Telly Addict?

I’ve done it, no TV for a whole week, what a hero.

It was at times frustrating and at times liberating but the main aim was to find out how much TV viewing was enough, so what did I discover?

Well on a basic level it is clear that I, and quite possibly you too, don’t need TV at all. It is not in any way crucial to my existence and if my 32” screen was kidnapped by aliens I probably wouldn’t bother with the ransom. But just because you don’t need something to keep breathing doesn’t mean it’s all bad.

So here are some thoughts on televisual viewing:

Some shows are bad but some are plain wrong. The bible says that, ‘The eye is the lamp of the body’ and some stuff on telly shines a very dark light. Shows like ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ and ‘Geordie Shore’ for example; they’re not edifying, not clever, and not useful. Now I’m not a prude but that’s just the problem, if I was I would never have any interest in that sort of thing and it wouldn’t be an issue. But I’m not a prude so I could quite easily be drawn into watching what is, quite frankly, filth. A week without TV has left me feeling a little cleaner.

TV is a sharp tool in the procrastinator’s kit. So many things need to be done and yet, because they aren’t very fun, the TV goes on instead.  We flick and flick until there’s something ‘worth’ watching and then we watch it to the end, wasting a full 30-60 minutes in the process.  If you’ve something else to do, don’t turn on the telly. A week without TV has allowed me to be more productive.

I thought watching TV when I had nothing else to do would be the one time it would be acceptable, but I think I was wrong.  Moments when there is nothing to do are rare for most people, don’t waste them on TV programmes.  It is lazy thinking to just switch on the box in the corner instead of engaging our brain first.  Not having that option has forced me to find other pleasant things to do like reading a book for enjoyment, baking with my wife, spending time in prayer and reflection, exercise.  A week without TV brought more variety to my days.

So when is it OK (for me) to watch TV? When its planned.  Pick the shows you want to watch and only watch those. In this age of the Red Button we can watch what we like, when we like, where we like (pretty much), so we have more control than ever before.  If you plan your viewing you can restrict the time you spend watching, be more discerning over the content, and avoid having the empty minutes of your day filled with someone else’s thoughts.

This week has been useful, if not revolutionary, and I would very much recommend you to try it. 

Right then, I wonder if Bargain Hunt is on...