Photo: Videocrab, Flickr Creative Commons
Yes, it’s not a typo, it’s NO TV?, not, KNOW TV?. I certainly don’t know anything about TV because I don’t own one. Yup, I work at a media company and I do not have one of those clunky old bunny eared boxes or a sleek plasma one hanging on my living room wall instead of a piece of art. Rachel Maddow was my hero until recently when she caved in and got a television (I guess she needed one since she does have her own show now on the cable TV network, MSNBC). But, since I’m not hosting a primetime news show and don’t even own enough make-up look even decent on one, I don’t see the need to own one.
I’m completely out of touch with most pop culture and have missed every single episode of Dancing With the Stars, Desperate Housewives and CSI. However, I don’t feel like I’m missing much at all in life because I don’t have time to watch TV.  I can’t even figure out when I would cram TV time into my schedule.
I’ve had some people pester me about this bizarre social situation I’ve chosen to put myself in. My parents offered to send me a new flat screen TV but I quickly turned them down. Others have searched my small apartment to try to find what they think is a secret hidden TV to no avail.
I’m not backing down any time soon. In fact, I recently started a Facebook group, People Who Don’t Own Televisions (recruitment numbers are a bit low; it’s a bit harder than say, the Barack Obama fan club). And, for those of you out there in non-TV land, I’d love to hear how you spend your time and why you choose not to have one. takepart and join the Facebook group today.
CATEGORIES: Education
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Well I don’t proselytize when it comes to television. It seems there are some things just off-limits for the average person. Of course it has been years since I entertained the thought of being average. Why squander my potential? Suggest giving up television, coffee, or the microwave to most people and they’ll look at you like you’re Pennsylvania Dutch.
When I gave up television, which I dearly loved (read: addicted to) it was mostly simple math. I calculated the hours I had spent watching and come up with something like 32,000 hours. Soon thereafter it dawned on me. Couldn’t I do something better with 32,000 hours. The answer is unequivocally yes!
You could of course look at all the science in mapping brain patterns and teaching violence in children or advertising research which mostly states the obvious - tv is a low involvement event. Or you could look at the studies on obesity and television watching. Better yet just feel how plugged in to the matrix you feel, how shut down your brain feels, and go from there.
Frankly there’s just too much life to live. Why spend it in front of a box with a picture of someone else living?
The times they are a-changing. TVs now seem optional with so much content available on-line.
This is hysterical. I unfortunately do own a tv after 12 years with out. Luckily those 12 years weaned me off of the addiction and now i can barely have it on for more than 30 minutes. there are some wonderful people on the tube, but as Sarah mentioned, they can also be found on the internet.
Speaking of the internet, i am a bit concerned that i have replaced one for another. I use the internet to veg out, but also engage with people. Perhaps tvs will be obsolete soon and all information/news/programming will be sent to our desktops. What will we do then?