Dear Aunt B,
What’s your take on television? I never watch television, and I find I am very proud of not wasting time. However I do still waste time. My friends tell me about great things they are watching, and I am a little tempted to break my rule of no television.
To Watch or not to Watch
Dear To Watch or not to Watch,
That is the question. For those of you that don’t know, that last sentence was just the end of the original quote: “To be or not to be, that is the question.” This quote was a much more serious question. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet was pondering on whether to cease to exist or not. So I am sure thankful your question is not nearly as serious.
However since I brought the topic up, If any of my precious readers are contemplating the question of whether to live or die, PLEASE LIVE. Get any help you need. The suicide hotline number is 1-800-273-8255.
Back to the question. I think your basic question is: do I think television is bad? Only you can make the decision whether to partake in this pastime. I don’t watch a great deal of television. I too have friends that watch more than me. I don’t think television is bad. There are parts of television I think are bad. We never watch the news in our house. I know some of you are aghast by this fact. Again remember, only my opinion. I don’t really trust the news. I think it focuses on all the bad happening in the world and sensationalism. The news needs to get our attention with the worst things it can find so they can sell advertising and, frankly, I don’t like this about us humans, but negative stuff does grab our attention faster. Ok, I’m getting off my soapbox now.
I think there is a definite good that comes from television. Entertainment is good. Education is good. Both can be found pretty easily on the television. Actually even with the cost of all our programming it is relatively inexpensive for all that it provides. I believe there is even good that can come from mindless television. It can allow you to just veg out. Boy, I am sounding pretty old. Do they even say “veg out” anymore? It just means quiet and mindless. There are probably better ways to accomplish quiet and mindless that would be more healthy.
I think the better question for yourself is: are you interested in something on television? What are you doing right now with your time that you might transfer to television?
To me the big problem with television falls in the amount of time one might spend watching television. Another problem with this pastime is it robs people of time devoted to relationships. Also it is a sedentary activity. Laying on the sofa watching hours of television is not good for anyone. If it has been awhile since you watched any television, you might be surprised at all you can see. Believe you me, remember I am old (not that old), but some of the things that are on television sure wouldn’t have been on television back in the day.
Television can keep us current. Not just on the happenings of the world, but trends in the culture of our time.
I feel like I typed the word television one hundred times in this Aunt B. Each time I started to type TV and then I changed my mind. There seemed never a good time to make the switch. Look at all the problems poor Aunt B deals with. Maybe a little television would help me out.
Watch a little if you like; it surely won’t kill you. Be particular with what you watch and have some fun with it.
Love,
Aunt B
If you would like to send Aunt B a question please email your question to news@forneymessenger.com.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.