It amuses me how emotive the subject of television watching actually is. I’ve been met with reactions from mild bemusement to jaw-dropping shock in response to the fact I do not own a television. “What do you DO???” exclaimed a friend’s mother, “Aren’t you bored?”. One woman even made an excuse to pop round to our house to see for herself!
I’m not militant about my status as a television non-owner; I don’t think tv is inherently evil or that I’m “better than YOU!” I’m writing this blog to share my experiences, thoughts and the benefits I perceive to being free of this ubiquitous device.
I removed the television from our house in January of 2008. My primary motivation was that here in the UK, we have to pay a yearly license fee of £142.50, or risk a hefty fine. I don’t agree with the cost or the requirement of a licence to watch TV, as I believe it to be a tax on television ownership and the thin end of a very big wedge. Along with my satellite subscription, TV was costing me over £40 a month! That’s a big chunk of money for something I barely had time for.
Finances aside, these are my gripes with television:
The cultural impact of television advertising: I don’t like subliminal advertising, or advertising that outright demands that I live a certain way. TV adverts do exactly this, bombarding us with popular lifestyle choices for music, clothing and attitude. Of course adverts are designed to cater to the most profitable demographic; they are driven by revenue.
A by-product of targetting the mainstream is that viewers don’t realise there are alternatives, and so they buy into what advertising tells them without a second thought. They do not question what is presented onscreen. Consequently, there are hordes of people who don’t express themselves, and instead like what they are told to like, believe what they are told to believe and wear what the fashionistas tell them to. They find safety in numbers; non-conformity is seen as something freakish to be mocked, rather than an interesting diversity.
Women (and some men!) make themselves ill trying to emulate the style and looks of bulimic actresses and impossibly-sculpted actors. Adverts hint that we are somehow worthless if we do not conform to their ideals of youth and beauty. One anti-cellulite cream featured the thighs of a twelve year old boy, and shampoo adverts regularly use models with hair extensions.
Television advertising has played a large part in creating a generation where few can think for themselves. *Disclaimer* -not everyone who watches tv is a drooling vegetable.. like with anything else, an awareness of it’s effects and a degree of moderation work wonders.
It’s called television programming for a reason, kids 
Television’s use as a “soundtrack for life”: Too many families turn the television on as soon as they wake up, and do not switch it off until the last person reluctantly goes to bed. That’s around sixteen hours of noisy mental bombardment. I do wonder if these people are so afraid of having an original thought that they drown them out in this way.
As an empath it is anathema to me not to have some quiet time each day; to read, to lay and think, or simply to enjoy the silence. The loss of television had a profound effect on my two young daughters; if the “box” was on, I had to fight to gain their attention.. without it’s influence their attention spans increased and they began to engage in creative, imaginative play.
Walks to school became nature trails as they took more and more notice of the world around them, asking questions about creatures we saw; snails, slugs, birds, ladybugs and even the dreaded spider.
The News: Political news is mostly speculation, and by definition mostly imaginary. I find little truth or value in current affairs because of it’s skewed facade.
If news programmes aren’t the easiest way of manipulating the public, then I’m at a loss as to what is! With their doom, gloom and often outright hatred of those on the fringe of society they draw our focus to everything we don’t want in our lives. Plenty of people have an aversion to those who draw welfare benefits. “Cheats!” “Scum!” “Parasites!”.. again copying sentiments they hear on the news. The key word is aversion, aka negative manifestation.
By focusing on something, or on a group of people, by blaming it/them, you bring it into your experience. Public opinion, and thusly experience, is directly related to news stories. The horrific death of a child at the hands of an abuser makes headlines; and for months after our industrious journalists bring us more and more harrowing stories.
The power of the media is truly frightening. (that’s another potential blog!)
One can cut out these downsides and still enjoy some quality entertainment! “Then why throw away your TV?” I hear you ask, “Why not watch what you enjoy and turn it off?”.
Well, I didn’t find the few programmes we enjoyed worth the monthly expense. Along with that.. if you have young children you will be aware of their capacity to nag.”Muuuuuuuuuum, I want to watch Peppa Pig!” would soon become “..and I want to watch this, and that, and that….”. Children aren’t great at moderation and I’m a lousy disciplinarian. Removing the tv was the best choice for us as a family.
Within a week of getting rid of our tv, I had increased energy and clarity of thought. My creativity increased and I felt happier. I worried less about the future, which I believe was down to being news-free. I felt less irritable and stressed and more laid back about life in general. Visitors often commented on the pleasant atmosphere in our house, and that it was lovely to be able to chat unhindered.
When I see television in use outside of the home, I am very aware of it’s presence. I am irritated when I see it used in waiting rooms, shops and even the post office! In these situations it is spouting inane streams of “info-mercial” crap which only seems to put the patients and customers into a benign and glassy-eyed trance.
We still enjoy watching DVDs and streaming videos on the computer; the children appreciate selecting their viewing and see it as just one more form of entertainment rather than a necessary component of existance.
It’s a big leap of faith to make; television is deeply ingrained in our collective psyche and culture. A compromise I’d suggest is buying a cabinet to house your tv. Choose to watch, rather than have it on in the background. To use television consciously is to snap out of it’s control.
–Gehenna
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I’d like this edition to have a more spiritual / alternative health (rather than medical or fitness training) focus, though all entries geared toward improving one’s health will be considered.
