Living without a TV
- By Emily Kieson
- Published Tuesday 11th 2007
Emily Kieson
Emily currently lives in Austin TX and spends most of her time writing and enjoying the weather. She loves to write stories and screenplays for all ages. When she's not writing, Emily is teaching horseback riding, working as a vet tech, or painting.
Yes, that's right, I don't have a television. I don't have a microwave, either, which apparently has produced more gasps from friends than does the lack of a television set. I assure you, I get along just fine with a toasteroven and stove.
I should clarify my statement: I don't have a television but I do have means of watching DVDs should I so choose. The television that once graced my last apartment is now in the garage. It's an antique of sorts with a built-in VHS player and no remote. But We ceased using the television many months ago, long after we gave up cable (I can hear your gasps from here).
It's wonderful. A world without television is really nice.
Don't get me wrong, I still love occasionally watching movies or shows via our DVD player, but it's less connected to what is actually on television. There was a time when I was addicted to shows and surfed through the hundreds of cable channels. But I only liked a select group of shows, all of which were available on DVD...my boyfriend agreed and we canceled cable.
For a while we watched basic television, mostly for the Simpsons, but when rerun season came around there was nothing. Cable viewers get a constant supply of new shows, but not those with only five channels. There was nothing new on the tube, nothing more to satiate our appetite for escapism. Rather than be frustrated flipping through our five channels and constantly adjusting the rabit ears (you should have seen the guys' faces at Fry's when I bought THOSE!), we turned it off.
It was almost painful, a drug withdrawl of sorts, except it was my mind, not my body that was suddenly out of sorts. All of a sudden I had to think for an extra few hours a day. It's harder than it sounds. We all search for escapism through passive entertainment via the tube or the internet and removing that can be painful. Even
reading requires certain active participation. Reruns of shows don't hold the same power as new, engaging entertainment that's seemingly unpredictable. It's the unpredictability that holds the power of anticipation, keeping the interest of the viewers.
Like quitiing cigarettes, the first few days were the hardest.
Then, all of a sudden, the world became real. Although parts of my brain still live in fantasy, a great big part of my mind was suddenly free to move and explore. My boyfriend and I started playing more games, taking evening walks, reading the paper together, and engaging more in conversation. Amazing! Who would have thunk that so much existed inside my own home!
Like I said, we can watch DVDs but we seldom watch movies. Occasionally we rent back episodes of popular television shows to see if they are worth the hype, but we usually end up watching documentaries that can spark new conversations after the show.
I don't have to plan time to watch all the shows I saved on a DVR, nor do I need to plan a schedule around an upcoming reality show. It's a strange sense of freedom, the kind that I could only get from disconnecting with popular culture.
I would suggest that people try it for a week. One week. Buy a game or two (Carcassonne, Pente, and Settlers of Catan are some excellent choices) and engage with your family. If you live alone, read or take a walk.
With the current writer's strike maintaining momentum, everyone but reality television lovers might find their television world void of engaging programs. If you turn off the TV, you might find that the part of your brain that found solace in television actually has something else to say.
I should clarify my statement: I don't have a television but I do have means of watching DVDs should I so choose. The television that once graced my last apartment is now in the garage. It's an antique of sorts with a built-in VHS player and no remote. But We ceased using the television many months ago, long after we gave up cable (I can hear your gasps from here).
It's wonderful. A world without television is really nice.
Don't get me wrong, I still love occasionally watching movies or shows via our DVD player, but it's less connected to what is actually on television. There was a time when I was addicted to shows and surfed through the hundreds of cable channels. But I only liked a select group of shows, all of which were available on DVD...my boyfriend agreed and we canceled cable.
For a while we watched basic television, mostly for the Simpsons, but when rerun season came around there was nothing. Cable viewers get a constant supply of new shows, but not those with only five channels. There was nothing new on the tube, nothing more to satiate our appetite for escapism. Rather than be frustrated flipping through our five channels and constantly adjusting the rabit ears (you should have seen the guys' faces at Fry's when I bought THOSE!), we turned it off.
It was almost painful, a drug withdrawl of sorts, except it was my mind, not my body that was suddenly out of sorts. All of a sudden I had to think for an extra few hours a day. It's harder than it sounds. We all search for escapism through passive entertainment via the tube or the internet and removing that can be painful. Even
Like quitiing cigarettes, the first few days were the hardest.
Then, all of a sudden, the world became real. Although parts of my brain still live in fantasy, a great big part of my mind was suddenly free to move and explore. My boyfriend and I started playing more games, taking evening walks, reading the paper together, and engaging more in conversation. Amazing! Who would have thunk that so much existed inside my own home!
Like I said, we can watch DVDs but we seldom watch movies. Occasionally we rent back episodes of popular television shows to see if they are worth the hype, but we usually end up watching documentaries that can spark new conversations after the show.
I don't have to plan time to watch all the shows I saved on a DVR, nor do I need to plan a schedule around an upcoming reality show. It's a strange sense of freedom, the kind that I could only get from disconnecting with popular culture.
I would suggest that people try it for a week. One week. Buy a game or two (Carcassonne, Pente, and Settlers of Catan are some excellent choices) and engage with your family. If you live alone, read or take a walk.
With the current writer's strike maintaining momentum, everyone but reality television lovers might find their television world void of engaging programs. If you turn off the TV, you might find that the part of your brain that found solace in television actually has something else to say.
