Watching TV or Spending long hours in front of the Computer - which is worse?

@kiran8 (15348)
Mangalore, India
June 26, 2011 1:45pm CST
Most people these days spend long hours in front of the Computer or watching TV. We all know that both these activities are bad for our eyes and health too since it curtails physical activity.However, I wonder which one is worse. I tend to think that spending long hours in front of the Computer is much more harmful for our eyes and health...what do you all say friends ?
16 responses
@anil02 (24688)
• India
28 Jun 11
Hello Kiran, You are right computer is more harmful than TV. I read some where key board also create health problem in our hands. We know all these but we cannot leave away from computer. It is some sort of edication.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
28 Jun 11
Hi anil, I agree with what you say about key board and the harmful effects. I have a relative who has been suffering from nervous problems , his hands shake and he is unable to use it now unless he gets it operated...I guess we have to be careful and use it only for a short period of time and also take breaks in between...
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
1 Jul 11
Ir t depends on individuals.Many work on the computer for many hours since it is their job and have no other go...But it is better to take short breaks in between ..
@anil02 (24688)
• India
29 Jun 11
Excess use of any thing is harmful. So we must be use computers when use is necessary.
@Rick1950 (1578)
• Lima, Peru
26 Jun 11
I can't say which is worse but, in our days, most of the people people are sitting in front of them. I've heard TV is bad because people, when they are watching it, don't communicate to each other. However when you're using the computer you can write, talk and watch to someone live and direct. It's possible there are few people who doesn't spend many hours a day in front of those devices. It's true that, for this reason, you don't have physical activity and maybe that's bad for your health. Would you tell me why is bad for our eyes? What have you heard about?
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
27 Jun 11
Hi Rick,That is true, we are in touch with others when we are on the net, and, to that extent we are much more communicative while using the net.It is definitely bad for our eyes and for our health. You can go through this link which was one of the earlier discussions we had on the subject.. http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/2472961.aspx All the best and have a nice evening
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
27 Jun 11
Posting another link which tells us the harmful effects of using the computer for a long period of time.. ..http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2004/nov/16/health.medicineandhealth
@Rick1950 (1578)
• Lima, Peru
27 Jun 11
Hi Kiran. thanks a lot for your response and the links. That's nice from you. Some years ago I didn't need a computer, but today I could't do my work whitout it. More and more people spend their time in front of them. It has become a part our life. I want to be hopeful that computer and TV doesn't involve our health. :)
@DoctorDidi (7018)
• India
30 Jul 11
I think both are bad but as you have asked for a comparison between them, I would mention that watching the so called soap operas on TV for hours is worse than spending long hours in front of the computer.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
30 Jul 11
Hi DoctorDidi LOL agreed ! Some of those serials are honestly idiotic ! The mother in law asking why Mughlai dhal was not cooked in a particular manner and the bahu crying her heart out about the reason.....the whole episode devoted sometimes to such matters lol...however, from the health point esp the eyes TV may be better, what do you say?
@mantis36 (4219)
• Philippines
27 Jul 11
it doesn't matter as long as do not buy a CRT Monitor or CRT Television....
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
27 Jul 11
Hi mantis,thanks a lot for your responseIs CRT equipment all that bad for your eyes ?all the best and happy mylotting
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
27 Jul 11
thanks a lot for all the details , I was not aware of it ! all the best and enjoy your evening
@mantis36 (4219)
• Philippines
27 Jul 11
not only bad for the eyes of the users... but... also bad for the electric generation charge because it will increase your electric bill a bit high.... although LCD is too pricey but if you only calculate the electric bill that CRT generates to your normal usage, you will soon found out why LCD is better compare to CRT.... and i don't know anything about LED yet... i didn't try....
@surfer222 (1714)
• Indonesia
7 Jul 11
i think tv is much worst than computer... for computer you need to be active to search what you want, you can't just sit an do nothing... but on tv we're doing a pasive job. that's why when we use our computer to surf the web it's called activity. For example is when i reply to this discussion i do an active job which is writing on my keyboard....
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
9 Jul 11
Hi surfer, what about the impact the computer has on our eyes ,limbs and also on our back and fingers since all these parts become stiff...Writing, which is typing in itself is supposed to have some adverse effects in time like swelling of nerve ends and causing pain etc...thanks a lot for your response and all the best
@APSC_girl (118)
• Philippines
1 Aug 11
maybe spending long hours in front of the computer is much worse than just watching TV for long hours. That is because when you're in front of the computer, you're more focused than when watching TV. When you're sitting in front of the computer, you're actually doing something and that needs to stare at the computer screen for long hours. While in watching TV, you can actually multitask. You can eat, talk to your mother, or clean your room while watching TV which means your eyes are not too much focused on the TV screen, I think that's better. You can rest your eyes when watching TV by not just looking at the screen but on computer you can't because you're doing something with the computer.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
2 Aug 11
Hi APSC_girl, thanks a lot for sharing your viewsI too would agree with your views ! Watching Tv is definitely not as taxing as working on the computer or using the internet.Many a times your mind wanders and you too may wander off, whereas you tend to remain in front of the computer without diverting your attention anywhere...all the best and happy mylotting
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
4 Aug 11
All the best and happy mylotting
• Philippines
4 Aug 11
it's good we think the same and you understand my point. Have a nice day!
@dpk262006 (58673)
• Delhi, India
7 Jul 11
I will have to but agree with you that spending time in front of computer could be more harmful than watching a TV programme. While watching a TV programme, we do not use our brain, we just relax and enjoy to the happenings. On the other hand, while using a PC, we need to constantly tax our mind and keep thinking. If I spend long hours in front of PC it gives me strong headache.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
7 Jul 11
Hi deepak, I agree with what you say !I too feel that watching TV is definitely better than spending half that time in front of computer.Our brain, eyes,limbs and fingers re getting taxed while using the computer....have a nice week ahead..
• Philippines
27 Jun 11
i believe spending too much time in front of a computer is worse than watching tv all day. the monitor, specially if its not LCD monitor contains radiation that is really affecting our sight, since using computer requires us to be near the monitor. unlike watching tv, we can watch it however far that we want it to be.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
28 Jun 11
Hi yushen,I agree with what you say,spending time in front of the computer is much more harmful than watching TV.We tend to concentrate a lot when we use the computer whereas we may not be so absorbed while watching the TV...thanks a lot for your response and happy mylotting
@GemmaR (8517)
27 Jun 11
I think it depends very much upon what you're doing when you watch television or are on the computer. I don't tend to watch educational programmes, so I would say that it is bad for me to watch television; however I earn a lot of money online so I think that it is beneficial for me to spend a lot of time at my laptop because I wouldn't be able to pay the bills if it wasn't for this, it is as simple as that. I need the internet, and I will admit freely that it has totally changed my life for the better. Life would be a lot more difficult without it.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
28 Jun 11
Hi Gemma, It is great that you earn a lot of money online, not many can say that inspite of putting in a lot of efforts.I too agree that internet has changed the life of many including myself. There is absolutely no boredom in life in fact one wishes there was more time to spend on the net since we need to take care of other things in our life as well...
@bhanusb (5709)
• India
27 Jun 11
Kiran, you are right now a days most of the people spend long hours working in the computer or watching TV. The reason is that we became self centered. We don't spend our time with friends. Yes I agree Computer is more harmful for health than watching TV. It affects our eyes and brain. In the night when I work in computer for long time I can't sleep smoothly. It takes long time to close my eyes with deep sleep.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
27 Jun 11
Hi bhanu, I agree with what you say. However, there are many reasons why we have become more nuclear now.The time and effort spent in reaching and visiting friends and relatives seems not worth the effort.The life style has changed , definitely not for the better.I remember my own childhood days which were mostly spent outdoors in the company of friends . While these days children are busy with tuitions , Tv and computer games...
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
27 Jun 11
For me worse because they have bad effect on there life.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
27 Jun 11
Hi ebuscat, thanks a lot for your response - all the best and happy mylotting
@allknowing (130088)
• India
27 Jun 11
If one takes breaks in between one can manage both watching tv and working on the computer without much damage to one's health. There are eye exercises too that can take care of eye fatigue. I normally put a few drops of 'refresh tears' which is a eye moisturiser. Watching tv or working on the pc dries up one's eyes.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
27 Jun 11
Hi allknowing,thanks a lot for adding your views I agree that one needs to take a break every now and then while using the computer.That is a good suggestion, I too should use 'refresh tears' mentioned by you.I wash my eyes in cool water every now and then since I can feel tiredness around the eyes after I use the computer or for that matter even when I read for a long time ...
• Philippines
27 Jun 11
The same is not good for our health. Use them two hours a day so it won't harm your eyes. Sitting for a long period of time is bad for our health. Computer can give us a lot of useful information than television....although TV programs is a lot more entertaining.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
27 Jun 11
Hi abatencila, thanks a lot for sharing your views Both have bad effects on our health especially eyes. I can feel it sometimes when I use the computer for a long period of time. I too try and limit it to 2-3 hours a day. However, when I have to write an article I need to spend longer time...TV is not as harmful since we dont concentrate so hard on the screen at such close quarters as we do while using the computer..
@moneywinner (1864)
• Brazil
28 Jun 11
I also think that spend hours in fron of the computer is worse, at least, that's what seems to be. When I pass to much time in front of the computer, my eyes start to hurt and I need to give a little break before continue. While, when I'm watching TV, I can stay for almost all day long and my eyes don't hurt at all. The bad thing is that usually I'm doing the both things at the same time! :)
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
28 Jun 11
Hi moneyspinner,I too feel the same way.I too find that my eyes begin to get strained and begin to itch when I use the computer for a long period of time but this does not happen with Tv. So computer is definitely more harmful.Again like you I too do both at the same time just as I am doing now, watching TV and browsing as well lol - thanks a lot for sharing your views and all the best
• Philippines
27 Jun 11
I have read once in a news site it says "sitting could kill you" hahaha. I would rather say watching TV is worse specially if you watch shows that isn't intellectual and not educational. If i watch TV, it could be either news, good movies, National Geographic or Discovery, a channel that is worth your time. Have a nice day, happy TV viewing kiran8!
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
27 Jun 11
Hi wws,Thanks a lot for your response I agree that there is any amount of crap on the Tv these days. But again they need to cater to all tastes . I too watch news most of the time except when I watch a couple of local programs and movies...All the best and enjoy your evening
• Philippines
26 Jun 11
i believe it should be spending long hours in a computer. when watching tv, you are not really that close to the tv, there is a distance hence hence less radiation, but for computer, you need to be near to a computer so much danger is in there.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
27 Jun 11
Hi soccerbhai, thanks a lot for sharing your viewsOne more thing I can add is that Tv does not demand as much concentration as Computer does. Your eyes get strained more while using the computer...