Has anybody else given up television?

tunguska

I stopped watching tv a couple of months ago and Ive never been happier. I used to come home from work like most people, sit down and zombie out in front of the tv. Id always go to bed feeling not so good after an evening in front of the goggle box but Id continue with this habit non the less. Its kind of an addiction really. But bit by bit I watched less and less until finally I took the plunge and the television was banquished to the attic(only to be brought back into active duty during the 2010 world cup). I dont miss it at all. In fact im a lot happier now that the boob tube is gone.
Anybody else thrown out their TV or even considering it?

Pigman II

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28694

tunguska

Pigman II wrote: »

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28694

I have to admit that link is pretty funny. But My aim was not to preach or to be holier than thou. If you read my post properly you'll see that the whole point of it was to see if anybody else had an experience similiar to mine with regards to not watching tv anymore.

Rineanna

tunguska wrote: »

I have to admit that link is pretty funny. But My aim was not to preach or to be holier than thou. If you read my post properly you'll see that the whole point of it was to see if anybody else had an experience similiar to mine with regards to not watching tv anymore.

Well, that's exactly how it came across. I've noticed a plethora of the "Has anyone else..." style threads pop up over the last while, and they all pretty much have a self-congratulatory element to them.

But to address your actual question, no, I haven't given up on television. As long as one has the ability to excercise some basic self-control, as I'd imagine most people do, and not get absorbed into watching T.V 24/7, then I don't see a reason to cut it cold turkey.

luckat

Gave it up for a while, then got a TV and Freesat at Christmas. Hardly watched it since, though.

I also bought a gadget to transmit the radio channels from the Freesat box to FM radio around the house, but it doesn't work with the Freesat box, which is digital - so I'd have to leave the TV on, sucking down ESB euros, if I wanted to listen to the radio in another room. Alas.

Creamy Goodness

i haven't given up tv, but the one thing the internet has helped me with is to be way more selective in what i watch. so basically the internet has cut out the crap i watched and left me with the good and the gold.

PaulieBoy

tunguska wrote: »

Anybody else thrown out their TV or even considering it?

Well I've got the cable cut off cos I never watch the TV as such, but I do watch DVD's. Does that count me as a "TV watcher" or not ??

I'd watch about 2 hours worth of DVD's a week, that's load's for me.
I could live without it, and some weeks I'd not watch anything, but I don't see the point in "banning" it entirely, it's a handy thing to have when my brain is tired a DVD and a beer hit's the spot :-)

Pigman II

The trick with television (just like most everything in life) is moderation. My own personal method for enjoying the experience that is tv is to check digiguide on a saturday morning and then make a list of what I want to watch for the coming week. This list will contain what I will turning the tv on and tuning in on. All other times I shall be doing something else. I never do the old habit of coming in after work, plonking down in front of the set and just spend the evening surfing from channel to channel until I drift off into unconciousness. It's a structured method that has served me well of many years.

That said tho, nearly all my tv watching comes as a result of store-bought DVD's or torrents so in any given week there is very little (often nothing) that I choose to watch from the the terrestrial schedule. Therefore I agree with your assessment that the schedule is nearly entirely populated with garbage. I cannot unlike you however forsee a time in my life where I will ever be without tv completely tho. It'd be like getting rid of my third parent (certaintly the one who did most of my child-rearing anyhow).

===

As I write this Charlie Brookers excellent take on how to deal with the one-eyed monster that occupies your living room comes to mind. So I shall leave you this potentially attitude-changing (and at the very least entertaining) attack on the couch potato lifestyle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHj6y7nld1A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi911S0C2lI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5zwn1y9djQ

Nolanger

"What do you get from a glut of TV?
A pain in the neck and an IQ of three!"

bobbbb

Pigman II wrote: »

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28694

Very Good

I have a couple of friends exactly like the guy in that link. When i ask them what they do instead of the TV the answer is the pub or "a good book".

Books have their place, TV has its place.
Its really sad that people have to brag about giving up on the TV. They surely have no lives if thats all they have to brag about.

And these friends very often get caught out that they were actually watching the tv. And when they are caught out by letting something slip it goes from "i never watch tv" to "i only watch documentaries".

whjoup

I understand exactly where your coming from! Its such a waste of time just sitting there watching a box. Imagine all the things you lose out on doing. I wish I had as much willpower to do the same but after reading this I'll definitely cut back a bit! Your an inspiration to say the least!!

kerash

I thoroughly enjoy watching tv, I dont watch sh1t that I hate, I bought a flatscreen tv and I've never been happier.
I dont watch tv just for the sake of watching it because watching something you dont like would be utterly stupid.
So, I'm hardly going to punish myself by not watching it, what a waste that would be, it's such a great use of my time, imagine all the things I'd lose out watching on if I stopped.
I'm an inspiration to say the least!

sillyputty

I wouldn't watch tons of tv just programs i like - i don't watch it just for the sake of having it on.
I couldn't give up my Sky+ though it is possibly the greatest thing ever.

Elmo

whjoup wrote: »

I understand exactly where your coming from! Its such a waste of time just sitting there watching a box. Imagine all the things you lose out on doing. I wish I had as much willpower to do the same but after reading this I'll definitely cut back a bit! Your an inspiration to say the least!!

You could always start a thread on boards or reply to a thread on boards.

Richard Dower

TV is fine as long as you do't pay for it, the net and other technologies allow for this :-)

zuchum

Nolanger wrote: »

"What do you get from a glut of TV?
A pain in the neck and an IQ of three!"

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory .


I haven't given up TV, but I have given up posting on television related forums on the internet.







/ah f*ck

Blazer

Never watch tv channels..there's a multiroom sky box in my room for the last 7 months and it 's been switched on about 3 times.
I get all my tv shows off the *** so I don't have to tie myself to a schedule and can watch them as I please.
lot easier this way.

Utopia Parkway

tunguska wrote: »

I stopped watching tv a couple of months ago and Ive never been happier. I used to come home from work like most people, sit down and zombie out in front of the tv. Id always go to bed feeling not so good after an evening in front of the goggle box but Id continue with this habit non the less. Its kind of an addiction really. But bit by bit I watched less and less until finally I took the plunge and the television was banquished to the attic(only to be brought back into active duty during the 2010 world cup). I dont miss it at all. In fact im a lot happier now that the boob tube is gone.
Anybody else thrown out their TV or even considering it?

No. In fact I am planning on having a television installed in every room in the house and maybe one in the shed too.

Liam Byrne

luckat wrote: »

Gave it up for a while, then got a TV and Freesat at Christmas. Hardly watched it since, though.

I also bought a gadget to transmit the radio channels from the Freesat box to FM radio around the house, but it doesn't work with the Freesat box, which is digital - so I'd have to leave the TV on, sucking down ESB euros, if I wanted to listen to the radio in another room. Alas.

Run a phono cable to the "aux/line in" on a stereo and you'll cut down on the cost of having the screen on..

Queen-Mise

sillyputty wrote: »

I wouldn't watch tons of tv just programs i like - i don't watch it just for the sake of having it on.
I couldn't give up my Sky+ though it is possibly the greatest thing ever.

+100,000 on sky+. With sky+, anytime I sit down to watch telly, 95% of the time it is something pre-recorded. very, very rarely do i watch telly for the sake of it.

luckat

Liam Byrne wrote: »

Run a phono cable to the "aux/line in" on a stereo and you'll cut down on the cost of having the screen on..

A phono cable from where, Liam Byrne?

(The Freesat box has another port called an SPDIF, apparently an audio port. Now trying to find out if this is translatable to connect the gadget.)

femur61

I love watching TV, there are a few programmes I watch, maily whan my brain is tired. I also read a lot. People who knock those that knock it and say read a book should take note that there are some good things on TV. And most importantly not everyone can read to the same ability. My husband is dyslexic so reading is really no an option, I've two children with dyslexia and luckily enough it is recognised but there is no quick fix as all dylexia is different. So my hubby will watch the news and loads of documentaries.

Dave!

I mainly watch TV now for sports, every so often I'll watch Friends at dinner time or somethin ! Whereas most people will vedge in front of the TV, I'll just vedge in front of the PC or lying down with the laptop. Just as bad really since I'm inert, but at least using the internet is an active process as opposed to watching TV which is passive for the most part !

I don't really watch shows on TV anymore either... I'll either stream them online or download them, or else buy the box set.

Once I find a show I like, THEN I get really bad and watch many many episodes a day Entourage especially Alas I'm totally up to date with that, and have just rewatched the entire West Wing ! Think I'll start the Sopranos season 1 again . . .

But yeah, I rarely watch TV much now. Even eating dinner I'd sooner sit at the computer than in front of the TV !

Latchy

80% of tv imo is trash so as somebody said , being that bit more slective is the key to tv enjoyment .David Attenborough ' wildlife / Earth programmes ' are worth the licence fee .Dancing on ice, Ant and Dec ( family viewing ) Johnethan Ross , are also popular and the sports coverage ie, soccer / rugby is quite good although I limit my football viewing to one or two matches a week .Loseing yourself in a good film is also enjoyable .To many trashys programmes about B , C celebrities ie, Katie Price and I press the OFF button.I hate the whole celeb culture and wish they didn't exist .