TV

[Guest guest]

Doreen -- you are always full of new surprises everywhere I turn.

 

At age 77, I grew up long before there was any TV. It started when I was

in college, but didn't have one fortunately. The ones I did see usually in

the window of a store with a crowd outside watching (people in those days

had never seen TV before!), was as you say, unbearably staged, phoney and

idotic. As a result, I've never been dependent upon TV as are so many,

although I do have one since my kids are long gone now with kids of their

own. I usually watch only news, although even that is obviously staged,

with the agenda of the newscaster ever present (and obvious, at least to

me). Sometimes there are wonderful shows on public TV -- educational,

etc., which I do watch, and am grateful for the chance in those cases only.

But forget everything else. I don't need it.

 

Charles Wilkes

 

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Thanks, Kris.

 

While I'm on a roll: I'll tell you another secret to great health.

Throwing out the TV. We did 20 years ago and never missed it.

 

My kids grew up without a TV. They are interested in many stimulating

activities that require active participation and physical activity,

as well as any number of skills. My daughter, 18, a life-long

vegetarian, is 5'4 and weighs less than 100 pounds. She's never been

on a diet in her life. My son, 17, who does capoeira, is 5'9 and

weighs 130 lbs. He got a perfect physical profile at the draft office

when he was examined last month. They've never had so much as a

cavity. I credit all that in large part to the fact that I didn't put

temptation in their way when they were small.

 

Sometimes I go to someone's house and their TV is on. I sit with my

back to it and give them the excuse that I can't hear what they're

saying so they turn the volume down. When you don't watch TV for

awhile it looks unbearably staged, phoney and idiotic.

 

Doreen