Author Topic: A Campaign against TV! (Read 17199 times)

The Spy · « **on:** October 28, 2008, 04:49:22 PM »

Hello, one and all

Many people who read this have already abandoned their TV's because they are disgusted with what garbage it has to offer. If this is you, I applaud you. For the rest of you, I provide the following case, albeit simple, against TV:

Harms of TV:
I, like so many of you, am fed up with my Television Set. Whenever I watch the TV, I become sensitive to the politically correct and provocative commercials, so I mute them. Whenever I mute them, I am assailed by the flashing lights and sparkles of car commercials. They all tell me to buy, buy, and buy! I will never be satisfied unless I buy the product that they sell.

I flip to a different channel, one that should have a modicum of redeeming quality, the News Station. No matter what my bias is, I keep getting the same old talking points pounded into my head about the politics of the day. Maybe I can sate my thirst for entertainment by watching films!

I turn the channel to Sci-Fi, and what do I get, but a ton of people treating Halloween with just as much luster as Christmas; I am disgusted.

Every time I turn the channel, I feel the pressure of indoctrination and hidden intentions lying in wait for me, ready to ensnare my mind with frivolity, laziness, and very unchristian thoughts. Even some of the Christian stations appear artificial; propped up with the glamour of modern wealth and worldly vices.

Meanwhile, a book is collecting dust on my coffee table. It is formidable in size, but if I stopped filling my head with this garbage of a TV, I could complete it in a couple of weeks.

For many, their real family "socializes" with the TV, and not the rest of their family. The crowbar of modern culture (TV) tears families apart, but books normally have the opposite effect.

Objections to my case:
If you are going to post and defend TV for its good shows, hear me out: If your right eye causes you to stumble, remove it. Sure, it will be painful, but you shall be spared from stumbling in the future.

Furthermore, to those who say that I should make the same argument for my computer, here is my defense: My computer is easier to control. I use it for good purposes primarily. Computers can be used for evil, true, but it is easier to filter. Furthermore, I can walk away from my computer more easily because I am not addicted to every pulse, light and phrase that it provides.

Purpose of this Post:
If you have not deciphered the purpose of this post by now, don't worry for this is my mission:
1. I will, following the November Elections restrict my viewing of the TV to one hour a week.
2. I will substitute this wasted time in front of the TV for more worthy and wholesome entertainment, and I will therefore free myself to pursue family-time and any hobbies that I have left on the back burner. I will also be able to set aside more time to grow spiritually with my Bible, rather than a remote control, in my lap.
3. I, by sharing this information, will try to encourage fellow followers of Christ to join in this campaign against TV.

If you can empathize with this cause, then I encourage you to spread this campaign against TV. I know I am not the only one who is fed up with the control it has had over me, and it will be a lot easier to commit to something like this to know that others share your goals. If you choose to do this, it will not be easy at first, but you will be greatly rewarded with the freedom that you allow yourself. By leading as an example, you will provide strength for others to resist TV as well.

In The One who deserves every minute of every day,
~The Spy

Lozo777 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 28, 2008, 04:53:22 PM »

Quote from: The Spy on October 28, 2008, 04:49:22 PM

They all tell me to buy, buy, and buy!

Lol, Thats what my grandpa said last time he was at my house.

And I would love to join this Anti-TV campain but I only have one channel at my house and I don't ever watch that.

Lawfuldog · « **Reply #2 on:** October 28, 2008, 04:56:20 PM »

God made TV for 3 reasons:

1. Sunday Football
2. Monday Night Football
3. Superbowl Sunday

Thank you, and have a good day.

The Spy · « **Reply #3 on:** October 28, 2008, 04:58:08 PM »

Quote from: Lozo777 on October 28, 2008, 04:53:22 PM

Quote from: The Spy on October 28, 2008, 04:49:22 PM
They all tell me to buy, buy, and buy!

Lol, Thats what my grandpa said last time he was at my house.

And I would love to join this Anti-TV campain but I only have one channel at my house and I don't ever watch that.

Then I congratulate you.

Quote from: Lawfuldog on October 28, 2008, 04:56:20 PM

God made TV for 3 reasons:

1. Sunday Football
2. Monday Night Football
3. Superbowl Sunday

Thank you, and have a good day.

How many hours a week does that take out of your time? Then restrict your viewing to just those hours.

JSB23 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 28, 2008, 05:00:38 PM »

the only thing I use my TV for is video games, movies, the Superbowl and the occasional SNL, it's worked out pretty well so far

The Spy · « **Reply #5 on:** October 28, 2008, 05:01:29 PM »

Quote from: JSB23 on October 28, 2008, 05:00:38 PM

the only thing I use my TV for is video games, movies and the Superbowl , it's worked out pretty well so far

See, you are already ahead of me. Good job.

Lawfuldog · « **Reply #6 on:** October 28, 2008, 05:02:10 PM »

I don't watch much TV during the week, except for a couple of shows... The Office, SNL, and every once in a while, Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader. All of the shows mentioned, add up to only 3 hours.

So I really only spend time watching TV on Sunday and Monday. Which is also just limited to football season.

The Spy · « **Reply #7 on:** October 28, 2008, 05:03:32 PM »

Quote from: Lawfuldog on October 28, 2008, 05:02:10 PM

I don't watch much TV during the week, except for a couple of shows... The Office, SNL, and every once in a while, Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader. All of the shows mentioned, add up to only 3 hours.

So I really only spend time watching TV on Sunday and Monday. Which is also just limited to football season.

The more TV you avoid, the less of a hold it has on you and the resulting freedom is refreshing. Your interest level is dependent upon your frustration with the TV.

Reggie Flores · « **Reply #8 on:** October 28, 2008, 05:04:31 PM »

Quote from: Lawfuldog on October 28, 2008, 05:02:10 PM

.... The Office, SNL,.....

This is an amazing post.

Cameron the Conqueror · « **Reply #9 on:** October 28, 2008, 05:06:35 PM »

something for me. I only use it for Wii, football, baseball, and the occational movie. (maybe 3 hours a week + too much wii time)

The Spy · « **Reply #10 on:** October 28, 2008, 05:08:20 PM »

Quote from: Cameron the Conqueror on October 28, 2008, 05:06:35 PM

something for me. I only use it for Wii, football, baseball, and the occational movie. (maybe 3 hours a week + too much wii time)

I encourage you all to count.

Lawfuldog · « **Reply #11 on:** October 28, 2008, 05:09:15 PM »

Quote from: The Spy on October 28, 2008, 05:03:32 PM

Quote from: Lawfuldog on October 28, 2008, 05:02:10 PM
I don't watch much TV during the week, except for a couple of shows... The Office, SNL, and every once in a while, Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader. All of the shows mentioned, add up to only 3 hours.

So I really only spend time watching TV on Sunday and Monday. Which is also just limited to football season.
The more TV you avoid, the less of a hold it has on you and the resulting freedom is refreshing. Your interest level is dependent upon your frustration with the TV.

So, what I basically got out of that statement is; "You are sucked in by TV, you have based your life on it. You only like it, because you are mad."

Which, I COMPLETELY disagree with. I watch an insanely less amount of TV compared to a majority of America. I'm in High School and I keep a very high grade average, and all of my classes are on a college level. So don't even say that TV "corrupts the youth and kills brain cells". I'm also on the computer a majority of my free time, and that, I would think, should be considered nearly parallel to what the TV is for. Computer is also a part of entertainment, as is TV. Sure the computer could be used for typing up papers, but TV also has things such as the History Channel and Discovery Channel. Which are basically there to teach you facts about our world, but it keeps you interested. Not all TV is bad.

Lawfuldog · « **Reply #12 on:** October 28, 2008, 05:10:03 PM »

Quote from: TheCatinTheHat. on October 28, 2008, 05:04:31 PM

Quote from: Lawfuldog on October 28, 2008, 05:02:10 PM
.... The Office, SNL,.....

This is an amazing post.

Agreed. Now all we need is a SNL episode that has Dwight and Amy Poehlor doing the weekend update.

The Spy · « **Reply #13 on:** October 28, 2008, 05:16:09 PM »

Quote from: Lawfuldog on October 28, 2008, 05:09:15 PM

Quote from: The Spy on October 28, 2008, 05:03:32 PM
Quote from: Lawfuldog on October 28, 2008, 05:02:10 PM
I don't watch much TV during the week, except for a couple of shows... The Office, SNL, and every once in a while, Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader. All of the shows mentioned, add up to only 3 hours.

So I really only spend time watching TV on Sunday and Monday. Which is also just limited to football season.
The more TV you avoid, the less of a hold it has on you and the resulting freedom is refreshing. Your interest level is dependent upon your frustration with the TV.

So, what I basically got out of that statement is; "You are sucked in by TV, you have based your life on it. You only like it, because you are mad."

No, I only stated that the less you watch the more free you become. $:-\$ There was nothing negative in my statement. When I said, "Your interest level is dependent upon your frustration with the TV." I meant that you are more likely to agree with my idea if you are already upset with the TV.

Quote from: Lawfuldog on October 28, 2008, 05:09:15 PM

Which, I COMPLETELY disagree with. I watch an insanely less amount of TV compared to a majority of America. I'm in High School and I keep a very high grade average, and all of my classes are on a college level. So don't even say that TV "corrupts the youth and kills brain cells".

I was accusing you of nothing, and I don't know why you are acting offended. I am sure that you would agree that time in front of the TV could be more wisely put to practical use.

Quote from: Lawfuldog on October 28, 2008, 05:09:15 PM

I'm also on the computer a majority of my free time, and that, I would think, should be considered nearly parallel to what the TV is for. Computer is also a part of entertainment, as is TV. Sure the computer could be used for typing up papers, but TV also has things such as the History Channel and Discovery Channel. Which are basically there to teach you facts about our world, but it keeps you interested. Not all TV is bad.

Well, my first statement addressed both of these issues already. I might add that computers can be used to accomplish things.

The Schaef · « **Reply #14 on:** October 28, 2008, 05:27:08 PM »

Any more, there's little time to catch anything other than some of the staples we watch through the week, Heroes and such. I'm not really compelled to campaign against the TV per se, but you know what, turn it off once in a while. Play a board game; they are great fun, and you can actually have a two-way conversation with the other player(s). I happen to know a guy who can hook you up with some at reasonable prices.

TheKarazyvicePresidentRR · « **Reply #15 on:** October 28, 2008, 05:32:30 PM »

Quote from: The Schaef on October 28, 2008, 05:27:08 PM

Any more, there's little time to catch anything other than some of the staples we watch through the week, Heroes and such. I'm not really compelled to campaign against the TV per se, but you know what, turn it off once in a while. Play a board game; they are great fun, and you can actually have a two-way conversation with the other player(s). I happen to know a guy who can hook you up with some at reasonable prices.

I wish I had people to actually play with :-p. I need to kidnap a part of ohio to FL

The Schaef · « **Reply #16 on:** October 28, 2008, 05:34:10 PM »

Weather being what it's been this week, please help yourself.

sk · « **Reply #17 on:** October 28, 2008, 05:42:50 PM »

I'm taking a course in TV broadcast that is discussing the effect of TV on culture, and whether it is a good medium. Here are my thoughts:

Quote from: The Spy on October 28, 2008, 04:49:22 PM

I flip to a different channel, one that should have a modicum of redeeming quality, the News Station. No matter what my bias is, I keep getting the same old talking points pounded into my head about the politics of the day. Maybe I can sate my thirst for entertainment by watching films!

One of my textbooks was written in the 1980s by a NYU professor that thought TV would destroy civilization. He flat-out says that "stupid" shows (read: those that do not claim to be worthwhile, such as American Idol or CSI, which are obviously just for entertainment) are perfect for TV and fit the medium well. It is entertainment that presents itself as something more (ie, the news, Sesame Street, and it even claims televangelists fall into this category) that doesn't work, as viewers are not actively critiquing the content they are viewing. Thus, it makes them think they are learning and comprehending a concept, when they are really just being told a handful of random things that hardly cover the concept, making them worse off than before.

Quote

Meanwhile, a book is collecting dust on my coffee table. It is formidable in size, but if I stopped filling my head with this garbage of a TV, I could complete it in a couple of weeks.

You're right to identify books as a better source of information, as they are usually intended as a complete work, and they must rely on non-entertaining means to keep an interest. It also allows active response, as you expect it to make claims. The written word is a better medium for intelligent arguments, as the reader can think more effectively. It also takes a fair amount of credibility or a number of peers to make a book happen, compared to something on TV taking just an insane man and a camera.

Quote

Furthermore, to those who say that I should make the same argument for my computer, here is my defense: My computer is easier to control. I use it for good purposes primarily. Computers can be used for evil, true, but it is easier to filter. Furthermore, I can walk away from my computer more easily because I am not addicted to every pulse, light and phrase that it provides.

I disagree with you here. Computers are even worse at presenting entertainment as important information -- blogs, user-generated videos and information, the web has been used poorly as a form of information distribution, as it is extremely hard to tell if you are getting fact or fable. (The professor of the course said that the web also does a horrible job at trying to filter itself -- which TV at least tries to do. He had an assignment where we compared a day w/o TV to a day w/o computers -- scary stuff.)

Sean · « **Reply #18 on:** October 28, 2008, 06:20:34 PM »

I can think of a lot of more important things to champion than, "Throw away your TV!"

Sean

YourMathTeacher · « **Reply #19 on:** October 28, 2008, 08:00:22 PM »

Quote from: Sean on October 28, 2008, 06:20:34 PM

I can think of a lot of more important things to champion than, "Throw away your TV!"

And if anyone has a TV larger than 19" that they are ditching, I'll come get it. I couldn't fit my TVs in my van when we moved to Florida. My daughter has to stand right in front of our tiny thrift store TV just to be able to read the words to Barney's Sing-a-Long.

Quote from: The Schaef on October 28, 2008, 05:34:10 PM

Weather being what it's been this week, please help yourself.

Just so that there are no false impressions, it was 41 degrees this morning in Orlando.

TheKarazyvicePresidentRR · « **Reply #20 on:** October 28, 2008, 08:05:26 PM »

It was snowing last night in Ohio though :-p so it must be warmer here. I love this weather. Any place above 20 is awesome weather.

YourMathTeacher · « **Reply #21 on:** October 28, 2008, 08:11:43 PM »

Quote from: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on October 28, 2008, 08:05:26 PM

I love this weather. Any place above 20 is awesome weather.

I agree completely. I liked having a little bite in the wind. I was trying to expell any preconceived notion that it's always 80 degrees and sunny in Florida.

This morning I went into school in my normal short-sleeve shirt. My students thought I was insane, since they were all wearing four layers or a parka. It was good for a chuckle.

TheKarazyvicePresidentRR · « **Reply #22 on:** October 28, 2008, 08:13:02 PM »

Quote from: YourMathTeacher on October 28, 2008, 08:11:43 PM

Quote from: TheKarazyvicePresidentRR on October 28, 2008, 08:05:26 PM
I love this weather. Any place above 20 is awesome weather.

I agree completely. I liked having a little bite in the wind. I was trying to expell any preconceived notion that it's always 80 degrees and sunny in Florida.

This morning I went into school in my normal short-sleeve shirt. My students thought I was insane, since they were all wearing four layers or a parka. It was good for a chuckle.

You sound like me, Pants+normal light shirt in the middle of winter here. Middle of summer and I'm in a hoodie... idk why I do that second one.

MehMan · « **Reply #23 on:** October 28, 2008, 08:26:30 PM »

Well this comes back to what my mom said "if we don't let them have what they want on tv, then they wouldn't let us have what we want." it's like anything we have to let people have bad books so we can have the Bible.... Sad yes very but it's the way things go...Ans funny thing about the whole hollow week thing cause that's true. But I like tv I watch the news,old movies(black and white and when people could act) but yes there's always good and bad it's life sad but true

michael/michaelssword · « **Reply #24 on:** October 28, 2008, 08:43:04 PM »

I've noticed them getting stricter about cursewords on TV and radio

News:

Author Topic: A Campaign against TV! (Read 17199 times)

The Schaef

The Schaef

MehMan

michael/michaelssword