tv is evil *rolls eyes*

3 Comments » // January 24th, 2009

I’m over it.  I am so over people saying that TV is evil or that it’s an idiot box or whatever…any of that.  It’s just so old and played out and circa 1998.  Don’t get me wrong, I think that for some people, TV can be a bad thing…but so can money, sex, fame, etc.  Often it’s the person that has the issue, not the thing.

Anyway, the reason I am talking about this is because I wrote a tweet last night about trying to decide between going to Hoop Convergence this spring or getting a Flat Screen TV.  I got all kinds of responses, mostly people telling me that TV is evil or that they would much rather prefer real life experiences over TV and what not.  Hey man, I get that and I would too, but in my tweet I explained that the possibility of me not going to HoopCon was because of school…yeah SCHOOL.  And that because I couldn’t go because of school, that I would probably use the $$ to get a Flat Screen TV instead.  Its not like I was just straight up choosing between the two and that’s it…but even if I was, so what if I chose a TV?  What’s it to you?  Yes I put it out there in a tweet, but I didn’t ask anyone’s opinion and I certainly didn’t ask for judgment about how ridiculous it is that I would choose a TV over going on a trip…

So that’s what irks me, this whole badmouthing TV thing.  I personally like TV…yep I said it.  And no, it has not rotted my brain.  I’m a student at UC Berkeley for pete’s sake!  I find that I watch some damn good shows and enjoy myself.  Isn’t that part of life?  Having a good time?  I also get out and do things too.  I don’t hole myself up and stare at the boob tube all day.  I watch great shows on The Learning Channel, Discovery Channel, shows about Psychology related stuff, and just some damn funny and moving shows!  I also use my TV to watch movies…good quality indie films that move the soul, or also stupid funny comedy’s that crack me up, or amazing documentaries that educate and make me think!  I have just heard it over and over again about how evil TV is and I think that is just ignorant.  If you don’t want to have a TV in your life, fine…I am totally down with that and I think it is awesome!  I have friends who got rid of theirs and have more time with their kids, to read, etc.  But they still end up watching shows on the internet, so it’s kind of the same.  I guess the internet is evil too then?  Or movie theaters?  What?  I just know that being someone who was in the entertainment industry for several years, I have a lot of respect for the work and art that goes into a lot of shows and movies.  Yes there are some stupid shows out there…but I don’t watch them!  You have control over your own experience.  And people that don’t…people who do sit around watching TV all day and not doing anything productive with their lives?  They have deeper issues and the TV is not the culprit.

Ok I will get off my soapbox now, I just had to address this issue.  I do want to say that I am trying my best to make it to HoopCon, but that I have finals right in the middle of it and that I would have to leave a day early and possibly even come a day late!  Which for something that is only 4 days long and would cost me $800 or so, take up two days of traveling and all during finals (which would cause me a lot of stress) it just doesn’t feel worth it to me.  School is my number one priority right now.  I wish I could do it but we all have to make choices in our life…choices that work for us!  I would never put my choice on anyone else.

Plus I am excited about possibly replacing our tiny 15-year-old TV that has purple and green spots on it with a shiny new TV that takes up less space!  Yeah, I guess I am just materialistic like that.  Sue me.