Pratoman said...
…I admire your ability to not watch TV, I couldn't do it
Maybe there’s a 12-step group…. ;-)
Humor aside, I know that for some people TV is a connection to others, allowing them to have done something in common and that they can share about
afterwards. For some it’s something “on” that lessens loneliness. For some it’s simply entertainment. For others it does work like a drug and doing without it would cause some anxiety and symptoms asking to a drug withdrawal.
I never had to “kick the habit” as I’ve always been too busy or to separated from it to get that hooked. From the time I graduated from high school I worked full time and went to college full time so there wasn’t time for TV. Then I was drafted into the military and pretty much never saw TV when I was in. When I got out I worked full time on a graveyard shift while pursuing college again and there just wasn’t time for it. When there was time I’d spend it on my hobbies such as in my photography darkroom, riding my motorcycle, writing computer software, doing woodworking, reading, or whatever. I’ve never liked sports (playing is OK but not watching) so that was never a draw.
I do realize that it has come at a price because I do lack a level of cultural literacy. Someone will make a reference or an analogy to some TV show and I have to ask for an explanation. Or talk will be about
some show and I just have to sit that out. On the upside, I haven’t exposed myself to the thousands of hours of propaganda (commercials) that people see over a lifetime, commercials that are desired by psychologists to get people to change their behavior (consume, consume, consume.). Why would I voluntarily subject myself to that?