Anybody NOT own a televison set?

boead · « **Reply #20 on:** 3 Sep 2006, 03:30 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 3 Sep 2006, 02:39 pm

TV is IMHO the single cause of the destruction of our society as it slides today. Programs like NBC Slightly News has caused the largest riff between the GOP, DFL and the American people. There is no common ground. The little reporters rewrite the news to fit an agenda. Big Brother is here, but it is not the government, it's the news networks. This crap has got to stop. United we stand, divided we fall!

As far as crying for National Public Television, give me a break. They own the finest facilities across the U.S. and are state of the art in all of them including radio. In my area, they are broadcasting in 6 HI-Definition TV channels. They are also heavily funded by the Federal Government and tax reducing payments from large corporations. Do you think companies give to Public Television 'cause it makes them "feel good"? They are wealthier than any private corporation.

I might as well blast the entire news industry here as I will never look at a Times mag or any mag ever again! Radio has also fallen to new lows. Our local Misleader new paper is another example of creative writing. There is no news, only stories mostly made up or so heavily edited, the meaning has changed.

If you don't own a TV or don't watch, you are very, very lucky.

TV = Enemy #1

TV is the single cause of the destruction of our society? Do you honestly believe that?
Wow, that’s ummm – sad again.
What’s makes you believe our society is declining? Are you one of those that believe that life was better years ago? LOL, life sucked years ago!

Hidden agenda? Yeah, it’s called ratings! People crave drama, always have and always will.

6 HiDef channels in your area? Where do you live? I live in the Tri-State Metro area, one of the most populated regions in the USA. There is one HD PBS channel and a total of 9 in NY, 1 in NJ, 3 in PA, 1 in CT, 1 in VT, 2 in MA and 1 in NH. Mostly they are crap that play the same shows over and over again.
PBS is wealthier than any private corporation? Again, do you honestly believe that?
They own the finest facilities across the U.S. and are state of the art in all? PBS’s HD broadcast is horrible!!! Maybe the worst quality HD broadcast I’ve seen to date.

Eric, finding TV boring is fine - its your opinion. Making assumptions, believing in stereotypes, using excuses and spreading misinformation is what’s not very smart.
Red, what other interests are you pursuing in your hotel room 3 weeks a month? Curious.

You guys are certainly entertaining, maybe more so then TV I have to admit but not for very long.

eric the red · « **Reply #21 on:** 3 Sep 2006, 04:02 pm »

I work 10-11 hours a day 7 days a week when I am on the road. Between finding decent places to eat, sleeping, reading and having a few beers and playing dominos with my coworkers after work, that's about it unless the hotel has free internet service. I spend 6 months a year in Los Angeles and there is always a new area in the greater Los Angeles area to check out if we have time.The point of this post is that I am curious as to how many people here do not own a televison set here and why not. I don't know anyone without a set and televison is such a big part of American culture that it's rare to find anyone these days without one. People who do enjoy watching televison can watch all they want for all I care and for whatever reason and how much they do is their own buisness.

nathanm · « **Reply #22 on:** 3 Sep 2006, 04:17 pm »

I stopped watching TV a few years ago which was a very good decision, but also has drawbacks. The sales model simply doesn't work for me. Cable was $45 a month (plus the $45 for internet) but they aren't offering what I'd want. Buy only the channels you want and nothing else. No package deals or anything. I am sure there are good reasons for having it set up that way, perhaps not; but essentially I wasn't watching $45 per month of TV shows. If there was a way to pay 5 bucks a month it would be worth it to me.

Everytime I DO go to a friend's house and watch TV I always feel much better about my decision. It just makes me exasperated, incredulous or angry. It makes me hate humanity. And I have no patience for ads. I get up and walk away and it's difficult to come back. But the worse is the news. And I disagree with Wayner - the media is not evil #1, the evil is government. Where does the media get its information from? If anything it's a sick marriage, but the government is the main culprit. And we are all to blame for buying into their propaganda. The proof that TV is not enemy #1 is that I turned off my TV and didn't go to jail. Try not paying federal taxes. But on a lighter note the news IS very funny. The whole "saving people from themselves" advice that evening news turned into was the source of much hilarity. I do miss that. Not watching TV also means you also can't make fun of it!

Now I basically buy DVDs of the shows I used to like and if there are current shows I've heard are good I might try downloading a few. I am perfectly happy to wait years until something good comes out on DVD.

The drawbacks of no TV means decreased ability for conversation at work. I've noticed that TV shows comprise a good portion of peoples' conversation and I never know what they're talking about. And for as awful as the media is, I do miss out on big news items. But big stuff you'll find out about no matter what.

I really like what quitting cold turkey did for my general mood and mental health, but since the culture we live in is so wrapped up in TV it also has the effect of cutting oneself off from the rest of society.

jkelly · « **Reply #23 on:** 3 Sep 2006, 04:42 pm »

One TV mounted in cabinet with doors in living room.

I switched to basic cable and pick the programs that I want to
watch. Life is so much better for me. I think the "chads" did me in!
The TV doesn't get turned on as background noise or a friend.

I think some folks like to justify their television addiction by the
quality of the programs they watch. The fact is that if you watch
more than you want to, use it as a way to unwind and relax, find
yourselves staying up too late because of it and not doing responsibilities
because of it - your most likely addicted to it.

News programming , in many cases, has changed from the search for truth
to a one sided view with a vicious attack on any other viewpoint.

I also believe that television has tremendous influence on people and
personally I don't care for the message they are selling.

Jeff

ecramer · « **Reply #24 on:** 3 Sep 2006, 05:15 pm »

TV is a media designed and regulated to remove money from the consumers pocket plain and simple that's how it was conceived and still is weather PBS, history channel, or NBC etc that what I was created for and still is the major driving force behind it. i cannot say that i don't find some of it entertaining I go down to the VFW if i want to watch a the Nascar race but other than that news programs are all on a agenda pro or con whatever. China keeps it unwashed masses on the farm so it can manage it exploding population demanding change and the USA keeps it people on gabage like friends and sex in the city as Rome went so shall

Quote from: boead on 3 Sep 2006, 04:56 am

Well I’m likely bias considering that my income is mostly dependent on advertising dollars but have you considered who pays for the programming?
Public TV works on donations, they can’t afford to produce their own programming, not in a long shot and so they buy programming and get deals on much because they are non profit organizations. Its like communism, its good at first and for the short run but ultimately it falls way short.
So quality programming requires lots and lots of money. And were do you think that money is coming from? Certainly not from you! It requires the $$ from advertisers willing to spend enormous amounts of money just for the chance that a small percentage of the viewing public (you know the ones watching for free), might buy their product.
Now if you say TV isn’t free, well you might be right to a small extent but also consider the fact that you don’t have to have an antenna on your roof and you don’t have to climb up on it a turn it this way and that way. You don’t have to look at static and our neighborhoods aren’t littered with ugly roof antennas and broadcasting towers. Cable also brings you a multitude of services and possibilities that your antenna can’t possibly come close too, like broadband internet and HiDefinition TV as well as on demand movies and programming. For the price of a nice lunch and a beer, you can get 50 or more channels of quality broadcast per month and you don’t’ have to buy an antenna or a tuner. And because of advertising dollars, programming is quality – ultimately surpassing Hollywood.

I really thought this forum was home to smarter thinking posters but I can see that’s not really the case. Sad.

boead · « **Reply #25 on:** 3 Sep 2006, 05:55 pm »

Nathanm, now that’s intelligent!

I agree about mainstream news, it’s horrible and it makes me angry too. I also despise most if not all reality TV as well as these American Idol like shows. But I have to admit, I like a good train wreck now and then. Have you watched Bobby Brown and Whitney? Good for a laugh or two.

News is best gotten from multiple sources world wide. In that way you get different perspectives from a multiple of cultures and draw your own conclusions and truths.

I’m a science fiction fan and just love some of the programming produced by the SciFi network. Galactica and this new show called Eureka is quite good. I also enjoy Stargate, Ghost Hunters and Doctor Who although much of the ‘movies’ they make are horrible.
But as I’ve said prior, the documentary programming made for the History brand channels, Discovery and similar are chocked full of information and insight into humanity. HBO programming has been some of the very best in history; Oz, Sopranos, Deadwood, Entourage, Bill Maher, Rome, Curb your Enthusiasm, Sex and the City and many others are fabulous! HBO’s late night adult program is also very good; fun sexy and downright entertaining. HBO comedy, documentaries and films are also top quality.

$45 per month? I pay my local cable company nearly $170 month for TV, movies on demand, a DVR, three boxes, Internet access and unlimited phone.

Jkelly, yes addictions are counter productive. Alcohol, illegal and legal drugs, caffeine, sex can all easily be abused. So can the need to make money, boast your own ego and sure, indulging in watching TV or listening to Music. Too much of anything is an addiction and can be destructive to some degree.
Don’t blame any one of these, blame yourself! People cause their own demise, not the act itself. The biggest problem I see in society today is the lack of self responsibility! Nobody is willing to take responsibility for their own actions and like to point their fingers at everyone else besides themselves for what’s wrong with themselves and the world. Its frustrating.

And yes ecramer, nothing is free in life. Everything has a cost associated to it. You want free TV, someone has to pay for it and someone has to provide jobs to people. People need to work and earn livings. How many people do you think the TV and motion picture industries employ? What would these people be doing otherwise? Maybe they would not have been born? Oh but that doesn’t happen does it, look at China or Bangladesh. Billions of poor people with nothing to do.

Folsom · « **Reply #26 on:** 3 Sep 2006, 06:02 pm »

I got nothing.... Do not mind.

fajimr · « **Reply #27 on:** 3 Sep 2006, 06:15 pm »

no t.v. in my place....

don't really miss it... I frequented the local italian cafe to watch the tour de france- there were a few of us in there, especially during the mountain stages. I get out to movies once in a while.. mostly independent but also hollywood. I seem to find other things to do with my time (and sleep is not one of them). I'm sure there is good programming out there somewhere in the t.v. world- I have just found interesting things to do locally.

JoshK · « **Reply #28 on:** 3 Sep 2006, 06:51 pm »

Well I do have TV, but I don't pay anything for it. I put an antenna on my roof and I get what I can get free only. Nathan's frustration mirrors mine exactly. Here in NYC you can't get away for less than $80/mo when it is said and done. $80 for what? My wife and I just don't watch enough TV to make it worthwhile. If we could pick A&E, Discovery, Animal Planet and CrimeTV and the local channels for a much reduced rate, then fine, else I'll have nothing. I actually had this argument with the cable company. Then I quit.

I have a PVR, so we record what we wish to watch from the OTA local channels (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS, etc). Then we watch without the commercials. I get my news from the WSJ, Bloomberg and the web. The WSJ has a great world news summary on the front page which is worth its weight in gold.

I've had this argument with my father many times, about the news that is. He being an ultra conservative doesn't get that only watching Fox news provides him with no alternate understanding/views of events. Media is a huge filter for "the truth". Its already been preprocessed, how on earth do you not expect it to be unbiased also? Then again it becomes a philisophical argument on being able to obtain any truth. But this is another topic altogether...

My college roommate and I gave up TV for two years during college because we didn't want to pay for it. At first it was difficult because we didn't know what else to do with our free time, but quickly you learn how little you need it and what a grip it has on your life. Since then I have gone back and forth between having and not having cable, mostly not. We have lived three years without cable, can't say I miss it.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #29 on:** 3 Sep 2006, 07:01 pm »

I do have a projector, but not a TV. The PJ isn't connected to the cable tv feed, just my DVD player & game consoles. I'm not an anti-tv vigilante or anything, I just haven't really had time or inclination to hook it up and watch anything. I haven't watched a TV program since late March or early April. That said, once football is in full swing I'll have to connect the cable (I actually subscribe to cable TV with my internet, so I've paid for 4/5 months of service that I haven't used

).

It's not that I don't have time to watch TV- I of course could make time. But why would I? I get my news from print & internet sources, watch DVDs and play games. Plus at any given time I'm usually in the middle of several books. I've got better things to do than waste my time watching Survivor.

chadh · « **Reply #30 on:** 3 Sep 2006, 07:31 pm »

I've been feeling badly all day, and have plunged myself deep into self reflection. Have I really been too busy to watch TV for the past month or so? Is this really what's been going on? Or am I just looking for excuses?

If I'm totally honest, I really have to face up to the facts. I guess I've just been too lazy to watch TV.

Hopefully, this is one of those cases where appreciating the problem gets me half way to solving it. No more excuses. I'll start watching more TV today!

Chad

Wayner · « **Reply #31 on:** 3 Sep 2006, 10:39 pm »

Chadh.................don't do it!

boead · « **Reply #32 on:** 4 Sep 2006, 01:22 am »

Quote from: chadh on 3 Sep 2006, 07:31 pm

I've been feeling badly all day, and have plunged myself deep into self reflection. Have I really been too busy to watch TV for the past month or so? Is this really what's been going on? Or am I just looking for excuses?

If I'm totally honest, I really have to face up to the facts. I guess I've just been too lazy to watch TV.

Hopefully, this is one of those cases where appreciating the problem gets me half way to solving it. No more excuses. I'll start watching more TV today!

Chad

Wow chadh you stumped me with your wit. All I can say is; be careful with knives, especially Swiss made ones. Maybe you should stick with spoons and chopsticks – it’s safer.

I just brought the kids to see Monster House in 3D. I paid $38 for 4 tickets, $24 for 3 sandwich bags full of popcorn, $5 for some near frozen sugar water and got to listen to some asshole snore more then half way through the hour and a half long movie.
Now that’s the way to get some good entertainment value.

Folsom · « **Reply #33 on:** 5 Sep 2006, 06:45 am »

Quote from: Rob Babcock on 3 Sep 2006, 07:01 pm

I do have a projector, but not a TV. The PJ isn't connected to the cable tv feed, just my DVD player & game consoles. I'm not an anti-tv vigilante or anything, I just haven't really had time or inclination to hook it up and watch anything. I haven't watched a TV program since late March or early April. That said, once football is in full swing I'll have to connect the cable (I actually subscribe to cable TV with my internet, so I've paid for 4/5 months of service that I haven't used ).

It's not that I don't have time to watch TV- I of course could make time. But why would I? I get my news from print & internet sources, watch DVDs and play games. Plus at any given time I'm usually in the middle of several books. I've got better things to do than waste my time watching Survivor.

Ignore this guy, his taste in movies is so bad it negates his anything invovled with visual stimulation.

boead · « **Reply #34 on:** 5 Sep 2006, 12:27 pm »

Great shows on History:

Lost Worlds. Just watched Churchill's Secret Bunkers and Count Dracula. I also caught Hitler's Supercity a week or so ago. Excellent show.

My favorite is Josh Bernsteins' Digging for the Truth. This guy has some influence in his circle. He manages to get into places most can’t and captures on film some very cool places.

Can’t forget Mega Movers, Modern Marvels and American Eats!

http://www.history.com/shows.do

ctviggen · « **Reply #35 on:** 5 Sep 2006, 02:53 pm »

I have one TV, a 57 inch RPTV. I plan on getting an overhead projector to replace this TV (in a multipurpose room downstairs) and I will get one more TV upstairs. Personally, I think 99.99 percent of the shows on TV are inane. I haven't watched "prime time" TV in probably 20 to 30 years. I never saw a single episode of Seinfeld, Friends, Lost, etc. (I did have friends who watched these shows, and I would watch because they controlled the remote; but I never purposely turned on the show.) I do like some of the shows that teach more, like Good Eats and some of the nature or machine shows. However, I do not have time to watch anything. If my Replay doesn't tape it, I don't watch it. Currently, my Replay tapes Good Eats, Antiques Roadshow, and Tennis. That's it. Even those, I don't watch.

arthurs · « **Reply #36 on:** 5 Sep 2006, 03:21 pm »

TV, as in all things, is not bad at all in moderation....as to content quality, like music we each enjoy what we enjoy, who am I to question what someone else likes, even if I think it's crap?

Voodoo Rufus · « **Reply #37 on:** 7 Sep 2006, 07:12 am »

Don't own a TV here. I can get my news online, and the only shows I watch I can wait to come out on Netflix.

The only reason for me to have TV access would be to get Formula One/MotoGP/WRC races, and maybe Battlestar Galactica. Lost another reason to watch TV when the West Wing went off the air.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #38 on:** 7 Sep 2006, 07:58 am »

I am a big fan of BSG, too. But given their goofy scheduling I'm actually considering not watching the new season til I can buy it on DVD. I have plenty to keep me occupied until then. It's actually been nice not having TV, to tell the truth. The only catch is that I don't want to miss the Vikings winning the Super Bowl this season!

Voodoo Rufus · « **Reply #39 on:** 7 Sep 2006, 10:20 am »

Quote from: Rob Babcock on 7 Sep 2006, 07:58 am

I am a big fan of BSG, too. But given their goofy scheduling I'm actually considering not watching the new season til I can buy it on DVD. I have plenty to keep me occupied until then. It's actually been nice not having TV, to tell the truth. The only catch is that I don't want to miss the Vikings winning the Super Bowl this season!

Volunteer a friend to hold a Super Bowl party.