Is TV destroying us?

[scooterbug44]

After more thought on the subject, I wonder how is tv destroying us? I never hear anyone talking about watching channels other than the Discovery Channel and the History Channel, and the occasional Fox News Channel.

I was thinking of it more from the standpoint of how intrusive and omnipresent it is in our lives. Kids who can't talk, but can work the DVD player, TVs constantly blaring in restaurants, bars, airports, waiting rooms etc. People who vote for the American Idol but not in elections for their government etc. There are some GREAT educational channels out there, but that doesn't seem to be what gets the viewers, ratings, or threads started in the lounge.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I didn't realize that 14 yr olds could vote for President. As for the discussions of tv shows on SoWal.com, it is easier and more funn to type about a crappy or great singing performance rather than the building of the Great Wall of China.

BTW, I rarely notice a tv in the businesses which I frequent. Maybe you should change the places you frequent, or learn to hit the mental ignore button.

 

[scooterbug44]

BTW, I rarely notice a tv in the businesses which I frequent. Maybe you should change the places you frequent, or learn to hit the mental ignore button.

I would love to frequent places w/out televisions, but that is virtually impossible. Every single bar/bar dining area of a restaurant on 30A (w/ the exception of Criolla's) has at least 1 TV. If I go to ship a package, the TV is on at Mailboxes Etc. The dentist's office and car mechanic have TVs in the waiting room. Okaloosa Regional and the Pensacola airport have TVs on at the restaurants and at the gates. Depending on the plane, there will be a TV screen mounted in the seatback in front of me, suspended from the ceiling, or the person next to me is watching a movie on their computer. As I drive down the road, the people in the SUV ahead of me are playing a DVD. If I go to see a movie, there are TVs in the hallway and lobby area playing commercials and previews. Kurt recently posted a link for a TV package that lets you watch at the beach or tailgating. Whenever possible I turn them off or tune them out & read a book or magazine, but they are still everywhere!

I don't hate television, there are certain shows that I love and I have spent my fair share of time on the couch, but the television has gone from being an occassional source of entertainment in your home to a 24 hour presence you cannot escape from.

 

[Smiling JOe]

A long time ago, I did a little observation test. Day 1, I decided that I would look for dead animals on the road or rideaway, while on my 35 mile bike ride. I was amazed at what I thought was a large number of dead animals. Day 2, I decided to see if it was all in my mind. I focused only on the live animals I saw around the road on the same 35 mi loop. I saw plenty of live animals on my ride and maybe noticed only one or two of the dead ones.

What does that have to do with TVs? It is all in your focus. ;-)

 

[goofer]

After more thought on the subject, I wonder how is tv destroying us? I never hear anyone talking about watching channels other than the Discovery Channel and the History Channel, and the occasional Fox News Channel. If people had the option to pay per channel and select only the channels they wanted, I would guess that most people wouldn't pay for more than about 8-10 channels.

I think TV has contributed quite extensively to the "dumbing down" of America. The spillover into the pop culture of movies and music has also influenced THESE mediums. Certainly there is great programming on PBS, the Discovery channel and the History channel but the MASSES are watching the commercial stations and I think the effects are profound on society in general. I don't wish to appear to be snobbish or condescending but the American people seem to be less informed and more ignorant than 50 years ago. There is so much anecdotal evidence to support this view, especially when we have the "man on the street" interviews that are conducted on radio and cable. Pretty scary stuff......considering that we face the most important election in our lifetime in 2008. Perhaps I am over-reacting to what I see or maybe I under-estimate the influence of the internet but I am of a generation who reads newspapers and books and I think I am well informed because of that. Television news, especially on commercial TV, is just another part of the entertainment division. Cable news, if you balance FOX, CNN, and MSNBC, gives you a good spectrum of issues and debate. But I think the best stations for Public Affairs is PBS and C-SPAN. I want to see more serious debate on global warming, national healthcare, social security and medicare, and national defense and less discussion on the "social issues" of abortion, gay rights and religious beliefs. We face enormous problems on the environment, healthcare and the economy and the politicians speak in sound bites geared for the 15 minute "news hour".

 

[tropicwatch]

goofer44, I agree with everything in your post. Unfortunately it seems that the special interest groups are very organized and they make sure that people that have the same interests vote. I don't know why the majority of the registered voters don't vote but I guess some of that can be contributed to the TV culture and figure that there vote wont matter it has already been decided.

I don't fit that category, I have voted in every election since I was eighteen. Now 43 by the way.

 

[goofer]

goofer44, I agree with everything in your post. Unfortunately it seems that the special interest groups are very organized and they make sure that people that have the same interests vote. I don't know why the majority of the registered voters don't vote but I guess some of that can be contributed to the TV culture and figure that there vote wont matter it has already been decided.

I don't fit that category, I have voted in every election since I was eighteen. Now 43 by the way.

Those voters of which you speak should ask Al Gore if their vote doesn't matter. I am not very optimistic about America's chances of competing, thriving and being the world's great economic and political leader in the second half of the 21st century. It is not too late for us to wake up but it is going to take alot of hard work and sacrifice on all our parts to get the ship of state back on course. This can only be done with a concerned, educated and informed citizenry.

 

[Beachbummette]

Turn it off. We never watch tv because we never have time. How can it destroy us if we don't watch it?

 

[Chickpea]

What happened to moderation????

BTW: am agreeing with Scooterbug again (been doing a lot of that lately ) but I too am SICK and TIRED of blaring TV's everywhere and my head wants to explode when I ads are blared in my ears - I seriously have thoughts of violence!

 

[Bob]

I think TV has contributed quite extensively to the "dumbing down" of America. The spillover into the pop culture of movies and music has also influenced THESE mediums. Certainly there is great programming on PBS, the Discovery channel and the History channel but the MASSES are watching the commercial stations and I think the effects are profound on society in general. I don't wish to appear to be snobbish or condescending but the American people seem to be less informed and more ignorant than 50 years ago. There is so much anecdotal evidence to support this view, especially when we have the "man on the street" interviews that are conducted on radio and cable. Pretty scary stuff......considering that we face the most important election in our lifetime in 2008. Perhaps I am over-reacting to what I see or maybe I under-estimate the influence of the internet but I am of a generation who reads newspapers and books and I think I am well informed because of that. Television news, especially on commercial TV, is just another part of the entertainment division. Cable news, if you balance FOX, CNN, and MSNBC, gives you a good spectrum of issues and debate. But I think the best stations for Public Affairs is PBS and C-SPAN. I want to see more serious debate on global warming, national healthcare, social security and medicare, and national defense and less discussion on the "social issues" of abortion, gay rights and religious beliefs. We face enormous problems on the environment, healthcare and the economy and the politicians speak in sound bites geared for the 15 minute "news hour".

So, if the average IQ is 100, why would it be suprising to see market driven content appeal to the target audiences. Put on C-span in any public venue, and people will complain. Doctor Phil is solving someone's issue, and their missing it.