The TV has been turned off...

[cache]

So, I decided to keep my TV off for a week or more, and then see after that. I don't watch a ton of TV, usually just while I am eating, and some in the evenings if I am home. But I never seem to watch anything specific, I just surf around, and stop for a minute or two, then keep going. I think the only shows I watch are Family Guy and The Office.

I got a bunch of books for Christmas, so I should be reading much more anyways. I think I just wanted to see if it was a big deal, and if I could handle not watching TV at all at my house. Ever. So I am starting with a week, which doesn't seem like a big deal, so we shall see...

[and1grad]

So, I decided to keep my TV off for a week or more, and then see after that. I don't watch a ton of TV, usually just while I am eating, and some in the evenings if I am home. But I never seem to watch anything specific, I just surf around, and stop for a minute or two, then keep going. I think the only shows I watch are Family Guy and The Office.

I got a bunch of books for Christmas, so I should be reading much more anyways. I think I just wanted to see if it was a big deal, and if I could handle not watching TV at all at my house. Ever. So I am starting with a week, which doesn't seem like a big deal, so we shall see...
I had to spend almost a month with no tv b/c of issues with the sattelite company. The first week was ROUGH. I'm mostly like you where I only really watch a couple certain shows and the rest of the time its just background noise. Anyway, the major diff for me was that I found myself A LOT less informed about current events. I dont really read much news on the internet or in the paper but if you do, that wont be a big issue for you.

[wordsmith]

I haven't had/watched TV regularly since I was a junior in high school, probably. There was never really a getting used to it factor, because I was in so many school activities by the time I was a senior in high school, I was never even home during primetime. So I kind of phased out of watching TV

When I went to college, I didn't take a TV (didn't own one). My freshman year roommate did, but nothing came in without cable, and it wasn't worth the cost, so we only used it for movies.

By the time I graduated, I was WELL out of the TV-watching loop/habit, so it didn't matter to me to get it after the fact. I've always lived places where you don't get much if you don't pay for cable or satellite, and neither has ever been worth it to me. I've always been fine with movie-watching alone, and TV shows on DVD now let me watch anything I would choose to watch, if I had TV reception.

Once a week, I go to my parents' house to watch Grey's Anatomy with my little sister and mom, and if I'm hanging out there when The Daily Show and the Colbert Report are on, I'll catch those. But other than that, I don't really have much interest in TV programming. I've never watched televised news, I read all my news, whether in print or online.

[Kitty]

I went without TV for about 4 years..no big deal.

I rarely watch TV now..but there are a few shows I like.

[beeblebrox]

When I'm knitting, I like the background noise of the tv, though I could play my iPod and would achieve the same effect. I tend to just surf around as well. I'm tempted to try the turning it off, but I'm paying a fair amount to begin with.

[EmberMae]

we usually watch dvds. I had basic cable (like 12 channels, the major networks, pbs, some jesus channel, and 3 spanish channels) because I had to get it to get cable internet. Then I got pissed at my cable company and switched to DSL but I kept the cable b/c it was only like $12 a month and sometimes I will put on a sitcom or the news while I'm making dinner, but now i'm super pissed at the cable company because they screwed up my billing AGAIN and I think i'm just going to cancel.

It feels good to not be tied down to technology like the tv or the internet. when I get home I try to limit my use of these things and get other stuff done.

[Winter Storm]

I barely watch TV seriously these days. It's just on.

I'm sure I'm on of the few people who have never seen Gilmore Girls, Grey's Anatomy, House, 24, CSI or Ugly Betty. Couldn't even tellyou what channels they come on.

:0

[pisces2473]

I barely watch TV seriously these days. It's just on.

I'm sure I'm on of the few people who have never seen Gilmore Girls, Grey's Anatomy, House, 24, CSI or Ugly Betty. Couldn't even tellyou what channels they come on.

:0
Ha. Me neither, except House.

[wordsmith]

I've never watched Gilmore Girls, 24, or Ugly Betty, and CSI only a handful of times.

House and Grey's Anatomy, I got into after netflixing the first seasons on DVD a while back.

[Trillian42]

I've tried a few times before to go without TV. I usually find I miss having it as background noise as I live by myself. Also TV shows are usually a good social topic of conversation, kind of in the same catagory as weather.

[wordsmith]

I thought it would be weird when I started living by myself, but I realized that I'm more likely to use music and reading and movies to fill the space.

[Kitty]

I don't watch any TV shows on TV on a regular basis (with the exception of Project Runway) - I mostly just Netflix them. It's too much work to try to remember when they come on and schedule around it. no thanks.

[wordsmith]

That's pretty much been the case for me from when I started college until now...I don't have a regular schedule, and there's no way I could build my schedule around shows if I wanted to.

[WorkInProgress]

That's why I DVR. I still enjoy some TV, but don't necessarily want to watch shows when they're airing.

I also Netflix some shows.

[yankeeyosh]

I pay sixty dollars a month for cable that I never use. The only shows I like are "adult" cartoons and some stuff on the History Channel and PBS. I don't know why I have it...such a waste of $. I think when I move, I'll just use Netflix (or Blockbuster).

[wordsmith]

Yeah, but I'd have to pay for DVR. And I won't even pay for cable or satellite!

[WorkInProgress]

Yeah, but I'd have to pay for DVR. And I won't even pay for cable or satellite!

Well, yeah, if you don't already have cable or satellite, then that's not an option. ;): But for those who do, it's maybe not a bad idea.

[cache]

I think this is just another step for me in trying to get rid of the unimportant stuff in my life, and only focus on doing exactly what I want to do. TV serves no great benefit, at least for me. Sure, there are movies I like, and it is sometimes nice to have a SO curled up next to me watching something together, but in general, I think no TV will be better.

[embrassezla]

I don't have cable. We Netflix & borrow stuff from friends. We're making our way through the 3rd season of The Wire right now, which I am totally loving.

[and1grad]

Not that anybody on this thread is doing it but have any of you ever noticed how people who dont watch tv say so like its some badge of honor? I always thought that was weird. Its kinda like vegetarians who trumpet how they dont eat meat and act like they're saving the world. No, you're just not eating meat. Anyway, enough of my threadjack.

[wordsmith]

There's nothing wrong with watching TV (although if ALL you do is watch TV, you're probably pretty boring, and people who choose to watch TV over, say, socializing regularly have always annoyed me, personally, but that's because to me, TV is default entertainment...something to do if there's some downtime with nothing else planned).

For me, I slowly lapsed into a lifestyle that doesn't have very much sitting at home time incorporated into it over the past decade or so, so it's not really the best thing for me to be spending my money on. That's all. It would just be money wasted.

[Winter Storm]

Not that anybody on this thread is doing it but have any of you ever noticed how people who dont watch tv say so like its some badge of honor? I always thought that was weird. Its kinda like vegetarians who trumpet how they dont eat meat and act like they're saving the world. No, you're just not eating meat. Anyway, enough of my threadjack.

Yeah, kinda like when people say they don't drink and party anymore, so they guess they've just "matured". Whatever the fuck! :rolleyes:

[arrow]

Not that anybody on this thread is doing it but have any of you ever noticed how people who dont watch tv say so like its some badge of honor? I always thought that was weird.

Ha! Yeah, and they need to get over themselves.

I watch tv. I like certain shows on tv, and sometimes I just like to have it on in the background. Big deal. I don't think it interferes with my life, drains my intelligence or creativity, or makes me less valuable as a human being. :rolleyes:

If anything, a good tv show is just one more thing to enjoy in life.

[AshleyJordan]

I have a little tiny TV that I use to watch DVDS. . . no cable and I don't know how many basic channels I get. . . never bothered to check. If I want to watch a show I either go to a friend's house, go to a bar (i.e. for a baseball game), or go to the gym and watch on the little treadmill TV.

[arrow]

Cable is expensive, though. If you don't use it, then it's not worth the money. And you can get a lot of shows on DVD and iTunes now, anyway.

[Winter Storm]

Cable is expensive, though. If you don't use it, then it's not worth the money. And you can get a lot of shows on DVD and iTunes now, anyway.
That is all I watch is cable. I could actually have my regular broadcasting cut off, if possible.

[wordsmith]

Cable is expensive, though. If you don't use it, then it's not worth the money. And you can get a lot of shows on DVD and iTunes now, anyway.

Exactly my point. The last time in my life I spent a large amount of time at home, I was in high school, so there hasn't been much point in sinking any real money into TV viewing ever since.

[Bocheezu]

Not that anybody on this thread is doing it but have any of you ever noticed how people who dont watch tv say so like its some badge of honor? I always thought that was weird. Its kinda like vegetarians who trumpet how they dont eat meat and act like they're saving the world. No, you're just not eating meat. Anyway, enough of my threadjack.

Same thing when people go out and don't drink. "I had a good time and was completely sober." Holy crap, I honestly don't believe you.

People like to take pride in doing something that they feel is out of the ordinary. "Everybody" watches TV, eats meat, and gets drunk when they go out. So not doing that makes you a total rebel.

Usually the only time I watch TV is when I'm bored from playing computer games, and when I watch it's either sports, Discovery Channel, or History Channel. I wish you could turn cable off for some months and put it back for other months (without paying a startup fee), because then I'd think about turning it off for the summer and back on for football season. I wouldn't actually do it, but it'd be a cool option to think about.

EDIT: Yes, it takes a long time for me to post.

[and1grad]

People like to take pride in doing something that they feel is out of the ordinary. "Everybody" watches TV, eats meat, and gets drunk when they go out. So not doing that makes you a total rebel.
"I havent been to jail AALLLLL week."

"I take care of MY kids!"

[Winter Storm]

"I havent been to jail AALLLLL week."

"I take care of MY kids!"
"I got a job, a car, my own place, I'm good to go"
-random, nobody on Myspace trying to "get to know me better". :rolleyes:

[wordsmith]

Same thing when people go out and don't drink. "I had a good time and was completely sober." Holy crap, I honestly don't believe you.

People like to take pride in doing something that they feel is out of the ordinary. "Everybody" watches TV, eats meat, and gets drunk when they go out. So not doing that makes you a total rebel.

It's funny b/c you're posting to a guy who generally always has a good time completely sober.

[Bocheezu]

I don't drink at all, even when I was in college. I used to make a big deal about it, like I was somehow better than others because I wasn't co-dependant on anything to have fun, but then again, I was pretty childish and stupid back then. I sort of grew out of the superiority complex after getting out of school.

[meatwad]

I pay $9 a month extra on my cable bill JUST so I can get Game Show Network, JUST so I can watch High Stakes Poker which is on once a week for one hour. It came with like, 11 other channels that I don't even watch. That is sad. If I canceled my cable (including internet, TiVo and CoH), I'd save almost $150 per month! :eek: