Imagine a world without TV...can you do it?

@debrakcarey (19887)
United States
July 18, 2009 11:09am CST
What would you do for one day if there was no TV? Could you go for a whole week, a month? What are some of the things we miss because we have become couch potatoes?
1 person likes this
9 responses
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
20 Jul 09
I have more than a month's worth of backlogged reading. Of course there's still the internet too!
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
23 Jul 09
maybe tonight :-)
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
21 Jul 09
I used to read at least a book a week...since getting this infernal contraption....maybe one a month. I find lots to read on here...the internet. But it is just not the same. How's those letters coming along?
1 person likes this
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
23 Jul 09
oh btw...started that thread on the Power of Words. Whenever you have time. Afterall you are doing me a favor. Thanks!
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
20 Jul 09
When the power goes out here, I think I am the least bored between my fiance and I. It's funny as when the power is on, I find myself to be bored although there's more to do electronically when the power's on. I just like to sit and think a lot, and read as well, so I guess that you could say I could go a month without t.v., or even longer if I had to. I think some of the things we miss out on as coach potatoes is the beauty of nature, and also the appreciation of art, and also on another note hard work. We wouldn't have the advancements in technology we have today, if our ancestors were couch potatoes. I don't agree with a lot of the technologies today though.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
22 Jul 09
I agree that there are some things that are great about technology and some that aren't. Yes interacting with loved ones, that's a good point. Everyone should try to stay in contact with family atleast once a week!
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
23 Jul 09
NOw, will you tell my son in Iowa that? lol
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
21 Jul 09
There are some things that are great about technology....we know more about the world we live in...and the people in it. I think we all need to find a balance...a little technology and a lot more of what is real...nature. I definately think we all need to interact with our loved ones more!
1 person likes this
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
19 Jul 09
I haven't watched broadcast TV in over 2 years. I don't miss it in the least. I can see most everything I want to right on my PC... and it doesn't cost me a thing... nor am I stealing it either. We miss life by being glued to the idiot box instead of living and thinking for ourselves. How many of us could survive on our own if it came to that... if something happened that threw our society back a couple hundred years where there were no jobs, no stores, and no one to provide for us other than what we could do for ourselves? We have forgotten the very basics of survival, and how to live off of nature.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Jul 09
That is very true. There were times when I was raising my family that my ex husband was out of work. We went four months with out electricity. I had FIVE kids. We cooked outside, we raised a one acre garden, we had chickens, we washed in a tub outside...ourselves and the clothes! We went in the woods and gathered mushrooms, acorns and to the spring for water cress and crawfish and fished for food. We used traps for racoons and fox and sold the pelts for gas for our tiller and lawn mower and car. YEP...like I said in another discussion on here...we in the Ozarks...can survive. We listened to a radio station that had old radio plays on ....the kids got the idea to make up their own. We had FUN!
• United States
18 Jul 09
Hi! I do prefer TV news to the radio. Other than that, it's not important. If I could still listen to music, I'd be fine. In fact, as I think about it, I rarely give much attention to whatever is on TV. I'm always doing something else when it's on.
• United States
19 Jul 09
Conan might take some getting used to, but I really like him. I get up for work at 3:30 every morning, and I got used to his reruns being on at that time, while I'm getting dressed.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Jul 09
He does take some getting used to. I don't like much of his humor...nothing controversial. Just don't get why he has to use physical humor so much. Guess I am just an old fuddy duddy. lol
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
19 Jul 09
I work evenings, I get home at 10:30p. I watch news and some of Tonight Show...but Conan has ruined that for me....lol. When I am off work, it's the HIstory channel or Discovery or a movie.I've been trying to read more...and of course I am on here alot. But I do try to limit myself too...and get outside for a walk or to play with the kids....to get them to USE the SWINGSET I paid 300 dollars for! lol
1 person likes this
@preethaanju (3000)
• India
21 Jul 09
I dont know what the world feels like without a TV. But I am surviving without a TV since 5 years because the one we had lived its life and now we are bankrupt to buy a new one.. haha
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
21 Jul 09
And so here you are brightening our day on myLot! lol I find the internet way more addictive than tv. I'd miss my friends and all that INFORMATION!
• United States
18 Jul 09
Actually, because of the high prices, my fiance and i have no actual broadcast television. When we do watch TV, its dvd's that we rent of "Friends" DVDs that we own. Certain times, we even have to turn that off because it just gets too much. I think Television is a bad element to add to everyday life. My fiance and I started noticing that watching TV made us talk to each other less, and feel a little stupid at the end of the day. TV makes it so that you don't have to think, and I think that if we allow it to do that, it makes it extremely hard to live without it. I think at one point, there was a time when I relied on Television to entertain me. I also could not sleep without the TV on, and I had to watch a certain few shows before I did anything else. It becomes part of our routine, until we realize that its taking over our lives or we just become glued and dependent on TV to give us emotions or concerns. I think it might be fine if people just had 3 favorite programs or shows that they watch, and left the television off at any other time. I think there would be a lot more room for social groups, outdoor activities and an appreciation for the outdoors if television wasn't so centered in our lives. I mean, most people furnish their living rooms based on all the furniture pointing in the direction of the television. In our society, we can make flat screen televisions, advance technology to make picture displays seem more realistic, we can record our favorite television shows and watch them later and so much more that we put time, money and effort into, but we can't go on a 5k walk to help find the cure for AIDS, or Cancer Research, or for children with disabilities. We can't plant our gardens and create our own organic produce because Deseperate Housewives is on? Most of us cannot even tell you where the nearest park is in their neighborhood because they are too involved in the current season of American Idol. Its sad, right? Ask a child what their favorite sport to play is, and I bet it would take them a lot longer to answer than what their favorite show is. Kill your TV!!!
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
19 Jul 09
Oh..you are my Prince for sure! lol Couldn't have said it better.
@chillpill90 (1936)
18 Jul 09
I could easily do it. When i was at uni this year i had no tv and went about 6 months without it i didnt miss the tv at all. As it gives you more time to do other things and also you can watch movies DVDs on your laptop. i think people who are addicted to it waste their time.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
18 Jul 09
I tend to agree....we had a rule in the summertime when my kids were little...NO TV-Go Play OUtside! lol There are some shows I would like to see regularly...but I work evenings and miss them most nights. I suppose I could record them. But even that is not first thing on my mind. Most tv is a giant waste of time!
@clutterbug (1051)
• United States
18 Jul 09
I have gone without TV since the digital changeover on June 11th. I only watched the evening news mostly, but even that was getting to be a bore, because of all the 'smooch festing' for Obama. The TV news isn't telling the truth of what's really going on anyway. I don't miss it at all, I listen to radio and use my computer now for news. I refuse to get satellite or cable TV, it's not worth it to me. Thanks.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
18 Jul 09
Since you mentioned the change over...what's up with the already broke government PAYING for people to have convertor boxes? I agree...the news is all propaganda now days. Maybe that's why they felt we all needed to be 'plugged in'. ?
@bonnie67 (10)
• United States
18 Jul 09
I watch very little tv these days. I think kids watch to much tv these days. They don't know good old fashion of out door playing is any more. Can't do what we use to when we was kids. Times has changed so much with all the crime and the sicko's out there. Another thing is the computer and the computer games. I think kids and adults would go crazy with out there computers. What happened to good old fun outside or playing board games or cards? Even listening to music and dancing like those old times out in the barn square dancing? I feel all this is going away and tv and the computer is taking over our lives.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
19 Jul 09
You're right Bonnie, technology is taking over our lives. Some of it is good, some of it isn't. I think we all need to moderate our use...see if we CAN do without just for a day or so at a time. We did that today...it's what inspired this discussion for me. My daughter couldn't get the kids away from the TV...it took shutting it off and walking them out the door. Then they just sat on the porch and asked what do we do? They are 5 and 3. We had to show them how to play tag...and this is after I bought them a swing set in the spring. They won't play on it unless you TELL them to. We're going to try to make them play outside with us out there for at least and hour a day. lol They need the sunshine..and I need a break from spongebob!