We haven’t had cable TV for quite a long time and a couple of months ago we moved and succumbed to adding the TV portion to our internet package. In the past we would download whatever TV shows we wanted to watch (after they had aired) and my husband had a computer hooked up to the TV and we would watch it on the TV through the computer. Here’s the kicker – with no commercials. Now that we have cable of course we can have the TV on a lot more than we ever used to (if we want to) and wow, the commercials, which I haven’t been subjected to for years, can be mesmerizing.
I can see why people are lulled into being convinced that they need this latest thing or that latest thing because it’s just so much better than what they have or had.
I really feel for those of you with kids, we don’t have children and I can’t even imagine how much it must influence kids into being completely convinced they must have this brand or that hot new item/thing. I’d be really interested to hear how those of you with children are affected by them with this diet. Is it harder because you have to/need to shop for them? Do they think you’re crazy for doing it? Do they make fun of you? I would love to hear about it.
Growing up our television viewing was severely restricted and rationed by my parents. There was pretty much almost no TV during the week unless all homework was done and this meant all four of us. No viewing until all of us were done with homework and by then it was pretty much bedtime anyway. Saturday morning was cartoons and Sunday night was the Disney movie and that was it, the rest of the time we were either at school, doing homework, or three suburbs away on our bikes at a friends house or out playing somewhere.
Not wanting to shop and not being able to shop (for clothes) definitely affects my choices if I’m going to watch TV. I find myself steering away from programs on channels such as the style network or fine living that might make me wish I could buy things and lean more towards things like National Geographic or the Smithsonian Channel – although, those shows make me want to go on vacation somewhere fabulous so it’s always something. HGTV can be dangerous, there’s always something I want to completely redecorate if I watch those shows.
I’ve decided that not having TV all that time was a good thing (as Martha would say), I imagine my consumption of all things shiny and new would have been much worse. The bright flashing colors and presentation on TV definitely scream out to my subconscious – I find that little voice of reason inside me telling me to “step away from the flashing, mesmerizing box and go read a book, or work in the garden, or go to the dog park”.
I won’t even get started about the shopping channels, I can only imagine the addictions that they must feed. So I’ve come to the conclusion that TV just like shopping is fine – but both in small measured doses as needed and not just because you can.
Minor Edit: I realize that this is not revelation to most, even me – but I was really smacked in the face with it after not having TV for so long.
Loading ...
Kerry, I couldn’t agree more. We have “on demand” television which has a few commercials here and there but you can fast forward through them. My seven year old just discovered “real t.v.” that just comes on the television. Up until now he thought all television was “on demand.” My older kids thing TGAAD is super cool. They are so much more “earth conscious” than I have ever been so they saw the diet effort as being “hip” and “cool.” I am dumbfounded by how our kids understand when they are being marketed to. Even my 7 year old will say..”mom, I think that ad is a scam.” He totally gets that someone is trying to sell him something.
We have internet only & also download the shows I want to see. It REALLY helps me to be restricted away from the extra advertising. I don’t want what I don’t know about! My biggest problem is wanting what I get via catalogs & emails, and I recently spent a few hours literally just removing myself from every commerical email list that I was on. I get SO MUCH less email and it’s been wonderful. So, if you’re tempted, unsubscribe. This too sounds so simple, but it’s really helpful.