A television free life
I have lived without a TV for the last 5 years or so. But over the past 12 years or so, since I have lived away from my parents home, I have had very limited television use. As in no cable, and not using the television outside of using it to watch a DVD on it. I have no intention of getting a TV in the near future.
Some of you may think I am crazy for this, but I honestly don't miss having a TV at all. And whenever I go back to my parents house, it's confirmed that I made the right decision. Within the course of a 30 minute American cable television show, you will discover that you have depression, low thyroid function, erectile dysfunction, and know the exact names of which medications you need to ask your doctor for to save yourself, so that you too can live like the happy people in the commercials, sitting by the lake, enjoying life in the sunshine while sipping a cocktail, and all because of this wonder medicine. Oh but don't worry about that part at the end that they speed up super fast so no one can understand, the list of side effects that is longer than the entire commercial itself. You will also realize that you need to get the new snuggie that is out, try the new McDonald mc-whatever sandwich, and know exactly what toys to buy your kids/niece/nephew for their next birthday. Exhausted yet?? I am.
You sit there and you get sucked in, its like some sort of advertising hypnosis, it puts you in this trance like state, sitting there seeing the same commercials over and over, pretty soon you find yourself humming the jingles and not knowing how you memorized that. It's sickening, and it happens so quickly.
I think that if you watch television everyday that you don't really realize how bad it is. It's not until you separate yourself for a few weeks, then go back and watch it again, that it is easier to see how destructive it can be.
That's not to say that I don't watch movies or shows still, because I do. But I am thankful to not have these advertisements in my life, that are counter-intuitive to my frugal lifestyle, my lifestyle of not being caught in the destructive path of excessive consumerism. I mean no offense to the advertising industry, I understand that they are doing their jobs, and doing it well. And I choose to separate myself from this culture.
Some of you may be thinking, okay, then what do I do with all that time, time that I'm not sitting in front of the TV? Well I wouldn't say that I am more productive with all that spare time, and that's on me. But it challenges me to think, to not sit mindless in front of a moving screen. Some examples of things that I do, writing, taking care of the apartment, reading up on different things that I want to learn about such as taking care of my plants, etc. Doing creative projects, like making a terrarium, going for a walk/exercising, and cooking.
I am not perfect, and am still guilty of sitting mindless in front of my computer screen occasionally. But we should all challenge ourselves to stay away from our TVs and screens as much as possible, and actually start living in the real world. I can say that I have definitely have noticed a positive difference in myself without having a TV.
Some of you may think I am crazy for this, but I honestly don't miss having a TV at all. And whenever I go back to my parents house, it's confirmed that I made the right decision. Within the course of a 30 minute American cable television show, you will discover that you have depression, low thyroid function, erectile dysfunction, and know the exact names of which medications you need to ask your doctor for to save yourself, so that you too can live like the happy people in the commercials, sitting by the lake, enjoying life in the sunshine while sipping a cocktail, and all because of this wonder medicine. Oh but don't worry about that part at the end that they speed up super fast so no one can understand, the list of side effects that is longer than the entire commercial itself. You will also realize that you need to get the new snuggie that is out, try the new McDonald mc-whatever sandwich, and know exactly what toys to buy your kids/niece/nephew for their next birthday. Exhausted yet?? I am.
You sit there and you get sucked in, its like some sort of advertising hypnosis, it puts you in this trance like state, sitting there seeing the same commercials over and over, pretty soon you find yourself humming the jingles and not knowing how you memorized that. It's sickening, and it happens so quickly.
I think that if you watch television everyday that you don't really realize how bad it is. It's not until you separate yourself for a few weeks, then go back and watch it again, that it is easier to see how destructive it can be.
That's not to say that I don't watch movies or shows still, because I do. But I am thankful to not have these advertisements in my life, that are counter-intuitive to my frugal lifestyle, my lifestyle of not being caught in the destructive path of excessive consumerism. I mean no offense to the advertising industry, I understand that they are doing their jobs, and doing it well. And I choose to separate myself from this culture.
Some of you may be thinking, okay, then what do I do with all that time, time that I'm not sitting in front of the TV? Well I wouldn't say that I am more productive with all that spare time, and that's on me. But it challenges me to think, to not sit mindless in front of a moving screen. Some examples of things that I do, writing, taking care of the apartment, reading up on different things that I want to learn about such as taking care of my plants, etc. Doing creative projects, like making a terrarium, going for a walk/exercising, and cooking.
I am not perfect, and am still guilty of sitting mindless in front of my computer screen occasionally. But we should all challenge ourselves to stay away from our TVs and screens as much as possible, and actually start living in the real world. I can say that I have definitely have noticed a positive difference in myself without having a TV.
Comments
Post a Comment