Monday, June 12, 2006
Indideous Monster
Sharon and I have had the television turned off for two years. In that time we may have watched a total of 20 hours at the very most. The new house we have has free cable TV included as well as all other utilitiies paid. This is a BIG problem. TV is an insidious monster. It devours time and energy.
We get home between 8 and 9 o’clock p.m. these days. I turn on the TV. UH OH! Last night we went to bed at 12:30. Four and a half hours of TV just to watch something.
Yes, I “enjoyed” myself, but TV is like a drug. It does not matter how bad it is you enjoy watching it. I can see where we are going to have to go into a different mode and develop a different attitude about TV watching.
The problem is I “enjoy” watching TV. However, when the program is over I usually only feel as if I have killed some time and not really gained anything. Staying up until after midnight and getting up as 6 a.m. means I cannot even call it relaxation.
I can see where it would be very easy to get totally hooked on television. With a 42” or 52 inch TV and hundreds of channels to choose from. Even if there is nothing good on there is always something slightly interesting on. That is scary. Between video games, surfing the net and TV a person could retreat into their own little world of nothingness.
This will really affect a person who is trying to start an online business and has limited time to do so. Well, put it off tonight, my favorite show is on. Put it off tomorrow it is my wife’s favorite program. Put off working the next night to watch the kids favorite program with them. Today, that is “quality time” with the children.
OK, with this in mind I declare that I will stop watching the TV every night for no reason. There will have to be a REALLY good show to even turn it on. I will have books to read, internet marketing material to study and just relax with a beer and NOT TURN ON THE TV.
So, with that said, my new neighbor in the house said, “Bob and Sharon, I have just about every recently movie released on DVD. I buy them all the time. You can borrow any you would like.” UH OH again! Can you imagine having movies only a few steps from you front door. No rental. Free access any time you want them. An I thought TV watching was a problem.
