ask you to try it." I didn't realize that the term "vast wasteland" to describe TV was actually that old. I actually thought it originated in the 1970s. Interesting.... Now....I don't watch a lot of TV. The only thing I watch on a regular basis is "CBS News Sunday Morning" and "The Daily Show" (if I stay up that late or catch it the next evening). Other than that.....I don't know anything about thrones or walking zombies or downtons....and if it wasn't for the internet I wouldn't even know who the Kardashians are. Heck....up until last summer, the TV I had was the 19" tube TV that I bought back in 1989 when I graduated college. (closeout display model for $50) I discovered that TV doesn't really hold my attention. I NEVER just sit and watch TV....I always need to be doing something else.....doing something on my computer, doing some housework or cooking in the kitchen. Most of the time I don't even put the TV on as background noise. But some nights I don't want to do anything on my computer and will pick up the remote and surf a bit. And then I am reminded why I never watch TV..... (Which brings me to the real point of this topic....) The other night I was channel surfing and I ran into a show called....ready for this? SEX BOX. My jaw dropped open. Have any of you seen this? I couldn't stand to watch it for more than 60 seconds....but I had to look it up and find out what it was. Apparently it's a "reality" show where a couple sits down with 3 counselors/therapists and then after laying out what problem is hurting their relationship, they go into a big, opaque, soundproof box and have sex. Then when they come out, they sit back down with these counselors and talk some more about what happened in "the box'. The idea being that, in those moments immediately after making love, a couple is more open with each other and communicate better. Have any of you seen this show? Am I the only one here who just cannot believe that someone came up with such and idea....and the people in TV land actually BOUGHT it.....AND that there are actually couples out there who are willing to come on the show????? I would love to know what Newton Minow would have to say about TV today.

DesFIP -> RE: The Vast Wasteland.... (3/8/2015 11:26:34 AM)
I have to assume they're all exhibitionists. And thus, being able to tell the world about their sex is what makes it so good. But yes, if that isn't a vast wasteland, I don't know what is.

DarkSteven -> RE: The Vast Wasteland.... (3/8/2015 9:08:42 PM)
As an engineer, I have always been amazed at the contrast between the incredible technology that forms the television itself, and the utter crap that is broadcast on it.

smileforme50 -> RE: The Vast Wasteland.... (3/8/2015 9:53:23 PM)
You said that perfectly DS.....short sweet and to the point....exactly what I was trying to say.

RemoteUser -> RE: The Vast Wasteland.... (3/8/2015 9:59:52 PM)
I don't watch TV, at all. I sometimes catch up on something by streaming it online, more to be able to participate in conversations at work than anything else, because I have been called a pariah on more than one occasion. If I didn't have a son who loves his cartoons and a PS3, I probably wouldn't own a television.

BamaD -> RE: The Vast Wasteland.... (3/9/2015 10:52:21 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: smileforme50 In May 1961....almost 50 years ago, then FCC chairman, Newton Minow gave a speech that has been remembered by many: ""When television is good, nothing — not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers — nothing is better. But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite each of you to sit down in front of your own television set when your station goes on the air and stay there, for a day, without a book, without a magazine, without a newspaper, without a profit and loss sheet or a rating book to distract you. Keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that what you will observe is a vast wasteland. You will see a procession of game shows, formula comedies about totally unbelievable families, blood and thunder, mayhem, violence, sadism, murder, western bad men, western good men, private eyes, gangsters, more violence, and cartoons. And endlessly commercials — many screaming, cajoling, and offending. And most of all, boredom. True, you'll see a few things you will enjoy. But they will be very, very few. And if you think I exaggerate, I only ask you to try it." I didn't realize that the term "vast wasteland" to describe TV was actually that old. I actually thought it originated in the 1970s. Interesting.... Now....I don't watch a lot of TV. The only thing I watch on a regular basis is "CBS News Sunday Morning" and "The Daily Show" (if I stay up that late or catch it the next evening). Other than that.....I don't know anything about thrones or walking zombies or downtons....and if it wasn't for the internet I wouldn't even know who the Kardashians are. Heck....up until last summer, the TV I had was the 19" tube TV that I bought back in 1989 when I graduated college. (closeout display model for $50) I discovered that TV doesn't really hold my attention. I NEVER just sit and watch TV....I always need to be doing something else.....doing something on my computer, doing some housework or cooking in the kitchen. Most of the time I don't even put the TV on as background noise. But some nights I don't want to do anything on my computer and will pick up the remote and surf a bit. And then I am reminded why I never watch TV..... (Which brings me to the real point of this topic....) The other night I was channel surfing and I ran into a show called....ready for this? SEX BOX. My jaw dropped open. Have any of you seen this? I couldn't stand to watch it for more than 60 seconds....but I had to look it up and find out what it was. Apparently it's a "reality" show where a couple sits down with 3 counselors/therapists and then after laying out what problem is hurting their relationship, they go into a big, opaque, soundproof box and have sex. Then when they come out, they sit back down with these counselors and talk some more about what happened in "the box'. The idea being that, in those moments immediately after making love, a couple is more open with each other and communicate better. Have any of you seen this show? Am I the only one here who just cannot believe that someone came up with such and idea....and the people in TV land actually BOUGHT it.....AND that there are actually couples out there who are willing to come on the show????? I would love to know what Newton Minow would have to say about TV today. Two big changes in TV fare. One There are no longer western bad guys and western good guys. Two As my son pointed out to me when he was twelve. TNT started running an old series. He said he watched it every night (when I was at work) because the stories and acting were so much better than the new shows. And he was talking about the Dukes of Hazzard.

DesFIP -> RE: The Vast Wasteland.... (3/11/2015 9:20:39 PM)
What Steven said about tv applies to the internet. "I possess a device, in my pocket, that is capable of accessing the entirety of information known to man. I use it to look at pictures of cats and get in to arguments with strangers." If it's true of one medium, it's true of all of them. Tv, radio, film, theater, literature. Because we're people and this is what people do

BamaD -> RE: The Vast Wasteland.... (3/11/2015 11:07:14 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: DesFIP What Steven said about tv applies to the internet. "I possess a device, in my pocket, that is capable of accessing the entirety of information known to man. I use it to look at pictures of cats and get in to arguments with strangers." If it's true of one medium, it's true of all of them. Tv, radio, film, theater, literature. Because we're people and this is what people do I use it to get into arguments with strangers, play chess, and research anything that interests me.

k10vvn -> RE: The Vast Wasteland.... (3/12/2015 7:15:38 PM)
So much of my distain for television and other media outlets isn't that its bad. Bad is a perception that is carried with owner of the opinion. What you see as bad I might see as good..... Sometimes. I worry for what I describe as acquirering tastes from TV. In the same way people acquire tastes for heavy beer or rich coffee, people can grow to appreciate comedy or reality TV shows. As they grow with characters, they build a connection. My worry comes when those tastes start to change the person and the way they think. Can being exposed to content on media platforms not only change your opinion from the overlaying opinions or subject matter, but also change how you act and think based on format and quality? Ergo, repetitive trashy shows changing well to do people into trashy people. Or do only trashy people like trashy content?

sexyred1 -> RE: The Vast Wasteland.... (3/12/2015 9:54:59 PM)
I am always astounded when people say there is nothing good on TV. I have great taste, consider myself intellectual and find plenty of quality shows that stimulate me, make me think, entertain me and de stress me. I think everyone lies about their TV habits, for some unknown reason. I also read books voraciously, see theater, movies, live music, etc.

MercTech -> RE: The Vast Wasteland.... (3/13/2015 12:25:19 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: sexyred1 I am always astounded when people say there is nothing good on TV. I have great taste, consider myself intellectual and find plenty of quality shows that stimulate me, make me think, entertain me and de stress me. I think everyone lies about their TV habits, for some unknown reason. I also read books voraciously, see theater, movies, live music, etc. I'd rather say there is nothing good enough on TV to modify my schedule to watch. Record it if you want to see it and fast forward through the tripe that gives us 38 minute hour long television programs. (after editing out the commercials an hour long show tends to be 35-45 minutes long)

PyrotheClown -> RE: The Vast Wasteland.... (3/13/2015 7:42:57 AM)
In the immortal words of The Boss, "57 channels and nothing on." Except now it's 570 channels,but there's still nothing on. Allmost makes me wanna blow away my tv set with a 44 mag... . . . Cept I aint got a TV set,or a 44 mag... . . But I do have a cannon and a smart phone. Maybe that would provide some sort of visceral stimulation.

sappatoti -> RE: The Vast Wasteland.... (3/13/2015 8:15:09 AM)
The trick would be to set up your smart phone at a far distance and try to blow it away with the cannon. But, before you do... ... you may want to set up a slow-motion timing screen on a couple of sides with the super-slow-motion cameras pointed at them. This would be, of course, to record in exquisite detail, the fragments of the point of impact between the smart phone and the projectile. Several important laws of physics could be supported or put into question from multiple angles of super-slo-mo analysis of the impact. This would could be enlightening for a few inquisitve people with the potential, however miniscule, of providing some benefit to mankind. But please, before you fire The Shot, make sure all relevant production companies have been notified and contracts signed. This event might be worthy enough to be incorporated into any number of current television shows that spend inordinate amounts of time and resources showing explosions and destruction (all in the name of science mind you) including, but not limited to, MythBusters or Top Gear. Perhaps the final shot seen on the smart phone's screen, before it is obliterated, would be the quote of the FCC person quoted in the OP. TV worth watching, no doubt.

tiggerspoohbear -> RE: The Vast Wasteland.... (3/13/2015 2:00:38 PM)
I have my list of TV shows I watch. I can't work due to illness, I'm pretty well housebound, so yeah, I watch a lot. Mysteries, police procedurals, comedies, medical dramas, reality TV (not cable, premium channels), cooking shows, movies, etc. I also stream on my tablet & my laptop. I read a prodigious amount. Yes, I can do both at once. I enjoy TV, it's a stress reliever at times, with watching comedies. I especially love British humor. I'm smart & intelligent, I'm not white trash, I'm just me. Coping with my slice of the world the best I can.

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