How much time in front of the TV?

ij2008 · Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 31

Since I have started spending more time online, I only watch TV for about 2 hours every night; my kids have cartoon channels on all day but they are only watching them on and off; they spend more time driving me insane with their fights!

godsdragon · Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 36 Location: Florida, US

Since I started using the internet a few years ago, I have spent less and less time in the couch. I now I spend no time with TV, all my time is spent online (I do not work, so it makes me spend productive as well as leisure time doing things online). Cool

SLTE · Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 14

Not that often. If I'm using the TV for anything, it's usually to watch a movie or play a video game. The rest of the time I'm either working on the computer or outside somewhere.

I still love the TV, but it's certainly less important than it used to be.

KimmyKay · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 5

I also find that I watch very little tv. I rarely watch my favorites. As a matter of fact, this past week I decided to watch CSI, and wouldn't you know it was the SAME episode that played the time before that I watched it! Ugh!

jsfarris · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 6

When I was a kid we didn't spend a lot of time in front of the TV because we wanted to be outside. These days my kids think that going outside is some kind of punishment and it is a little frustrating. We are raising a whole generation of X-boxers and television watchers who don't even know what taking a hike is all about.

alug12 · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 10

I've started to just focus on tv shows that i can see as a sort of work as art....i dont know how else to describe it. I can not stomach anything like game shows, sitcoms, reality tv, etc because they are all just obviously made with the sole intent of making money. If something is made by people that genuinely highly care about creating a quality show, then i'll be much more likely to give it a chance. That sounds so pretentious, it probably is, but i can't help it Crying or Very sad

Binadien · Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Austin, TX

I only go out for a few hours every other day but when I'm at home I usually always have the TV on, even now using the computer it's just sitting behind me going on. I mostly only watch shows that are on PBS, CNN, Comedy Central, History Channel, or AMC so most of the time I can get all I need from just listening.
Saying that, I think television as a medium for information can be very detrimental to society. With TV very little engaging thought is expended viewing it, while typography actually takes some critical thought just participating in the act. Newspapers and letters are probably by far the most stimulating form of media as far as simple mental processes are concerned. That's not to say video can be just as provoking, I certainly learn a lot from programs like NOVA on PBS or regular CCN or BBC broadcasts, but if we have an entire generation avoiding typography as a form of communication we are in trouble. Thank goodness the Internet came around, it's institutions like this forum that will save humanity. Most of these arguments are made in [i]Amusing Ourselves to Death[/i] by Neil Postman, I highly recommend reading this book.

lali · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 18

I usually watch TV for about 3 hours at night but I want to get rid of this. Please can you suggest me any idea?

tvdang7 · Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Posts: 6

I also stopped watching tv in favor of the internet. I watch so little tv when ever i pick up the remote to flip through channels i have to ask my roomemates what channel is mtv,BET , HBO ect on.

Tomira_Rosser · Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Posts: 5

I found that watching T.V. dulls my creative perceptions. It is difficult for me to watch the T.V. for a certain amount of time, and then turn around and try to write an article. I find it true for blogging as well. When I know that I have a pressing upcoming writing job, I make sure to limit my T.V. watching. This has benefits in both my personal and business life. Very Happy

majorrager · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 6

I recently broke my leg and have been unable to work for the last two months. As a result, I have seen more television in this time than I have probably seen in the last year. I have now officially concluded that television stinks. I think it's the commercial breaks that ruin it. I never watch any network channel's shows because they are terrible. I watch a little bit of Discovery Channel and I love the show The Shield. The rest of it I can take or leave until college football season. I have always been more of a reader and I average a book every six days. Lately, due to all my free time, I'm now up to about one book every two days.

danelle62 · Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Posts: 11

I actually watch way too much tv. We have a DVR (like Tivo) and I frequently will sit in front of the tv for 3 hours or more getting "caught up".

I watch mostly reality tv, so I always feel like if I miss an episode, I am way behind and won't know what's going on next week. I like competition style shows, especially on the Food Network.

I am a couch potato.

rhino grey · Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 15

I don't find much need for TV these days. There's far more opportunity for learning over this great ol' internet.

OneLove · Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 5

T.V. rarely captures my attention anymore, I'd honestly rather spend my recreational time playing video games and exploring the many options the internet has to offer nowadays. Between working every day, making sure I get my money's worth out of my xbox 360, and hanging out with friends/my girlfriend, I find little to no time for regular old T.V. However, I do enjoy chilling and watching a movie from Netflix or OnDemand from time to time. And I must admit, I am hooked on Sex and the City, but once I see every episode I doubt I'll be watching much T.V. anymore.

rhino grey · Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 15

The_Omnigamer · Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 5

Eh, for me, the TV is a waste for watching. I only use mine for when I want to game and when I want to watch one of the very few shows I actually do. Ever since I got my laptop, most of my time is spent on the internet, especially considering now how easy it is to watch TV online, I can multitask and do both at once ^_^.

AbigailGen · Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 6

We rent DVDs and watch those on my laptop or on the desktop PC. Many of the TV series we enjoy eventually wind up on DVD so we just have to wait a bit and enjoy them from start to finish without commercial interruption. No more season finale cliffhangers to wait through either. Very Happy

I find I get better information by checking online for news and entertainment...without commercials (usually).

Cable is just too expensive and it seems to be the same programs over and over spread out over a hundred or so channels. We finally canceled our cable the day we went three times 'round the channels and found nothing of interest. Now we post on the internet and read books.

Yeah, I know, we're weird. Very Happy

Crunch · Joined: 11 Jul 2008 Posts: 8

I watch far too much tv! lol Smile

I go through netflix and rent out tv series of old tv shows I enjoy seeing. That and comedy, I love comedy!

hamba · Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 5

I don't watch that much TV anymore - not as much as I used to, anyway. I blame the internet. Ever since I upgraded from dial-up to broadband, that's all I ever do. The TV has now become a novelty.

I think I might have swapped one obsession for another. Very Happy

sa1 · Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 11

I have switched the time I spend on tv watching to online activity. Nowdays I watch tv not more than one hour a day. I spend five to six hours for OL activity.

But I think I begin getting negative impact of this. Whatching tv make me sleepy and for most of the time get sleep in front of the tv, but doing my OL activity never make me sleepy.

As a result, I get not enough sleep.

I do not know if any of you experiencing the same.

sa1