Re: TV or not TV

[John Paul Davis <johnd at antioch-college_edu>]

Lawlor, Barry wrote:
> John wrote:


> 
> I am curious to know why there seems to be an anti-tv movement not just here
> on the list, but in general.  TV is fun.  

Isn't that a mater of opinion? TV is *not* fun for me. Besides which my 
point was that I'm so busy having a life that I don't have *time* for 
TV, not that TV is evil. I do think TV is unhealthy, especially if not 
taken in moderation.


 > Why is TV watching such a bad thing?

Well, TV *does* have negative psychological and social effects, but it's 
less because of the medium and more because of the message(s). From a 
business standpoint, TV is not about making good art, or even good 
entertainment, it's about selling ads. Advertisers are TV companies' 
actual customers. The average American buys nothing from them, and 
therefore the folks who call the shots as far as what gets aired are 
advertisers. From their POV, the best TV is TV that makes people want to 
buy more of whatever they're selling.
People who are satisfied, content, and at peace, buy less stuff. So TV 
makes its own living by airing shows that keep you from being at peace. 
Someone who doesn't give a damn if they're sexy won't buy products 
designed to make them look sexy. People who are satisfied with thier 
current car won't buy a new one.
Further, people who see connections between their actions and world 
events (take driving a gas-guzzling vehicle and dependance on 
Middle-Eastern oil for instance) often change their habits (someone 
decides to buy fuel-eifficent cars or drive less to help keep us out of 
wars with the Middle East). Such people are difficult to market to 
because they are unpredictible in comparison with the majority. So, TV 
makes its own money by suppressing news items that might cause people to 
change their beahvior. Instead, they offer as little news as possible 
and fill time with infotainment and false alarms and sensationalism.

The social effects are more subtle.

> Is it worse/better than Hanging out at a bar?  

I think it's worse, and I don't drink alcohol. In a bar, you have to 
interact with other people. You might make a friend. You stand a good 
chance of being involved in a conflict or complication which doesn't 
resolve itself neatly in a half hour. I'd much rather hang out in a 
coffee shop than watch t.v. The women are prettier in a coffe shop, for 
one thing.

But again, this has less to do with the machine "television" than it 
does with the programming.

- John

-- 
John Paul Davis
Center for Community Learning
Antioch College
http://www.antioch-college.edu/ccl

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The benefits of helping somebody is beneficial

- George W. Bush
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http://www.johnpauldavis.org

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