Avoid Television
Impacts: Health, Mind, Community, Money, Time
“… Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man, the People have abdicated our duties; for the People who once upon a time handed out military command, high civil office, legions – everything, now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses” – Roman poet Juvenal
Considering televisions business model is the perfect place to start when trying to understand the true value of television. The core purpose of television is to sell advertising. Television is simply a tool that has grown into a vehicle for putting ads in front of you. To achieve their goal television producers work hard to make the most entertaining and captivating shows possible. The focus is not on quality or message but ratings and grabbing viewers.
All shows fall into this including the news. Television has also grown into the most popular and wide spread method of keeping us connected to the outside world. But people don’t just want the facts they want to know what other people think so news broadcasts have become filled with opinion mixed with reporting the facts.
Another reality of television is that it requires little physical movement or interaction with the people around us. Many of us spend hours in front of the tube eating and multi-tasking but inevitably sitting still ignoring the people around us.
Turning off the television will free you in many ways. You’ll find yourself interacting with family more, catching up on back burner projects around the house, spending more time outside, and so on. You’ll also feel better because most of what entertains us on television is designed to pull on our emotions. It makes perfect sense actually, no one would watch television if it wasn’t entertaining and elicited an emotional response.
If you miss the white noise television provides try turning on some music. You’ll probably even find your mood begin to improve. If you miss the news browse news websites, pick up a newspaper, talk with your friends, or listen to the radio. All these news sources have their own pros and cons but deliver the news quicker and often with less bias. It’s also easier to tune out the advertising.
Take Action
- Begin by cutting out television news. Get your news from other sources.
- Try to watch only your favorite shows. This will help avoid wasting time on shows you watch because there’s nothing else on TV.
- Fill the time you save with things you like to do.
- Avoid talk radio which tends to be biased and can divert you from focusing on the positive.
