What would you do if there was no television?

That sounds great, using the tv as occasional entertainment is good. Depending on it as some people do is unhealthy. I hope you and your husband have many, many happy years together!

Hi.......Thank you for you nice comment !!!

Yes, it is very sad. I have tried my best to get her involved with other things, but she is never interested. Her cousin gave her a computer, but it is siting in the closet collecting dust. Whenever she comes to visit me, I get bored. She is not interested in anything that I like to do. I wish there was something I could do. A lot of times, she complains about being bored herself, but she doesn't do anything to change it.

It's pretty scary when you see someone that depends on tv and does nothing but watch it. When I have company, the tv is never on. I was taught that it's the height of rudeness to have a tv on when you have visitors. Mine is rarely on, anyway. I watch a couple shows a week and that's it. I'm sorry about your friend, how sad it must be to sit in front of that box all the time and by hypnotized. I hope you manage to drag her out of the house sometimes!

I enjoy reading so much more than tv! My ex pointed out once that it's the same thing, you sit and stare at something. But reading uses your imagination and also challenges you. I'm sorry your Grandfather could do nothing else but watch TV but I hope it brought him some laughs and entertainment in his last days.

No, no DVD player if it has to be hooked up to a tv! When I was married, my husband was a tv addict. He'd come home from work, turn it on, flop on the couch and that's where he stayed till he fell asleep. He was hyperactive, it helped him slow down, but dang-if the kids wanted to play they had to come to him and he still wouldn't budge. I'm very happy with my tv rarely on now except for when I watch an old movie or something. Isn't it wonderful not to hear all that blabbering?

Men and their TV's! Geesh! Okay, okay, not ALL men, just a pretty large chunk of them! LOL My husband calls our 42" screen the "little TV". Can you imagine that??? He bought himself a 52" TV last year and is hinting that he'd like something bigger! I said "NO!!!!" I REFUSE to renovate the house to accommodate a bigger TV set! Okay, then. I guess I'll have to settle for using my computer as my DVD player... one question, though... just how big do those computer monitors get and where can I buy one? The screens on those portable DVD players are just waaaaaay too small! Actually, I could do without the movies as well. I'd miss them but I could definitely live without them. I DO love my peace and quiet! Uh oh... I just thought of something. My husband is working from home full-time now. Oh, geez. Well, at least his office is in the basement! He can put the big TV down there for all I care and have a blast!

Not so unbelievable, my young friend. Think of all that's going on in the world--global warming, countries going bankrupt, energy getting more and more expensive and the cost of living skyrocketing. It will get worse before it gets better. You may have to give up your precious television, I may have to give up my beloved internet, everyone may have to sacrifice material things in order to have food each day and shelter. It may not get that bad. But you should think about it, seriously. Everything you can do without will make your life easier, whether the world prospers or disintegrates. Learn to love the simple things, make real people more a part of your life, read more books. The less you depend on, the more options you have in life and the happier you will be.

I've heard this a lot of times--no tv, go on the internet. But assume there is no ecectroncs--what would your life be like? If you life would be boring or there'd be a big hole without tv or the internet, it's time to shut off the tv and lose the internet addiction! The more choices you're open to, the happier you are. The less dependencies you have, the more choices you can make. The time will come, perhaps soon, when tv and the internet aren't available to those who don't have a LOT of money. Will you be ready, or will you be just another sniveling ignoramus whose dependency is ruining their life?

I watch House, Grey's Anatomy and 24. Sometimes I'll watch an old silent movie that I record. Other than that, I don't watch at all except I do enjoy the national evening news. If my tv broke, it wouldn't really affect me at all. It's nice to be independent, isn't it?

I'll admit that I'm in that same situation. I can't say I'm addicted because I've been without it and just shrug it off but I prefer to have it!

The internet has really wormed its way into our lives, hasn't it? I use it to earn money, too, but I don't watch tv or movies on it. I could live without it but it would certainly take a big adjustment!

I'm used to the computer and internet now, I wouldn't fall apart without it but it's very tough! It's the world, right here on my desk--my library, music, entertainment, a way to make money and communicate with friends and family!

I'm glad you aren't dependent on it! So many people are, they have it on all the time they're home and just sit there like zombies.

Then have a neighborhood party, go for a walk, get out and be with people and do something! TV has robbed you of all that makes life meaningful, you are blessed to have your cable cut off, now take advantage of it and begin living again!

Dang, I should've also specified no computer! You are very clever..you got around my basic premise that people aren't resourceful enough to be entertained without a television. You use your brain so you'd be ok!

Ok, I did a friend request. I am not sure I can write much at the moment - having some eye problem, but I am taking a lot of garlic extract, so the infection will heal in time. Perhaps I should publish the recipe here - could help someone.. And welcome to check my profile, perhaps you will find something interesting there.. ..

I think it was better when TV wasn't a main source of entertainment and babysitting. You seem to be a well rounded person! Do you want to make some extra money writing? The guy I work for has more work than we can handle. If you're interested, make a friend request and I'll send you his email.

It doesn't matter how well or how poorly you can play an instrument, just practising on it is relaxing and stress-busting and you can only get better and better. Even as an ex-pro musician myself, I have always had to practice. Once I left it for a few months because I was so busy, and when I returned to play, I was making atrocious mistakes. LOL Derek :-)

How great for you that you can play music! I play a little guitar, but not very well. I do have fun with it, though. Yes, you could have friends over with their instruments and have a good time!

I do think that music would be a greater loss to me, as well. I have it on constantly and even go to bed with it on. I have a collection that includes cds, albums, cassettes and even some 8-tracks, and have contraptions to play them all. I even bought a jute box last year that I have yet to get totally set up so I can play it..........it plays cds and has 6 or 7 in it from the place I bought it from.

Music is what I couldn't live without! I listen to radio and music all the time. I think we've become to dependent on visual entertainment.

I should have specified no internet, too! I think a lot of people nowadays wouldn't know what to do without tv AND the internet! Think of it...you'd have to actually go to the bank, shop at a store, entertain your children, interact with real people. I make about $200 a month on the internet. I'd miss it but I'd compensate.

I entertain my kids now. We play games on the computer that do not require an internet connection. We watch movies together, and since today is Monday, I'm going to the store today to rent two movies for FREE. Yes the Internet and television play important roles, but they are not the most important ones. I'd make do, and I have made do before for like 3 months to 5 months. So it isn't hard, I do like the non-verbal interaction with other people though through mylot and other posting sites. Happy posting.

You can change your life if you really want to. Instead of living vicariously through your tv, live a real life. Turn it on an hour later and use that hour to call a relative or friend, walk around the block, volunteer at a homeless shelter, read a book. Cut out one hour of tv a day. Next month, another hour. Decide which shows you actually enjoy and look forward to and watch only those. No, the TV doesn't force you to do anything but you let it control you. Are you a sheep or a person? Be your own boss! Have you ever read 1984? If not, please do. After that, Brave New World by Ayn Rand. That should get your intellect and curiosity jump-started in a big way and entertain you better than TV or the movies.

I have read 1984 and I do agree to an extent. I believe that personally, especially in this society, we have no choice intuitively because of the pressure that society has imposed upon us. In 1984, the totalitarian government is the epitome of human control, therefore the human mind has no control over itself because of the restrictions and 'guidelines' that we sometimes force ourselves to abide by. Even in our society, where there is free thought, there is no free thought, therefore, we really cannot control our own actions. That is, because people think that they have the possibility of achieving free thought, they would have to try and use this to alter the free thought of other people. The Constitution allows us to have free thought, but can we use this thought to completely express ourselves? Not all the time, therefore free thought is limited. We force ourselves to think that we have the opportunity to make our own decisions, but the decisions that we make do not come from us, but from what we think we would need to do to better ourselves upon the terms of society. Every once in a while, I do like to go into some lively debate on some issues, and I would be glad to discuss the themes about 1984. I read Brave New World a while back; people have told me that they bear very similar resemblance. Back to my point...what I am really saying here is that no matter what type of imposed society we live in, we have the option to express our position, but in essence these ideas did not come from us but from our rationalization of what has happened in our own 'sphere', and to decide how we should think. Therefore, sometimes there may be times where we subconsciously are forced to do things (ie watch TV) for the sake of procrastinating, having the thought of what is being watched is amusing, etc. I hope what I write does have some sense. I would really like a response, possibly a debate?

I do not want to spread harsh words (I see that you are Christian as well) and in Proverbs, there is a saying that harsh words will stir up more anger. I hope that if you do get this response, it will be one of lively discussion, not of heated debate.