I have purposely not watching TV for about 3 months now. It is the best thing that I have ever done! I spent way too much time glued to the idiot box. TV is a waste of time. I used to spend 5 or 6 hours a day watching, gaining weight. I am so much more efficient now.
Just think of the billions of pounds Americans have gained by watching tv. TV has to be the number one reason America is the fattest nation in the world. I would guess the averaged American keeps from burning at least 500 calories a day because of TV.
TV is also the reason most people have no social skill. Staring at a box is not a good learning tool. People learn by doing things, interacting with other humans much faster than watching TV.
Just think of how much different this country would be without television. If there were no TV’s, people would be talking to each other more, going out to parks, clubs, concerts, movies, each others houses, and actually dealing with other people. The amount of people you would see on the street, in their cars, and out and about would increase at least tenfold. America would be like it was around 1900. Watch the old programs that talk about Coney Island circa 1900. It is amazing how many people would go there. And that scene played itself out every weekend! Now the only time you see Americans out like that is either on holidays or other special events. The reason you never see crowds like that in America is because of TVs, computers, cable, and DVDs. There are so many more entertainment choices available for us at home. I would think that most Americans probably leave their homes for less than 10 to 15% of the time in 2009 when not at work because of the availability of in home entertainment. Everything is available at the touch of a finger, a phone call, or a credit card. Heck, you can watch almost any movie now without even have to go to a video store. Just subscribe to Netflix! It is so easy just to plug into the box, and zone out.
People are naturally predisposted to over stimulating themselves. This is been scientifically proven. TV is kind of like a drug. It is addicting, and hard to break away from. Believe me, I was addicted for most of my life.
I decided that I want to live my life to the fullest, learn as much as I can, and improve my life. My goal would be impossible if I still watched TV.
If you tell somebody that TV is bad and a waste of time, most people would say that you were wrong. They would say that they watch TV to keep from being bored.
A good argument against that is to tell them all of the things that they could be doing besides watching TV.
Here are some great reasons to quit watching television:
Read a book, learn a musical instrument, go for a bike ride, go walking, go jogging, go driving, go swimming, learn a foreign lanquage, talk to a family member, go to the park and have a BBQ, learn to cook a new kind of dinner, write an essay, paint a picture, draw, play a board game, go bowling, play ping pong, play darts, play shuffleboard, play pinball, call somebody on the phone, lift weights, clean the house, do some mechanical work, meditate, or just daydream and imagine something nice, do yard work, learn to sing, go hiking, sailing, skating, skateboarding, rollerblading, play the computer, go outside and meet the neighbors, volunteer for some community service or help a charity, take college course, take a trip, overnight stay or just go camping.
The list is endless. There are thousands of things you could learn, do, or commit your time to that you are not doing because you are watching TV. If you watch TV because you are just tired and don’t want to do anything else, don’t watch TV, just go to sleep. Then when you wake up, do something fun or work related.
Always try to live your life to the fullest. Watching television is definitly not living your life to the fullest.
I have quit watching TV several times, but I always seemed to go back to watching. This speaks to the addictiveness of TV. Now I am determined to quit for good. If I have to, I will sell them!
You have to watch out, TV will grip you back under its spell if you aren’t careful. Just think of how much weight you’ll lose, how much more work you will get done, how much more fun you will have if you turn that thing off for good. Unplug the box!
If you have to see an occasional show or movie, make a limit and stick to it. You should record the show, and watch it whenever all the work is done. And stick to your limit, whatever it is. I recommend at most limit yourself to one hour a day tops, hopefully less, like on hour twice or three times a week. You will find out, after a couple of weeks, getting much more done. You will learn more, your social skill will improve, and your imagination and problem solving skills will sharpen up.
I think cold turkey is the best way to go, personally. The rest of you can go on wasting your lives hooked up to the idiot box. Not me. Life is too short. I have too much to learn, accomplish, and enjoy.
Another reason to quit watching; TV is biased, has sold itself out to the advertisers, and promotes it’s own agenda, which is profit. There is almost no integrity with the media, which is owned by the way by multi national conglomerates who have no local presence or desire for to help anybody except their bottom line. Their only reason for existing is profits, profits, and more profits. They are loyal to their stockholders. Anything dirty trick they can do to keep you watching, and buying advertisers products they will do.
That is why I boycott them. I’m tired of biased reporting, and the constant pushing of the consumer culture. Most people think the only thing in life that makes them happy is buying things, having things, and keeping up with the Jones’, but I am much more complex than that. I see right through their message! I have my own principles that I live by, and consumerism and mindless entertainment aren’t my values.
I also believe the large majority of TV shows are for people of average intelligence, and this is who TV targets. Most shows are an insult to my intelligence.
As for the shows I enjoy, well, my life is just too valuable to waste and the little bit of enjoyment I used to get from these shows, I guess I will just have to sacrifice that for the importance of my life.
For you willing to take the challenge, it will be the best challenge you will ever take if you stick to it! Good luck! Turn off the idiot box and live your life!
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guys…. im addicted!!! this is crazy… and im in to all kinds of tv shows so i always have the option to watch something!!! i need some help w/ this!! :) ive tried going cold turkey… didn’t work… LOST came back on! lol it takes up too much of my time.. as does my laptop!
lifes_a_beach is dying her hair mahagony red
Although the T.V. provides me entertainment and important news, it also consumes me and all my time. Right now I am currently unemployed like many people right now. Everyday I am faced with the T.V. an evil that lives in my apartment. I get sucked into it. No matter what’s on I’m watching it. A few times I have been successful in turning it off but ultimately it always goes back on. I anticipate a much higher electric bill now. I’ve been unemployed for 2 months now and have been actively looking for a new job but I haven’t had any luck. With that said the T.V. is always on since I am always home!
Help me! I need this love/hate relationship to end STAT!!!!
OK – this isn’t exactly a direct hit, but I moved the TV out of the main room and into the corner room. So, if I’m going to watch TV – I have to at least sequester myself. This could be good or this could be bad.
For as long as I can remember, the television was ever-present in my life. I’ve been able to drop it during various times of my life – but have never been able to drop it as a default state. I’ve always gone through stages where I’ve lived without it. First thing is first, though – I’m just going to be cognizant about the amount of time it’s on. Then, I’d like to work on replacing the TV being on as my default.
some time during my junior year in high school I stopped watching TV. It was in the basement, my room was on the second floor. I have to say it’s one habit I can live without.
My husband is working for a satellite provider and they give free programming to their employees. I don’t know how this will affect my no-tv thing since I’d have access to just about every premium channel.
Another thing that’s been threatening my non-tv-viewing is the fact that I have an infant son and he likes to watch those baby videos. Then again, the mind-numbing qualities of this programming seem to be weaker than my resolve and desire to do dishes LOL!
We all watch too much tv, the kids included. When it gets turned on, we eat in front of it and the house gets messier. It’s a terrible beastie that sucks you in. Once it’s on, the entire family gravitates towards it like magnets, even if we can’t stand the show that’s on. What a time waster!!
I decided to cut back on my Television time. I was wasting my life away watching TV. It is amazing how much life you miss out on my being glued to the idiot box. I quit watching about 3 weeks ago, and I am a lot happier now. I get a lot more things done, and I move around a lot more. Cable TV is a waste of money. You pay for incessant advertising, you can’t choose which channels you recieve, and the price for cable is too high! Too much TV watching causes your brain to become depressed, and seems to suck the energy out of your mind and body! There are times when TV is ok, as long as it isn’t abused. However, TV is addicting, and sometimes it is hard to pull away. I have made a vow to cut back on my Tv watching to a minimum, and I already am getting to the point where whenever I do watch it, it bores me. I guess I am being successful at it.
i use to watch 8 hours of tv a day now have cut it down. But i don’‘t want to rely on it. If i do ever give up watching tv i can never miss Heros and Prison break, the best shows on there! Also animal planet and living tv is great sometimes.
Maybe when i get a car and a job i can go out more and kill time that way. At the moment i’m just doing a part time course but not really ready for work so most of my hours are at home.
