Thinking seriously about going TV-less.

**Tolduonce** · 10-06-2009, 07:28 PM

The more TV I watch the more disgruntled I become.
Anbody have an experience with ditching the television? How'd it go?

**gaseousclay** · 10-06-2009, 07:30 PM

I don't watch much tv to begin with so I don't share the same frustrations as you.

**Leche** · 10-06-2009, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Tolduonce

The more TV I watch the more disgruntled I become.
Anbody have an experience with ditching the television? How'd it go?

Whats making you disgruntled? I watch the news, military channel, history channel, and sports. All the reality and drama shows drive me insane. When I don't have a TV the only thing I miss is the news.

**Gafer** · 10-06-2009, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Tolduonce

The more TV I watch the more disgruntled I become.
Anbody have an experience with ditching the television? How'd it go?

If it weren't for my wife and kid I'd ditch mine. Your life will be much better. Is TV really "necessary"? Sure, it's entertainment but given your limited time here on earth why spend it watching Three's Company reruns?

**riooso** · 10-06-2009, 07:54 PM

About 10 years back I was watching TV every night when I came home till I went to bed. Pretty soon you realize that you are wasting your life away then watch more TV because you are depressed...vicious cycle. I thought to myself why not start building balsa remote control airplanes by putting one hour a night. Pretty soon I had a couple of models and a new hobby. It is amazing what you can get done in one hour. Pretty soon it was a two then whatever, because I did not watch much TV anymore. There are programs that I do watch but there are not many. Try anything that you have wanted to do for an hour a night and see how it goes. You will accomplish a lot in a month, it will surprise you.

Take Care,
Richard

**Obsessed** · 10-06-2009, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by riooso

You will accomplish a lot in a month, it will surprise you.

Yeah, I'll bet your post count will soar!

**Chimensch** · 10-06-2009, 07:58 PM

We haven't had a TV for more than 6 years and, in my opinion, it's toxic.

TV creates passivity. You sit mesmerized by a series of flashing images that move by so fast, you barely have time to think about what you saw. It's pure emotional manipulation.

TV creates a sense of hopelessness. A flood of bad news from all over the world that leaves you feeling that the world is a dangerous place and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

Instead of plopping down in front of the TV after dinner, we go out for a walk and, afterwards, read out loud. We're a lot happier and healthier for it, not to mention that we've read a lot of great literature that we've always wanted to read.

**mretzloff** · 10-06-2009, 07:59 PM

I rarely watch TV. The only time I will watch is when my team (the Yankees) are playing and when I am truly bored out of my mind.

Going TV-less should not be too hard. What is there are on TV that you cannot get off the Internet?

**RCC** · 10-06-2009, 08:03 PM

<rant>
+1 Rio Oso
Life is very short. There are so many things worth doing that I can't find the time to sit and stare at a 2D depiction of some mass-marketed low denominator lie.
</rant>
apologies, I don't care for television.

**dpm802** · 10-06-2009, 08:05 PM

My brother hasn't watched broadcast TV in about 20 years ... he says he doesn't miss it, but when he comes to visit he is glued to MY set. He does own a set of his own, but only uses it to watch movies and classic TV series on DVD.

Some days I leave mine turned off, and don't miss it at all ... and yes, I can get a lot more accomplished when its off. I rarely even WATCH it ... its just on to listen to the sound in the background as I surf the net, putter around in the kitchen, or nap on the couch.

**Chuckaluck** · 10-06-2009, 08:31 PM

I love TV! Always have, always will! I also love reading books, playing guitar, bicycling, working out, ice skating etc...

**Azza** · 10-06-2009, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by gaseousclay

I don't watch much tv to begin with so I don't share the same frustrations as you.

+ 1

Originally Posted by Obsessed

Yeah, I'll bet your post count will soar!

Only news and sport for me, rarely watch anything else.

- Aaron

**airplanedoc** · 10-06-2009, 08:36 PM

When I don't have a TV the only thing I miss is the news.

Let me summarize the evening news for you

national crime report
regional crime report
local crime report
touching story that already happened
sports scores
weather

**Lynchmeister** · 10-06-2009, 08:43 PM

I guess I don't see how it's any different from any other form of entertainment. If you enjoy it, great. If not, do something else you enjoy.

I've been on both sides of the fence. Let me also say that I love watching television. I don't find it to be the brain drain that so many accuse it of being. I'm well educated, well read, well traveled, well spoken...one could say well rounded. Did I mention that I watch a lot of TV?

I watch (reality) garbage, sitcoms, news, occasionally sports, you name it. If I find it interesting, I'll watch it. Getting back to my being on both sides of the fence, though, prior to purchasing my home, my wife and I decided to completely dump the cable television and DVR to save some cash. It was one of many sacrifices we made to make our dream of home ownership come true. Sure, I missed it at first, but after a short while, it was no big deal. Now that things have stabled out a bit, we once again have satellite TV (sans DVR) and it hasn't really been much different around here. It's just one more entertainment option when time allows. Believe it or not, we still read, still take the dogs for walks, still converse with each other, still hang out with friends, etc.

My point is, with or without TV, life goes on. It's what you make of it regardless of your household TV status.

Enjoy yourself!

**toucanlamp** · 10-06-2009, 09:23 PM

I used to watch a fair but but I moved to a new city earlier this year and travelled light, not bringing much in the way of big items like furniture or a TV. I thought I'd get one at some point, look around for a sale. But, I realized that I really didn't miss it at all. I mean, there is some good stuff, I liked to watch shows on Discovery channel and so on, but I just don't think it's worth it. Cable is expensive these days! Even the basic package of 50 or so channels is over $50/month and if you want the HD TV they want $300 for the box and then the extra channels can push it over $100.

If I'm not doing anything else, I'll spend the time either reading or going on the computer a bit.

I've never been a big TV series fan, I guess a lot of people like stuff like HBO shows, but I prefer a movie, when you turn a story into seasons and seasons of 1 hour episodes it very quickly gets old and boring.

I definitely reccomend cancelling the cable. If there's some program or whatnot you really like, these days you can get just about anything on DVD. But sitting back half awake watching reruns of some old show or having to schedule your life around being at home on X night for "your show" just isn't very rewarding or even fun.

**mmack66** · 10-06-2009, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by lynchmeister

i guess i don't see how it's any different from any other form of entertainment. If you enjoy it, great. If not, do something else you enjoy.

I've been on both sides of the fence. Let me also say that i love watching television. I don't find it to be the brain drain that so many accuse it of being. I'm well educated, well read, well traveled, well spoken...one could say well rounded. Did i mention that i watch a lot of tv?

I watch (reality) garbage, sitcoms, news, occasionally sports, you name it. If i find it interesting, i'll watch it. Getting back to my being on both sides of the fence, though, prior to purchasing my home, my wife and i decided to completely dump the cable television and dvr to save some cash. It was one of many sacrifices we made to make our dream of home ownership come true. Sure, i missed it at first, but after a short while, it was no big deal. Now that things have stabled out a bit, we once again have satellite tv (sans dvr) and it hasn't really been much different around here. It's just one more entertainment option when time allows. Believe it or not, we still read, still take the dogs for walks, still converse with each other, still hang out with friends, etc.

My point is, with or without tv, life goes on. It's what you make of it regardless of your household tv status.

enjoy yourself!

+1

**texasPI** · 10-06-2009, 09:44 PM

I've considered ditching mine too. Don't watch much as I prefer radio/podcasts and I can do more things around the house because I don't have to "look" at radio.

**valmara1971** · 10-07-2009, 02:23 AM

My tv is very rarely on for live programmes, mostly it's a DVD display device. I get into TV series way after they have had their time on TV but I enjoy that. News like it has been suggested is bad for your soul. I get my news from the radio and sometimes the internet.

**WhosYerBob** · 10-07-2009, 02:35 AM

Grew up without a TV and have gone long periods without one as an adult. Don't miss it at all when I'm not watching it.

**FTG** · 10-07-2009, 02:49 AM

We don't have a tv. Generally seem to have other things to do with our time anyway.

Interesting that recently the internet has become a bit of a tv substitute - something to do that doesn't require too much effort or thought (unlike this post of course).

Will watch it sometimes when I go to my parents' place though. Generally don't feel like I'm missing anything - even the good / interesting programs I can take or leave.

+1 to having other things you can do - even just sitting with the kids while they settle down to sleep. (Or do my study... which I'm feeling too tired to do right now...

)

All the best,
Michael.