• Registered: 2004-10-15

Re: I got rid of my TV!! :)

lyra wrote:

Defending yourself when you've been misrepresented is a whole different thing than defending yourself when nobody was even addressing you in the first place.

Of course there was nothing wrong with my defending myself...I was directly quoted, put in the spotlight, and (it seems) that I was being told that I'm insinuating that there's is "something exremely wrong with people" who still have TV in their life.

Funny thing is I added the "(you done so in this very thread - nothing wrong with that)" part as an edit nearly an hour after I initially posted it.  Even afterward I wasn't sure I did the right thing.  I totally understood where you were coming from.  You wanted to claify - as you felt Andy's comment about demonising people was aimed at you.  Other people jump to their own defense without any reason other than feeling self-consious...I find myself still doing that occasionally, even though I know better.

I understood what and why you posted - but the fact I added that extra line in; "(you done so in this very thread - nothing wrong with that)" made it appear to you that I had mis-interprited you.  Perhaps because I wasn't very clear in my post.

But yeah - I agree people always seem to feel the need to explain themselves, even when it is unnecessary.  (I used to work with a 55 year old woman that constantly explained herself in every conversation, no matter the subject).  Maybe it comes from some sort of conditioning or being self-conscious.

I guess my point is this; Regardless of the context of peoples self explaination (self-consiousness, mis-interpriation, clarification etc.) does it all rise from the same place inside of us?

Thought Manifestation

Marcus's Website

32 Reply by RonD

  • RonD
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Re: I got rid of my TV!! :)

I respect people who choose to interact in life, and resist Television.  TV is a very passive mode of living.  If you choose to have more activity, maybe sex, art, or writing a book, good for you.

Not me.  I love the technology of our time.  I am here in this moment and I want to experience what is to offer.

I study polls and ratings.  What interests people, interests me.  I'm trying to understand what is going on at this moment because I am here now.  Time means nothing really, so I am studying what humans do with their time.

Why resist the options technology offers?  Choose to do what you will, but leave every option open. 

I can rent 3 DVD's each day through Hollywood Video, which uses my 3 TVs.  At this point, I've seen nearly everything.

I have cable, which offers me hundreds of options.  I love informational stuff of every sort.

And I have porn, which helps me.  Yes it does.

I turn on Soundscapes when I am reading, or on the internet.

Interaction with another person is even more stimulating.  Yes, I feel it now.  Feel it.

But technolgy is a great option.  Yet, spirituality is more. 

So choose among the options you have.  Have many options. 

I like TV.

Now, I have a Sony Prosumer camcorder and am creating TV stuff.

GRRR enough TV

Give me some sex.

(And he takes a deep breath)

33 Reply by RonD

  • RonD
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Re: I got rid of my TV!! :)

Ok.  You win.  Less TV, more life.

  • From: Peru
  • Registered: 2004-08-06

Re: I got rid of my TV!! :)

lyra wrote:

And I've already clarified this several times on this forum because people keep making this fallacy - that because I'm down on TV then I'm somehow judging and looking down on those who partake in it.

(sigh)

Maybe in your own mind you don't feel like you look down on people who still watch a bit of tv occasionally. However, the words you choose to use often make it look like you do. Perhaps I was going a bit over the top using the words "something extremely wrong" however you do frequently come across as being very patronising. It might not be intentional but it's something I've noticed a lot.

I mean  the statement "People want to believe that the couple of good programs or networks they can tick off makes TV okay in the end and "not so bad."    But it doesn't.   Because there isn't anything you can get from TV that you can't get from books." comes across as being an incredibly patronising statement aimed at people who still watch a bit of tv. By saying it like that it sounds like you're putting yourself above people who enjoy watching a couple of tv programs.

Perhaps I completely misinterpreted your statement (it wouldn't be the first time wink), but I do think it's interesting that you're the one person in this forum who spends an inordinate amount of time either arguing with people or defending your postition about something, usually because someone "misinterpreted" you apparantly.

Join me in Peru to celebrate December 21st 2012 - Visit: http://2012awakeningretreat.com/

Ayahuasca's Website

35 Reply by lyra (edited by lyra 2006-03-22 12:36:24)

  • lyra
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  • From: my own private idaho
  • Registered: 2004-03-25

Re: I got rid of my TV!! :)

Ayahuasca wrote:

(sigh)

Maybe in your own mind you don't feel like you look down on people who still watch a bit of tv occasionally. However, the words you choose to use often make it look like you do. Perhaps I was going a bit over the top using the words "something extremely wrong" however you do frequently come across as being very patronising. It might not be intentional but it's something I've noticed a lot.I mean  the statement "People want to believe that the couple of good programs or networks they can tick off makes TV okay in the end and "not so bad."    But it doesn't.   Because there isn't anything you can get from TV that you can't get from books." comes across as being an incredibly patronising statement aimed at people who still watch a bit of tv. By saying it like that it sounds like you're putting yourself above people who enjoy watching a couple of tv programs.

That's your interpretation of it. 




Ayahuasca wrote:

but I do think it's interesting that you're the one person in this forum who spends an inordinate amount of time either arguing with people or defending your postition about something, usually because someone "misinterpreted" you apparantly.

You know what *I* find most interesting? 

A)  I heard your thought earlier in my mind as you were probably typing it.   And it wouldn't be the first time I've known what you were going to say...word for word....before you posted it.  I'm truly not lying. I've mentioned this happening before, a long time ago.   I already knew *exactly* what you were going to say.  What's that all about, I wonder?   Which leads to... 

B)  I had a prominant ear ringing in my right ear just before your post went up.

I'll leave things at that.   The fact is Andy, nobody was even talking to you....................certainly not me.  Then you jump in, quote me, compose an entire defensive post justifying your TV watching.......like I care!  And like I want you to answer to ME......then, I respond, and now we have this??   You derailing things off onto something about "lyra" and "fighting" and "misunderstandings" all that?   Who started this?   Not me Andy.  Jeez Louise.    "Something weird" is amiss is putting it mildly.  I want no part of it, whatever it is. 

Back to TV.

Later...

"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."
-----

lyra's Website

  • Registered: 2005-04-10

Re: I got rid of my TV!! :)

the few programmes i mentioned in my post that i caught on television - lyra said i could have learned about the same things from books - no doubt - but i probably would never have gone after researching about sugar and the sugar industry - it was just an interesting documentary that was on television and i happened to catch it ...

the reason i mentioned that show specifically was because i think/feel it reflected the truth about a certain situation that's happening in the world ...

as much as television is used for propaganda purposes and mind control and all that ugly business - the truth is also present and out there in tv land ...

that documentary on sugar was a reminder for me about how corrupt our world is - this was just one form of it. this is something to learn from, is it not? people say - yes, well, the world is ugly, but so what, i can't do anything about it - but the most anyone can do about it ? isn't it to enquire into the truth ? so what does that entail ? doesn't that mean that facing facts is important ?

not just about the world outside, but also the facts we find within ourselves.

When I look at people who are mostly about money, material well being, or people who love power, or having an important position or title - you know - everything that's glitz and gleam on the surface - like some of the people that were featured in that documentary - the owners of the sugar companies - or some family friends of ours - or people i've worked for professionally - some of these people are extremely shallow - they don't have much on the inside ... they're usually seeking external things for their happiness - seeking pleasure, seeking to expand their wealth - more more more - and it's mostly just about them - living in a bubble like this - concerned only for their own small immediate sphere - this is dangerous - this is our fragmentary way of being - we see ourselves as separate - but that fragmentation - is it a reflection of what goes on within us ? is it just the 'surface dwellers' that are fragmented ? 

... there was one guy they were interviewing in that "Big Sugar" documentary who is an owner of one of these sugar companies, and he has a sugar plantation in in South America, where actual slaves are working for him right now in horrible conditions - and the gentlemen asking this man questions pointed this out - and the owner of the plantation was in complete denial - he was actually laughing and telling the interviewer that he must have his facts mixed up ... to see this was a phenomenal thing for me - but this sort of "self denial" i'll call it - it's not uncommon - i think this is part of the danger of what happens when we don't face facts, when we don't have an awareness of ourselves - we can become self deluded ...

it's hard enough when someone points something out to us and says - you're this way - especially if that's something unpleasant - what about having our own awareness of ourselves as we are - no matter how we are ? is it possible to be aware of ourselves, our complete way of being, without judgement or identification ? i say it is - and that's the factor that brings about fundmental change from within. 

Wheter someone watches tv or not - i don't think that matters as much as whether someone has self knowledge - and that's not something that can be passed from any medium, whether it's a person, television, books, whatever, from one person to another ... we learn about ourselves as we are by watching ourselves in relation to the world, people, ideas, situations, etc - we act as mirrors for each other - and that's how we learn ... at least that's part of it ...

... checking out the mirror of relationship ...

oceanchild's Website

37 Reply by Hourthirteen (edited by Hourthirteen 2006-03-23 10:23:49)

  • Registered: 2006-03-13

Re: I got rid of my TV!! :)

Kudos to you, Oceanchild!!
I couldn't agree with you more. I watch little TV ...where I do my work (stationed in cabins in the mtns) we can't get reception anyway. And then there is the fact that there is so precious little worth watching. My preferences have always been comedy...especially the British comedies!! big_smile ...like Are You Being Served, Fawlty Towers, etc .. I loved Frazier!!
I DO believe that the television is the greatest mind control weapon on the face of the Earth (but am growing highly suspect of Chemtrails vying for first place sad  ...) although the TV ranks number one (to _me_!) because of the frequency levels matching those of the brain, which is one of the reasons that it can put you so easily into the Delta state.
But like ANY bag of tricks ... its a MIXED bag and I believe that my watching TV no more than 10 hours a week will NOT hurt me. I have trained myself to stay aware and detached enough so that I am not sucked in. Maybe this is why I don't enjoy TV as much anymore! HA! big_smile I do plenty of reading and goodness knows I'm 'out in nature' enough with my kind of work!
Someone asked the P's (channeled by Barb M) if it wouldn't be OK just to watch "Touched by An Angel" and they said that it was the electronic FREQUENCIES ...NOT the program. Watching religious programming (shudder) or X-rated movies...the frequencies put out by the machine are the SAME. They once made this clever remark about television 'programming' ..."Why do you THINK they call it -programming-?" I thought hmmmm...whoa...so right... And whoever wrote that the TV is just as dangerous plugged in -- is something else the P's agree with...it needs to be unplugged at night and has NO business in your bedroom. The 'news' is the most dangerous of the programming, I think we all agree on that!
I fully realize that this is sort of an 'au contraire' post. big_smile I've enjoyed ALL the posts on this thread. Thanks everyone!
Peace, Summer

  • From: Montana
  • Registered: 2004-12-27

Re: I got rid of my TV!! :)

As far as justified TV viewing, not that viewing or not viewing needs justification or not, I always liked watching not just to passively zone out but to analyze the propaganda.  Like, as an example, not last Christmas but the one before, I was bored one night and watched an entire two hour block of sitcoms.    I never watched sitcoms, and had never seen any of these (they weren't really big name ones, as I recall) but it was right before Christmas, and the network had apparently planned to have the Christmas episode of each show on the same night.  The plot on each show, ALL FOUR, centered around buying gifts.  Segue from that to the commercials, and it seems a little too obvious.  However analyzing TV can be addicting too, I got really bad about the news.  I'd read news online, predict how CNN and Fox News would each cover it (or what they would not cover), see if I was right, re-analyze, compare how it was presented and the things I heard people saying and try to figure out who told them to think that, and it ate up a huge amount of time.  It was somewhat useful, but it progressed way beyond useful into obsession and unhealthy habit.  I'm glad not to have seen any cable (or even broadcast) news in a few weeks.  Last I saw on the cable news they were both all over this woman in NYC that got raped and murdered.  THAT'S IT.  I'm not trying to trivialize rape or murder, but how many people were murdered in NYC on THAT SAME DAY?  Stuff like that astonishes me that people don't question. 

So I guess my point was that I too had been at the point where I knew TV was bad for me, but felt I could get more out of it.  But the analyzing was just re-affirming what I already knew.  Now, I am going to miss TV for renting movies and documentaries.  I'm in a more cultural town now with a store full of foreign and independent films, that I can't watch, there's movies mentioned on here I've wanted to see (Dark City, Long Kiss Goodnight come to mind) that I won't be able to see.  Maybe if I save up like I plan to buy a new computer I could watch DVDs, or if I got some friends I could watch with them, but at the same time that there are so many admittedly good films to watch, there are so many good books to read.  So it's not like there's nothing to challenge my brain out there.

On another note, I had a few anti-TV dreams some time ago.  At least a year back.  Every now and then I have a dream where I'm talking to someone "off camera" who seems to give me good advice.  One time I saw the TV right across from my bad, and something kinda scary was coming out of it and I was told that it was dangerous even while off (might have been shortly after skimming BOTD, not sure).  Another time I was told that there are signs that a person is intelligent, and they are 1) doesn't smoke, 2) doesn't watch TV, and 3) eats lots of tomatoes.  At the time I still smoked, but gave that up fairly recently.  Don't know about tomatoes, had a few other tomato dreams I think, maybe my body needs more lycopene or something?  Thing is I think I eat more than average.

Glad to see this post generated so much discussion in my absence the past few days, even if it was somewhat agitated discussion at times.

"Isolation, mis-education, and for the very clever there is looming liquidation."  -Catch Twenty-Two "Bad Party"