I have killed the ads. It cost me a couple of bucks, but after seeing an odor removal product advertisement at the top of my screen, I had to do something.
Also, I’ve decided to post each topic separately. This will aid in your ability to comment and/or link to the individual topic.
Just as the heroin addict needs his hypo, the TV addict must have his remote, and in my case, not just one remote but five (one for each TV, and one each for the DVD player, the VCR, and one for the all important cable box). Here is an interesting article detailing the remote’s importance in our TV-addled society. Interestingly, the first “remote” that my family owned was connected by a wire to our VCR. While it was impossible to lose, the damn thing never seemed to reach the Lay-Z-Boy.
Well, it’s that time of year! Time to put down those remotes and pick up a book. Yep, today marks the beginning of TV-Turn Off week. In case, like me, you’ve been in a cave (or simply watching your TV), you’ll be happy to know that this event has been taking place since 1995. It seems that I’ve heard brief mention of it, probably on TV, but like the Great American Smokeout it hasn’t quite made the radar of my To Do list. (Please know that the Smokeout day often occurs on or around my birthday, and there is nothing worse than a nicotine fit when you are trying to open gifts.)
I’d like to know why we so demonize TV. After all, where else can a person famous for giving a sitting (heh!) president a hummer get a job finding some poor soul true love. Perhaps Lewinsky’s appearance on TV tonight is good enough reason to join in on the Turn-Off. But I think not.
I’m part of the TV-addicted nation. I have my two TV’s, one for the den (a 36-inch one) and a smaller one for the bedroom. I have digital cable with over 200 channels. Granted, my viewing generally revolves around Braves baseball and other assorted sports, news, and documentaries, but I do like to throw in a few mind-numbing programs every now and then. Despite my addiction, I average reading a book every other week, and since I work nearly sixty hours a week, I’d say that’s pretty damn good. See, the problem with these Quixote’s aiming at our TV’s is that they are judging all of us television watchers because of the actions of a few. To me this is like saying, “Two percent of Internet users partakes of child pornography so we should all cut off our computers.”
All of that being said, I do support the purpose of this cause. I would love to see more books opened, more minds exposed to quality thought instead of pointless advertisement. So when this week is over and your eyes readjust to the pixels, don’t forget that a bookmark shouldn’t remain idle for long.
