Well, you're talking to another anti-TV person, right here!
I don't own a t.v. anymore, and haven't actively watched t.v. at home since 1998, which was the last time I lived someplace where cable was purposely hooked up. However....I don't live completely in a cave, and during times when I'm traveling and staying in motels, I have to admit that I do watch it. In those situations I leave it on MTV and watch it with sick fascination. lol But the fact is, I go months at a time with zero exposure to any sort of t.v. programs. When 9/11 happened, I didn't have a t.v., as usual, but my roommate did. Had to run down the hall to their room, banging on their door so I could see what was happening on their t.v..
So, did I grow up without t.v.? No, not at all. Granted, my mom didn't park me in front of it or use it as a substitute babysitter or anything, (her favorite phrase was "go outside and play.....") but nightly sitcom watching was the norm as a little kid. And as I became a teen, the amount that I watched significantly increased. But despite that, I had no problem just walking away from it in my early 20's. I have wondered why / how that was possible, why I could just cut it out, overnight, and not even notice, versus others who go through withdrawals. I've concluded that it's because I didn't get anything out of t.v. - it's not interactive in any way, you don't really learn anything, it doesn't fill any void.
Those times I do get exposed to T.V. again, like when I'm out and about in public and there are t.v.s set up, I'm just awestruck by the stupidity of the programs that are on. I can not BELIEVE people park themselves in front of a box for several hours at a time, watching that stuff. I don't get it, at ALL. Then there's the news. All I see is complete fiction, lies, when watching it. It's like a made up, make believe reality they're desparately trying to feed us. And when it comes to local news, the programs are all empty filler fluff stuff. Segments concerning where you can shop locally to get the biggest discounts, stuff about fashion. Just crap. That's not news! The newscasters are like bug eyed, empty headed robots. It's completely disturbing. I can't watch them, they don't even seem real, or human. But the end result for me when seeing any of this is..............................anger. Total anger. I get so mad, so annoyed, that they present this to the public, and that the public in turn accepts it.
I am also REALLY tired of people looking at me dumbfounded when I say that I don't watch it, then saying to me, "What do you DO with yourself?!?" I'm sorry, but I think that statement is THE most disturbing aspect of all regarding t.v. What do I do with myself. What do I DO??? As if there's NOTHING else to do in one's free time OTHER than watch t.v. Let's see......I read!!!! I do watch movies, I admit that, (we watch them on a computer that has a DVD set up and nice speakers) And I live life. Go to the beach. Go places. There's a whole world of things to do, other than t.v.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My God!!!! It's just so disturbing.
But that's my rant. I'll probably never rant as much on this forum as I will regarding this topic. T.V. is my ultimate, all time #1 pet peeve, period. I loathe t.v.!!! grrrr!!!
"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "Holy shit ... what a ride!" - Anonymous
-----
"I get by with a little help from my (higher density) friends."
-----