Would you go without TV for a week?

[Nanda Devi]

...occasionally, someone at work will say 'Did you see X last night?' I just say No -- I haven't got a TV. That usually stops the conversation right there...

So true - people are always stunned when they find out I don't have a TV. It's sort of amusing to see their reaction. The odd thing is, I've noticed that some people will find out you don't have TV, make a big thing of it, then a few weeks later apparently forget you don't have one and continue to ask 'Did you see x last night?'.

I've been TV-less for about 6 years now (wow, hard to believe it's been that long...) I firmly believe that everyone would be FAR better off without it.

 

[munkle]

I've been TV-less for about 6 years now (wow, hard to believe it's been that long...) I firmly believe that everyone would be FAR better off without it.

To be fair, there are some great shows on the telly, so it's not all bad. I just think too many people get into a comfortable routine of switching off in front of the telly for hours at a time, not all blame should be placed on the telly

 

[Inspector Lee]

I could give up TV with the caveat that I'd still like to be able to go to a bar to watch my NFL games. There are a few other sports that I like having on as background - baseball and tennis primarily. Part of me would really like a plasma TV with a PVR but I watch so seldomly I really don't need it.

I will say though that ask me to give up my Powerbook and you'd face a fight.

Yeah, I catch 99% of the sports I am interested in via the old-school radio. Nothing like hearing an announcer say "moving left to right across your radio dial..."

If the game is big (and in reality, no sporting event is truly earth-shattering "big"), I'll catch it at a local pub or friend's house.

Haven't owned a tv for 7 years. The only teevee I see daily is when I am changing in the locker room. The fossils at the gym usually have Seinfeld going and they all laugh hysterically even though they've seen the episode a dozen times. Kind of depressing...

Yeah, I'd have the shakes if I gave up my TiBook too...

 

[0490043]

I've been TV-less for about 6 years now (wow, hard to believe it's been that long...) I firmly believe that everyone would be FAR better off without it.

I forget who said it, but there is a famous quote: "TV is the modern-day drug". Was it Marshall McLuhan?

 

[Inspector Lee]

Slipshod Statistics (bear with me)...

Let's say the average person watches 4 hours of teevee each workday per week and doesn't watch anything on the weekends. A ballpark breakdown is this:

0.5 hr - morning with coffee while getting dressed
0.5 hr - evening local news
0.5 hr - evening national news
1.0 hr - 2 thirty minute sitcoms
1.0 hr - favorite hour-long drama
0.5 hr - local nightly news

By only watching this much, it equates to 20 hrs/week or 1,040 hours per year. This then equates to a whopping 26 forty hour work weeks per year spent in front of the thing. Kind of frightening.

 

[RacerX]

I'd have to go back to the late 80s to remember the last time I was an avid TV watcher.

As it stands now, I'll watch first run Star Treks (which is coming to an end) and Numb3rs, but very little else. If I'm killing time, usually I'm on either the National Geographic channel or one of the two PBS stations we have here. My wife adds the Disney channel to the ones that I tend towards.

Primetime TV lost me long ago... and it shows no signs of winning me back any time soon.

But yes, I could go for a week (or more) without TV... and often do.

 

[Lau]

Actually, yeah, that's a good point. A while ago, I tried to just video the odd thing I wanted to watch (the old school way, not Tivo) and watch them, say, on a lazy Friday night when you're staying in with a beer and fancy watching something. It's true, there are some good things on, (I would go as far to say educational). I think the problem is assuming you're going to watch it, or having it as background, rather than making the decision "I am going to watch this because it is funny/eductional/important/whatever". I think I could live without it, (well, I have, see above) but with the whole 'compromise in relationship thing' I think the whole recording thing might be the way forward.

Actually, d'ya know, if we just had two living rooms, only one of which had a TV I'd be happy, because the thing that drives me totally insane is it blaring in the one room we have.

 

[rainman::|:|]

wouldn't be a problem for me. i watch the simpsons every day, it's on right after work and it's good background noise to get stoned to. But that's all generic reruns and i don't pay attention to it (the noisy annoyance of seinfield makes me turn it off right after)... desperate housewives (weekly) is the only show i actually watch, and i'm not married to the show or anything.

 

[ravenvii]

I spend about one hour per week watching the TV, if that. When I live on my own, I will probably not bother getting cable, and only have broadcast to watch. BUT how could you guys say you don't need a TV? I mean, DVD-viewing, console gaming... Yeah I wouldn't give those up!

 

[XnavxeMiyyep]

I use my TV for video games and movies (neither of which are the same as "watching tv"), with the occasional Simpsons episode. That's pretty much it.

 

[homerjward]

i could honestly never give up tv. if i'm in my room and awake it's on. i usually watch the simpsons, adult swim, the history channel, king of the hill, national geographic, anything on comedy central especially south park and the daily show...prolly at lease 5-6hrs per day including watching the today show while getting ready for school.

 

[Koodauw]

I've noticed myself watching less "TV" lately. Mainly because of the rise of those god-awful reality shows. I do have quite a few DVDs that I like to watch every now and again.

I watch 1 hour of T.V. per week. and that would be the apprentice. Sometimes I just record it, and then its only like 45 mins a week. Other than that, I dont really feel the need to watch.

 

[Nermal]

I've watched TV 2 or 3 times so far this year. But if you include watching TV shows on the computer, then that amount increases substantially

 

[SpaceMagic]

Since we really only got Sky television for me 4 years ago, we recently got rid of it (last month) because I haven't watched it in months. I really haven't watched much tv since I got this PowerMac G5 in Nov 2003.

I used to always watch loads of TV and be on my iBook.. but a toss up between iBook + TV OR G5 and no TV.. it's no contest.

Altho I have been thinking of an EyeTV...

 

[Lacero]

Ok so you reduce TV usage. You'll just fill the void with more internet activity on MR. How sad is that?

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

I went a year basically without watching TV once -- actually twice, IIRC -- on purpose, to see if I could do it. It *was* an eye-opener in getting me to think about my habits. If the cause behind this were more, I guess I'd do it again. Since I got ReplayTV, I have been very binge/restrict about my viewing habits. I will go a week where I am constantly watching TV when I am home (since there is so much content I like available by virtue of the record filters I've set up ... even if I only had syndicated channels, I would be surprised if I couldn't constantly have TV to watch!). But then I'll ignore it for weeks at a time, or hardly ever watch it. Right now is the latter. I don't think I've watched more than one show in the past three weeks. It keeps recording them, and I even turned it on once or twice to make sure it had a new channel guide, etc, but...

The past week or so has seen my TV viewing drop. So with my new place (soon) I was thinking going ultra basic. Just broadband and rabbit ears.

Then I saw that my cable company offers "ultra" basic cable with cable modem access of just an extra $2 if you combine services. So I called them for info on being able to use the one jack, and was told about their digital telephone service (was thinking about a cell phone as my only phone line). Guess what? Additional savings if I add the digital telephone service!

They then asked if I had HDTV set. No not yet. Well they have even better discounts if I add HDTV service! Will it ever end? Have to say I am swayed on getting the HDTV service since I am planning on an HDTV for the new place.

I will have to admit that the DVR service I have now is really nice. I can record up to two stations at once. But the last week or so away from the tube has allowed me to listen more to my tunes on iTunes (which I am amazed at how much I truly missed). Also with my new "life" (don't ask, just lets say that it was a "divorce"), I am looking forward to traveling more, and doing more things on my days off. But for those of us with what I call "Depression Era Values" (instilled by my parents), it is hard sometimes to not give in to the "offers".

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

I wonder what the response would be if the question was, "Would you go without your computer/internet for a week?". Obviously work related usage would not count.

I for one would struggle.

I know what you mean.

My sister has dial-up service. And she is trying to convince me that broadband is waste for home use. But we have a slow DSL link at work and I cringe anytime I am on it. One you have 2 to 5mb access, it is hard to go back!

 

[iGary]

We don't even have basic cable, only have cable for Internet.

I really dislike TV - a real time waster.

I use Netflix and we watch what we want when we want to. Regular TV is just....yuck.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

Let's say the average person watches 4 hours of teevee each workday per week and doesn't watch anything on the weekends. A ballpark breakdown is this:

0.5 hr - morning with coffee while getting dressed
0.5 hr - evening local news
0.5 hr - evening national news
1.0 hr - 2 thirty minute sitcoms
1.0 hr - favorite hour-long drama
0.5 hr - local nightly news

By only watching this much, it equates to 20 hrs/week or 1,040 hours per year. This then equates to a whopping 26 forty hour work weeks per year spent in front of the thing. Kind of frightening.

Thanks for the "wake-up call". I can see this as maybe being light for my past viewing habits. Though to be honest, I am probably "multi-tasking" with some of the shows. Taking a shower, making dinner, check MR.

But I now can see the amount of time wasted more clearly with the idiot box (TV). In the end I would maybe rather spend 12 to 20 hours a week watching the latest (or oldest) DVD's instead - if I find myself wanting "entertainment".

For many of the TV shows are now offered on DVD. And my guilty pleasure has been American Idol, but I have been thinking do I care who really wins? Yes, there have been singers that I would have loved to have bought (crooner-boy from last season). And as nice as Bo is dragging the mike around stage, would my life be any worse for not seeing it? Probably not.

So thanks to all those here that have gone TV free. No, I probably won't go that far. But I will probably go with just basic cable, cable modem, and if the deal is right - digital telephone (only because we can have a whole thread about wasted time having a cell phone tied to your ear).

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

Ok so you reduce TV usage. You'll just fill the void with more internet activity on MR. How sad is that?

Actually as i see it, depending on the threads you are on, and how you use your time; MR and the net can be more beneficial to the mind than what is on TV IMO.

 

[Blue Velvet]

Ok so you reduce TV usage. You'll just fill the void with more internet activity on MR. How sad is that?

Coming from one of the more prolific posters around here, I find that just a little bit amusing.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

We don't even have basic cable, only have cable for Internet.

I really dislike TV - a real time waster.

I use Netflix and we watch what we want when we want to. Regular TV is just....yuck.

You and your other half are better off than my soon to be ex in that regard. As an example he has been in front of the TV all day, except when he went off to his Mom's place. Didn't even to get to watch the Sunday Today Show, since he was watching movies. In the past I was dragged down with is bad habits.

In the end I did not miss it. Sure I may have missed the gadget portion (my fav), or some travel tips (my second fav). Most of what I missed I saw in the Post, or online. Despite my other posting, I am seeing the power of being TV free.

 

[Nermal]

Since we really only got Sky television for me 4 years ago, we recently got rid of it (last month) because I haven't watched it in months.

I remember pirating Sky a few years ago but the thrill wore off pretty quickly. The hassle outweighed the benefits.

 

[velocityg4]

The biggest problem with TV is all of the commercials I hardly turn the thing on because of constant adds. So going a week is no problem. However, I don't think I could give up TV for years like some of you. I couldn't live without Star Trek except Voyager that one stunk. I could care less about any other show

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

The biggest problem with TV is all of the commercials I hardly turn the thing on because of constant adds.

I know. It ticks me off that many shows that start at lets say 8PM, have ads that lead in to the teaser for the show, then they add another 2 or 3 minutes of ads after the teaser. Never noticed this till I got a Cable DVR last year.