Television Addiction

[sushiman]

I haven't watched TV in 15 yrs.

Each morning I go down to the gym and there they are; all plugged in. So now when I get there first I 1) flick on the lights, 2) yank the cord outta the wall!!!

So out of shape American woman gets there next and of course charges toward the TV huge thighs swinging about and earth shaking from her massive frame. The on button doesn't work and upon finding it unplugged she goes into a desperate frenzy. "OMG the TV is unplugged and I can't reach it!". I make no sign of getting up. "Sigh, I guess I'll have to work out WITHOUT tv! sigh". Deep depression in her voice.

Dood like is she going thru crack withdrawal? Is it like the matrix? Everyone does this, I've never seen one person not dart for the TV first thing. How about enjoy the silence of the morning, reflect on nature, talk to the people who exist instead of images in a box?!

Maybe I should cut the cord next time.

[ErikHeaven]

I try to hit the toilet of course first. Then some food and the exercise bike. I only use my tv for xbox once in awhile, not often. Tv is a waste of time. Stupid American Idol, Dance Shows, The Bachelor,Biggest Loser, Its all crap. I need to get back to reading.

[momopi]

I'm a food network & cooking channel junkie. ;p











When I grow up, I want to be just like Chairman Kaga, except for the death by fugu part:

[Jackal]

Yes, Americans are addicted to the comforting picture of reality which they get through TV. On the other hand, indoor cardio is quite boring (I doubt the fat woman you were talking about was there to lift weights). I prefer doing cardio outside, so the changing landscape is my "TV."

I'm glad there are no TVs in gyms here. When I lift weights, I want to concentrate.

[djfourmoney]

I find post like these funny in some ways.

Is TV useless? Depends on your point of view I suppose. If all you have access too is the majors then I would be inclined to agree. But if you have access to cable or sat tv, then I say that's less so. You need to find the useful or informative information yourself, you can't expect it to fall into your lap.

I watch about 4 hours of news related programing. Stuff you'll never find mainstream channels talking about for the most part including MSNBC which some have hailed it as the Left's cable equivalent to Faux Noise. Which is likely is, but I still find Dylan and Cenk of the Young Turks useful, I can do without the rest of the shows for the most part. I get the rest of my news from Link TV, which is user supported, occasionally Free Speech TV, Russia Today and Press TV.

Like Hilary Clinton recently said "We are loosing the Information War" and she's right. Russia Today is paid for the Russian State, Press TV is paid for by Iran. Funny when you have to get the truth from foreign funded news channels.

The rest of the TV I watch is strictly entertainment related to my interest. I watch alot of Auto Racing, stuff on Cartoon Network, History, Discovery Science and PBS...

I also watch about 6-8 hours of streaming content every week, mostly from Revision3, Russia Today and TwiT

So I guess it depends on your perspective...

[Think Different]

Americans are terrified of silence, unlike people of many other cultures. Well-placed silence in speech is an art form, but it is considered threatening to the modern American sound-bite addled culture. Part of the reason I am not well liked in the US, is because I like to listen before speaking, I choose my words carefully so as not to be misunderstood, and this sometimes causes me to speak more slowly. Americans tend to have diarrhea of the mouth (so do some other cultures) and just ramble about BS, so long as it doesn't allow for "uncomfortable silence". People don't want silence in the morning: they want background noise in the form of music, talk radio, the "morning zoo" radio nonsense, etc. Quieter people or those who listen before speaking (that used to be a mark of good upbringing) are now considered scary, untrustworthy, or dim-witted. We're on the wrong track...

[have2fly]

Good post! I quit watching TV while I was in college to save on my cable bill. Now I have a cheap 42" Plasma that I use to watch trance videos, such as Armin Only or an occasional movie with my gf. I get news from the internet, I watch new movies at the movie theater (I believe movies are made to be watched once on a big screen, that's it). I used to play video games, but now I am done with that too. Guys, there is SO MUCH freaking free time that I have! My brains are SO MUCH more clear now! Constant mumbling of TV teaches nothing, constant McDonalds ads and "ask your doctor about viagra" make me sick!

Americans are terrified of silence, unlike people of many other cultures. Well-placed silence in speech is an art form, but it is considered threatening to the modern American sound-bite addled culture.

You are my hero!!! YES, right on the point! That's why dating an American chick is out of hands completely, they CANNOT enjoy silence! They have to run, they have to text, they have to call, they have to eat... WTFFFFFFFF??? GET A LIFE! No one knows how to enjoy simple silence while hugging standing or sitting or laying... There are moments in life where NO WORDS are needed, but those moments seem non-existent for American females! SICK!

Same goes for a smile and "having fun". When you are with an American girlfriend, you either have to make some drama or make her laugh. So it is also a diarrhea of mentality and thinking - they have to be constantly entertained either crying or laughing. That's NOT healthy at all (mentally)! People can just relax sometimes. I do it with my Russian girlfriend right now, we chat, laugh and then just hug without words. We can stand like that hugging each other for an hour! American girls freak out, they think you are trying to get sex or you are weird. Stupid bitches, what can I say.

Quieter people or those who listen before speaking

My parents and even at middle schools in Ukraine they taught us to "always think before saying" or "if you got nothing to say, you will look smarter if you stay silent". I so agree to those! I am on the same page, I like to listen and speak when I have something to say. Wow, American girls think I am a creep, weirdo or "stupid immigrant" LOL...

[ErikHeaven]

My ex had to sleep with the radio on all night on low. I had everything off. I have known many american women who had to have the tv on all night. Never giving their mind a chance to rest and also allowing THINGS to program their minds while they are sleeping. Its so sick and dsyfunctional here in america. I cannot wait until i get my one way ticket out of here.

[Adama]

Americans are terrified of silence, unlike people of many other cultures. Well-placed silence in speech is an art form, but it is considered threatening to the modern American sound-bite addled culture. Part of the reason I am not well liked in the US, is because I like to listen before speaking, I choose my words carefully so as not to be misunderstood, and this sometimes causes me to speak more slowly. Americans tend to have diarrhea of the mouth (so do some other cultures) and just ramble about BS, so long as it doesn't allow for "uncomfortable silence". People don't want silence in the morning: they want background noise in the form of music, talk radio, the "morning zoo" radio nonsense, etc. Quieter people or those who listen before speaking (that used to be a mark of good upbringing) are now considered scary, untrustworthy, or dim-witted. We're on the wrong track...

I'm a quiet guy as well. Americans of all ages, even the elderly, find this disturbing. They will tell you so. If you are quiet, they assume you are thinking sinister things, that you are some kind of psycho. This is something I dont understand at all, but that is what they say (and I believe them, cause, as you say, they have diarrhea of the mouth).

[Adama]

I haven't watched TV in 15 yrs.

Each morning I go down to the gym and there they are; all plugged in. So now when I get there first I 1) flick on the lights, 2) yank the cord outta the wall!!!

So out of shape American woman gets there next and of course charges toward the TV huge thighs swinging about and earth shaking from her massive frame. The on button doesn't work and upon finding it unplugged she goes into a desperate frenzy. "OMG the TV is unplugged and I can't reach it!". I make no sign of getting up. "Sigh, I guess I'll have to work out WITHOUT tv! sigh". Deep depression in her voice.

Dood like is she going thru crack withdrawal? Is it like the matrix? Everyone does this, I've never seen one person not dart for the TV first thing. How about enjoy the silence of the morning, reflect on nature, talk to the people who exist instead of images in a box?!

Maybe I should cut the cord next time.

Most TV shows are crap. I do like watching some TV shows though. They show the crap women will go through to get a rich man that they wouldnt otherwise (e.g. The Bachelor - love that show). There are some "How it's made" programs about Porsches, BMWs, etc. Then shows on how skycrapers are built in Dubai. Some decent murder mysteries, although they mostly only choose the ones where men kill women and women are always angels.

TV isnt so bad once you realize its purpose. The purpose is programming. Once you inoculate yourself, you can laugh at TV and its messages rather than simply hating them.

When I was in Europe all that time, I didnt own a TV. People say that after some time you get over not having a TV. I never got over it. Don't get me wrong. I read more books during that time than any other time in my life, but I still missed TV. Once I moved in with someone and started watching NTSC DVDs again, it was very nice.

[jamesbond]

I'm a quiet guy as well. Americans of all ages, even the elderly, find this disturbing. They will tell you so. If you are quiet, they assume you are thinking sinister things, that you are some kind of psycho. This is something I dont understand at all, but that is what they say (and I believe them, cause, as you say, they have diarrhea of the mouth).

It's funny, if your a quiet person people might say things like, "he's a nice guy but he's quiet" or "he's kind of a quiet person" (likes it's a bad thing to be a quiet person).

On the other hand, if someone is outgoing people might say, "he's a nice outgoing guy" (like being outgoing is better than being quiet).

I have never understood how being a person who is on the quiet side is considered a bad thing and being outgoing and talkative is considered a good thing. I guess this is another interesting social phenomena here in the US.

[Adama]

I'm a quiet guy as well. Americans of all ages, even the elderly, find this disturbing. They will tell you so. If you are quiet, they assume you are thinking sinister things, that you are some kind of psycho. This is something I dont understand at all, but that is what they say (and I believe them, cause, as you say, they have diarrhea of the mouth).

It's funny, if your a quiet person people might say things like, "he's a nice guy but he's quiet" or "he's kind of a quiet person" (likes it's a bad thing to be a quiet person).

On the other hand, if someone is outgoing people might say, "he's a nice outgoing guy" (like being outgoing is better than being quiet).

I have never understood how being a person who is on the quiet side is considered a bad thing and being outgoing and talkative is considered a good thing. I guess this is another interesting social phenomena here in the US.

You know, from my old conversations with women from the internet years ago, I learned this. Those women often expect you to do all the talking (the reverse of nature). They will sit there and be quiet, and if you cant fill up the conversation with something that pleases her, then you are the quiet one, but she won't bother to try to have a conversation with you at all. Sometimes you need something to *bounce off of* and many women won't provide that initially cause they are too busy sitting in judgment.

[E_Irizarry]

Americans are terrified of silence, unlike people of many other cultures. Well-placed silence in speech is an art form, but it is considered threatening to the modern American sound-bite addled culture. Part of the reason I am not well liked in the US, is because I like to listen before speaking, I choose my words carefully so as not to be misunderstood, and this sometimes causes me to speak more slowly. Americans tend to have diarrhea of the mouth (so do some other cultures) and just ramble about BS, so long as it doesn't allow for "uncomfortable silence". People don't want silence in the morning: they want background noise in the form of music, talk radio, the "morning zoo" radio nonsense, etc. Quieter people or those who listen before speaking (that used to be a mark of good upbringing) are now considered scary, untrustworthy, or dim-witted. We're on the wrong track...

EXCELLENT AVANT-GARDE QUOTE, R.D.! =) I'M PRETTY MUCH SPEECHLESS AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE HERE.

[E_Irizarry]

My ex had to sleep with the radio on all night on low. I had everything off. I have known many american women who had to have the tv on all night. Never giving their mind a chance to rest and also allowing THINGS to program their minds while they are sleeping. Its so sick and dsyfunctional here in america. I cannot wait until i get my one way ticket out of here.

You ever noticed that when you go over to a strong in-duh-pendent Black American woman's house/apartment, that they always have to have some neosoul J. Holiday/Jaheim/Wakka Flocka Flame playing in the bckgrd?

I switch it onto Anita Baker or Barry Manilow or Christopher Cross or even some Wynston Marsalis or Sade or Portishead, they spazz out saying it's too mellow and then they put on some soca or some dancehall reggae. No Bossa Nova, no jazz, not even salsa at a decent volume ( alot of NuYoRicans have to have something LOUDLY audible in the background playing)

[E_Irizarry]

I haven't watched TV in 15 yrs.

Each morning I go down to the gym and there they are; all plugged in. So now when I get there first I 1) flick on the lights, 2) yank the cord outta the wall!!!

So out of shape American woman gets there next and of course charges toward the TV huge thighs swinging about and earth shaking from her massive frame. The on button doesn't work and upon finding it unplugged she goes into a desperate frenzy. "OMG the TV is unplugged and I can't reach it!". I make no sign of getting up. "Sigh, I guess I'll have to work out WITHOUT tv! sigh". Deep depression in her voice.

Dood like is she going thru crack withdrawal? Is it like the matrix? Everyone does this, I've never seen one person not dart for the TV first thing. How about enjoy the silence of the morning, reflect on nature, talk to the people who exist instead of images in a box?!

Maybe I should cut the cord next time.

Most TV shows are crap. I do like watching some TV shows though. They show the crap women will go through to get a rich man that they wouldnt otherwise (e.g. The Bachelor - love that show). There are some "How it's made" programs about Porsches, BMWs, etc. Then shows on how skycrapers are built in Dubai. Some decent murder mysteries, although they mostly only choose the ones where men kill women and women are always angels.

TV isnt so bad once you realize its purpose. The purpose is programming. Once you inoculate yourself, you can laugh at TV and its messages rather than simply hating them.

When I was in Europe all that time, I didnt own a TV. People say that after some time you get over not having a TV. I never got over it. Don't get me wrong. I read more books during that time than any other time in my life, but I still missed TV. Once I moved in with someone and started watching NTSC DVDs again, it was very nice.

The most educational American shows on TV now are on channels Animal Planet and Nat'l Geo et al. There was a show called "Taboo" that talked about "negotiated infidelity" lifestyle that is catching on to a lot of Australian couples now. And they talked about how there is an island in Bangladesh that is where all the exiled sluts live for the rest of their lives. The best TV show I have seen in eons.