Could you live without TV?

@Aurone (4755)
United States
May 18, 2009 7:28pm CST
A couple of years ago, I didn't have cable TV or antennae, so I watch no television. I rented from Netflix and watched DVDs but had no form of cable TV. As my cable bill just went up and season finales happened this week, I am thinking of turning off my cable again. Could you or would you live without TV? People always looked at me funny when I said I didn't have TV when they were asking if I saw this or that on TV.
4 people like this
40 responses
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
20 May 09
TV watching is merely a habit, Aurone, that we have been conditioned to usually from infancy. It is not something that we need in our lives, but we still feel that we can't live without it. Upon learning that all TVs were switching over to digital I told everyone that I would not be buying a converter box, thus ending many years of watching TV. The responses I got were shock and disbelief. Now, everyone who knows me knows that I am a serious reader, and that is my favorite pastime. I would gladly choose a good book over a TV show anytime. I did eventually bow to the pressure from my kids and purchased a converter box, but I consider them a nusiance that will only complicate my life. Cable TV, I have not had for many years because I think it is much too expensive. As a suggestion, maybe you could do like my sister does. She turns off her cable every year about this time and resumes it in September or October.
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
I'll probably turn it back on in September because thats when the NFL season starts and I do like to watch Football in the Fall. I usually watch all three games on Sunday and any others I can catch. I might do Direct TV this time because I have had a hard time getting the NFL network (which a few live games are played on) through cable.
@nelaidz8 (39)
• Philippines
20 May 09
Yes I think I can . I have been living without TV for 6 months now.^^
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
Good for you.
19 May 09
I do not really watch that much television but I am a bit sports fan so I do not think I could go without watching them. All other television programming I do not really have any interest in. I don't mind some documentaries and wildlife programmes. But I think I could live without it quite easy, after I had got used to it not being there anyway.
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
Football becomes the quandary for me, I like to watch it on Sundays in the season so I may turn off the cable now and turn it back on in August/September when football starts.
@kritipen (4082)
• United States
19 May 09
I agree with you that most of us are adicted to tv. It has almost become next to impossible to spend a day without tv. Previously i used to spend a lot of time with my friends and playing games and look at me now i have really become a couch potato. And sadly i dont even have time to for exercise etc. I think each one of us should set a timetable and never watch tv more than a couple of hours.
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
That would be a good idea. I think we have become too sedentary, its one of the reasons for increased obesity in America.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
19 May 09
no, i honestly dont think i could! i dont watch a lot of tv, but there are some shows that i really like to watch. i enjoy reading and that sort of thing, but i would miss it if i didnt have it.
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
There are a few I like, too but I actually prefer to watch them on DVD as I can watch the whole season at once without commercials.
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
19 May 09
About two years ago my TV conked out because it was about 14 years old and I just said I didn't want to spend the money to get a new one and I spend so much time searching for something I like to watch anyway so why not just don't have a TV. I did this and even though I sometimes miss the awful thing I really don't regret it. I read, sleep, relax and just don't really see the absolute need for a TV set in my apartment.
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
Very Cool.
• United States
19 May 09
Several years ago when I was a young teen and my mother got married to a jerk and left the house, she stopped paying the bill so my TV went out. I went months without a TV and it was rather annoying but I somehow managed. Then, when I started my first year of college, I barely watched TV. I only watched TV when I went home for breaks and during the weekends. I sometimes watched TV in the TV lounge but I didn't do it all the time because I hated being alone or watching some things with people walking in and out because I always got disturbed.
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
When I was a kid, I got grounded for my grades alot so it made no sense to watch TV, I was just going to get grounded anyways. This got me out of the habit of watching TV and I have never really gotten back into it.
@Beertjie (976)
• South Africa
19 May 09
I can easily live without tv. We do have a tv in the house with all the channels you can think of, but I hardly watch anything. At the moment there is the Indian Premier League Cricket being played in my country, and I follow most of that. For the last few weeks I watched nothing on tv except the IPL. I love cricket. Anyway, who needs tv when you have mylot... Blessings
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
Indeed. The consenus seems to be if we can keep our computers we can live without TV.
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
19 May 09
We have not watched tv in 3 years now, and before that it had been 7 years since we had any kind of satelite or cable.... so yes, it is possible and actually quite enjoyable to not have the television.
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
I went without for 2 years and really didn't miss it.
• Israel
19 May 09
We don't have TV here, because we don't want TV right now. We can watch movies and stuff like that on the computer (since we have a 22" screen, which is pretty close to TV...). So - I live pretty well without TV :)
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
Nice.
@cudamani (996)
• India
19 May 09
I think I will find it difficult to live without TV, as I watch a lot cricket matches on TV. If TV is removed from my house I may find it very difficult to cope, and i think it is a kind of addiction.
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
lol. I was thinking of canceling it over the summer and getting it turned back on in August in time for American Football, cause I like to watch the games in the Fall.
@CRSunrise (2981)
• United States
19 May 09
I don't watch television all that much, although there are some show I like to watch. If I'm not home, I just have our DVR tape it and I'll watch them later. It may take a few days, but when I get a chance, I'll sit down for a few hours, here and there, and catch up on what I've missed. lol
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
I have a DVR too, and while they were on, I watched a couple of the reality TV shows, but now that everything has had its finale, its seems a good time to switch off the cable.
• United States
19 May 09
I do enjoy being able to watch television. But I most likely could live without it well enough. I really don't even watch that much anymore as it is. With as little as I do watch it these days, it would not be much of a leap to go completely without it. Do I still get to keep my TV series on DVD to watch on my laptop though? lol
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
Definitely. I am thinking about turning off the cable and just watching Netflix rentals, so its not a total without TV thing, its just a without Cable TV question.
• United States
19 May 09
I have not owned a TV in the last 18 years. I have high speed cable internet and wireless router. I got totally burned out on being hammered with commercials and how the programs are broken up to fit them in. Its worse today than AM radio. Most of the programs lack any intrinsic value and tend to over stimulate peoples lower emotions. Just my opinion. I use NetFlix and watch movies from my computer that I cabled to a large monitor and this works out great. With TV gone you would be amazed at how much more productive you can be, have more quiet time to muse and relax.
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
Sounds like a great set-up. I remember what it was like to have no TV, I thinks its time for me to be that way again.
@Ithink (9980)
• United States
19 May 09
I so could. I would miss a few of my shows but I dont watch them all the time as it is. Im lucky to remember that they are on once a month. lol So if it was me it would be off and I would have a savings of about 50 a month. *SIGH* However hubby and kids would freak! They seem to think that there is nothing but TV when you sit to relax! I have to say at least they watch good shows for the most part. Like History Channel and such but Im thinking the 50 would be awesome in our savings or on a bill! lol
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
Indeed it would. And since I am the only person in the house, If I want to cancel the TV I can.
@mikeysmom (2088)
• United States
19 May 09
i think people can get used to just about anything. if i could no longer afford to pay for tv and had to make a choice between that and putting food on the table i would turn off the tv knowing that if things got better someday i could always have it turned back on. there are other things to do to occupy your time that do not cost anything like going for a walk, reading a book from the library or borrowing dvd's fromt the library or going to a park etc. you just have to shift your way of thinking i guess. it is not the end of the world and yes i could live without it.
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
Those are some good ideas. I guess more and more people are doing those types of things because they can't afford the luxury of cable TV.
• United States
19 May 09
I could live without cable tv. I love movies and have a big collection of movies so i think id be alright with out it. No sure my kids would be able without it cause they love cartoons so i would have to buy there favorite cartoons on DVDs but that isnt and wouldnt be as bad as it sounds though. So i could if i had to.
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
I guess going without TV is harder if you have kids. It would be hard to explain why they couldn't watch their cartoons on TV, anymore.
@Yori88 (1465)
• Philippines
19 May 09
I can live without television as long as I have work. Besides there are newspapers where I can still be updated with the latest issues and latest happenings on earth. But then I am used to watching television at least an hour or two a day so I guess my day is not complete without watching shows. But when I am back to work then I will spend less time watching. In short I could live without television as long as there are newspapers and internet. We need to have source of information for our survival and that is the reason why I could say that we cannot live without television.
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
When my husband left me back in November, I watched a lot of TV because I didn't have a job and I was depressed. But now the weather is nice, I feel better about myself and I have a part time job to fill some of my time. So I watch a lot less TV.
• Malaysia
19 May 09
Hi I can live wthout TV. I am the type who are not addicted to TV and usually do not get into any movies on TV. I always prefer watching movies in teatre once in a while and sometimes when my TV is on, I would be concentrating on my online job and would not pay much attention. So I would say in all means there is definately possibilities to live without a TV. Thanusha
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
It is definitely possible. I see a few films at the theater too.
@ray_ripz (81)
• Singapore
19 May 09
when i was in high school i always watch every time i came home from school.. but now that i have a job, i seldom watch because i came home late at night and all i want to do is to sleep.. but if it is my free day, i just watch movies or some tv series.. so i would say that i can't live without a TV.. by the way, i am planning to buy an LCD TV..
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 May 09
I would love a LCD TV to watch my movies on, its one of those things I plan to buy after I get my finances back in order.