May I posit a thought I've been having recently to you - would society as a whole be improved if Television didn't exist/was removed?
I do not watch TV, I spent a lot of my childhood glued to the box, I was raised by a television and I don't think it was a positive influence on my life and look back with sorrow the opportunities missed and the skills I never exercised and developed. So now I endeavour to spend most of my time improving my life rather than being programmed.
That is the basis that's formed my viewpoint though, the people I interact with seem quite happy to sit and stare at a box all evening every evening, it forms the basis of their chats at work and even dictates social interactions; "oh, I can't meet you at x because y's on". My mind boggles at the hours these people must lose on trivial, transitory experiences, forgot by the time the adverts have run.
In a climate where people lament the decline of communities and the rise of tear-away children (hoodies) associated with it, wouldn't people be better without this brightly coloured distraction from life in the corner of their rooms, the boredom this abundant free time would surely inevitably lead to increased social interactions in communities and better themselves and those around them.
Time and motivation to volunteer, to help their fellow man. To study and improve themselves, take a hobby and improve a skill. Something that will have a lasting positive affect on their life.
I once heard a good definition of a drug, something that makes you happy being bored - boredom is life's kick up the backside, it's life's motivator to do something to alleviate the boredom - television the opiate of the masses, making them ok with mediocrity.
I also mentioned morality in the title, immorality is available in multiple media; movies, games, books, music etc.. as well as television - but I don't think it's as prevalent as it is on television. All these other media are in smaller doses (movies) or conger mental images (books, music) rather than a basic "monkey see, monkey do" form that television does. It's constant barrage morphs people's social norms, we do what we think is right, I believe, and what most people think is right is increasingly what someone thought would be entertaining to watch, where people aren't deconstucting what's going on in front of them and taking different messages than maybe what was intended.
It's evident in the fashion and actions of the young, ones who feel more under pressure to reflect "who they are" without knowing who they are, how can they, they haven't had the time to become anyone yet, so they take who they think they should be from their environment and mirror them.
I feel I may be coming off here as "I know better, my life is great and you should too" which isn't my intention, believe me I sincerely don't believe I know better than anyone I've met and my life is far from great, but my experiences and observations have brought me to the conclusion that without the new religion life could be so much better...or at least the pubs wouldn't be closing so quickly.
I'm not sure I elocated my point fully but I hope I've given you enough insight to start a discussion.
tl:dr then move onto another thread
I do not watch TV, I spent a lot of my childhood glued to the box, I was raised by a television and I don't think it was a positive influence on my life and look back with sorrow the opportunities missed and the skills I never exercised and developed. So now I endeavour to spend most of my time improving my life rather than being programmed.
That is the basis that's formed my viewpoint though, the people I interact with seem quite happy to sit and stare at a box all evening every evening, it forms the basis of their chats at work and even dictates social interactions; "oh, I can't meet you at x because y's on". My mind boggles at the hours these people must lose on trivial, transitory experiences, forgot by the time the adverts have run.
In a climate where people lament the decline of communities and the rise of tear-away children (hoodies) associated with it, wouldn't people be better without this brightly coloured distraction from life in the corner of their rooms, the boredom this abundant free time would surely inevitably lead to increased social interactions in communities and better themselves and those around them.
Time and motivation to volunteer, to help their fellow man. To study and improve themselves, take a hobby and improve a skill. Something that will have a lasting positive affect on their life.
I once heard a good definition of a drug, something that makes you happy being bored - boredom is life's kick up the backside, it's life's motivator to do something to alleviate the boredom - television the opiate of the masses, making them ok with mediocrity.
I also mentioned morality in the title, immorality is available in multiple media; movies, games, books, music etc.. as well as television - but I don't think it's as prevalent as it is on television. All these other media are in smaller doses (movies) or conger mental images (books, music) rather than a basic "monkey see, monkey do" form that television does. It's constant barrage morphs people's social norms, we do what we think is right, I believe, and what most people think is right is increasingly what someone thought would be entertaining to watch, where people aren't deconstucting what's going on in front of them and taking different messages than maybe what was intended.
It's evident in the fashion and actions of the young, ones who feel more under pressure to reflect "who they are" without knowing who they are, how can they, they haven't had the time to become anyone yet, so they take who they think they should be from their environment and mirror them.
I feel I may be coming off here as "I know better, my life is great and you should too" which isn't my intention, believe me I sincerely don't believe I know better than anyone I've met and my life is far from great, but my experiences and observations have brought me to the conclusion that without the new religion life could be so much better...or at least the pubs wouldn't be closing so quickly.
I'm not sure I elocated my point fully but I hope I've given you enough insight to start a discussion.
tl:dr then move onto another thread
