Our TV Watching Habits
I’ve been scrutinizing my TV watching habits lately. It seems I’ve been watching a lot more and I believe I’m worse off for it.
It’s my own fault because I allow it into my life. I think TV can be good when it informs, makes me laugh, enlightens my understanding of the world, provides for an otherwise un-accessible experience or makes me feel good to be alive. And yeah, occasionally vegging out is okay too, until those occasions become too frequent.
But for the most part, unless I’m intentional about what I am watching, it turns out that:
- My time can be better spent
- It allows negativism and junk into my life
- I am subject to manipulation and subconscious influence
- Its passive and non-engaging. Not usually good for me physically or mentally.
Time Can Be Better Spent
As someone who tries to cram a lot into each day, it’s important to me that I’m using my most valuable commodity as wisely as possible—my time.
The more time I spend in front of the TV, the more it robs me from doing the things that are important to me. TV watching doesn’t really contribute that much to anything that I want to get out of life. While sitting in front of the TV, I’m usually not improving my life by enriching my mind, working on goals, and building relationships.
That’s not to say all TV programming is bad. In fact, I do make a disciplined effort to watch things I won’t feel guilty about watching. But still, it’s too easy not to fall prey to the latest tantalizing news story (that has no impact on my life), become distracted by latest celebrity drama, or understand the intrigue with the Kardashians. I don’t watch crappy TV on purpose. I just hang on too long or flip the channel to something else that catches me in its web.
According to Nielsen Research, the average American spends 34 hour each week watching television. That statistic makes me feel better about myself (because I watch nowhere near that much), but I could still do better. Time is the great equalizer. No matter who you are, we all have the same amount. I find it compelling that even the greatest people that have walked this Earth have achieved their accomplishments in the same amount of time I have each day.
Negativism and Junk
Our TV watching habits change our view of the world. At the end of an hour of news, you could only conclude that the world is a miserable place to live. Violence, crime, hate, corruption, deceit, injustice, drought, flooding, wildfire, tornados, scandal, hurricanes, terrorism and anything other undesirable aspect of this world is the focus. In the same way our bodies need a healthy diet, our minds need one too. Strategy aside, some of the most popular reality programs are really about tantalizing our most primitive instincts. We are witnessing the dumbing down of America. The mental diet with which prime time drama entertains us is depressing.
How can we not be negatively affected in our emotions and our attitudes? Why do these type events and programs define news and entertainment of the day? Because our human condition causes us to be captivated and entertained by sensationalism – and that brings ratings and money. Producers will tell us it’s what we demand. Our emotional engagement in negative content cascades into our lives causing division, anger, anxiety, fear and sadness. You can be sure that what comes over the TV is NOT intended for your best interest. In the end, it is in the best interest of the broadcast industry.
I also don’t NEED to know all the details about that bad stuff.
Manipulation and Influence
Our TV watching habits change our view of ourselves in the world. The day-to-day messaging programmers want us to believe about social norms, sexuality, race relations, religion, or political position are obvious. It also changes our view of our value, who we are, what we need, what we want, and what is important.
Consider what the market wants you to believe.
- You can re-enforce your social and political ideology by watching the [you fill in the blank] network.
- This medicine will make your ailment go away.
- You need to feel young and free by driving our sedan.
- Smart people save 15% on car insurance.
- Why not bring a lawsuit? You deserve to get even and will also get rich.
- You absolutely must have that counter-top convection oven.
- Your aren’t beautiful unless you are thin and have smooth skin.
I know I’m smarter than all that. But regrettably, I too sometimes feel more is better, stuff can make me happy, or I do need whatever they are trying to sell me. Even explicit sex on TV doesn’t seem as shocking as it used to, nor is my expectation that I should have anything that I want right now. Now how did I succumb to those ideas?
It’s Passive
Watching TV doesn’t require anything from me. It spoon feeds me. I don’t need to expend any effort or output. It doesn’t require me mental engagement nor physical exertion. But that’s not good.
TV watching is often habitual and causes many sedentary and unproductive hours. If you’re like me, it usually includes the mindless eating of snacks or treats. Most would agree that our greatest levels of satisfaction are a reflection of the effort we expend. Hours in a worthy project, creativity in a piece of art, dedication to a cause, perseverance through a trial. The more we put into something, the more meaningful is the result and the payoff. When was the last time you felt better about finishing a TV program over a good book?
As professor of journalism studies Bob Franklin wrote in his 1997 book Newszak and News Media: “Entertainment has superseded the provision of information; human interest has supplanted the public interest; measured judgement has succumbed to sensationalism.”
“Entertainment has superseded the provision of information; human interest has supplanted the public interest; measured judgement has succumbed to sensationalism.” — Professor Bob Franklin
All-in-all, if I were an alien and my only view of this world were provided through television, it would be very distorted. Granted, I’ve focused on those ways that television drags down our lives. We all know there is good programming too. It’s the stuff that inspires us, makes us optimistic, teaches us and causes us to appreciate being in this world. It’s hearing the stories and experiencing a world where there’s beauty and goodness. Maybe that is what I should have written about.
So what do you think about your TV watching habits? As for me, I want to fill my time, energy and mind with the good stuff. Unless I just want to veg out. Then I’ll just watch Big Brother.
Be Your Best!