Who has no television (or just local channels)?

Talfuchre said:
Who has made the jump to simply turning off the television? What do you think?

Give me your impressions - I am really contemplating it.

TF
Click to expand...

We only have "basic" cable...the first 12 channels and then only because of PBS and that was the only way to get hi-speed internet. I love it this way as my youngest has some good educational shows to watch, my oldest spends more time actually reading books, drawing, out with friends or playing her flute, my wife reads a lot of e books and we spend a lot more time talking with each other and a lot less time being bombarded by commercials and Hollywood's interpretation of how we are "supposed" to act.
 
I went for a few years without when I was younger on my own, then I caved and got my Mom's old one. I turned it on, and a couple of hours later, the Gulf war broke out. I figured WW3 had started. Since then, I always had one.
 
Interesting thread, while I do enjoy the TV I probably wouldn't watch anything off of the airways or sattelite if it were not for that great invention called the DVR and PVR. These units manage time by weeding out the commercials and other video garbage.

I have watched TV in hotels where there are no DVRs to manage content and I find with the present commercial format that TV watching is impossible and just about as painfull as getting a root canal done. I take DVDs with me when I travel, and use the pool and fitness room to help pass time.
 
Talfuchre said:
Who has made the jump to simply turning off the television? What do you think?

Give me your impressions - I am really contemplating it.

TF
Click to expand...


I totally pulled the plug on Television 14 years ago and will NEVER have it again.

After a few years of not having TV, you'll begin to see just how insidious it is. I honestly believe this country wouldn't be in the shape it is now if it wasn't for television.

Here are some great Frank Zappa (extremely dedicated defender of the 1st Amendment, by the way) lyrics:

"I am the Slime," Frank Zappa

I am gross and perverted
I'm obsessed 'n deranged
I have existed for years
But very little had changed
I am the tool of the Government
And industry too
For I am destined to rule
And regulate you
I may be vile and pernicious
But you can't look away
I make you think I'm delicious
With the stuff that I say
I am the best you can get
Have you guessed me yet?
I am the slime oozin' out
From your TV set
You will obey me while I lead you
And eat the garbage that I feed you
Until the day that we don't need you
Don't go for help...no one will heed you
Your mind is totally controlled
It has been stuffed into my mold
And you will do as you are told
Until the rights to you are sold
That's right, folks.. Don't touch that dial
Well, I am the slime from your video
Oozin' along on your livingroom floor
I am the slime from your video
Can't stop the slime, people, lookit me go



Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
When we moved to Pennsy in the early eighties, my wife and I spent three years off the grid, no electric, indoor plumbing or tv, wood/coal stove for heat and cookin', I had a portable multiband radio hooked up to a motorcycle battery for entertainment and Coleman Lanterns for light so we did a lot of reading, board games and cards.

We visited alot, neighbors, friends, family, when we started to build our new home the first thing I put up was the temporary(sp) power pole my wife cried when she saw it.

We swore we'd never live to that extreme but it's nice to know we could do it if needed, after 3 years I think we qualified as living off the grid.
 
We've gone for a little over a year with no cable. THankfully, there is websites that allow you to view full episodes, and some even full seasons of shows. (hulu, fancast etc.)
 
Talfuchre said:
Who has made the jump to simply turning off the television? What do you think?

Give me your impressions - I am really contemplating it.

TF
Click to expand...

I don't have a TV...of course many things aren't available here in Afghanistan. Even back home, if I caught a little news before bed, that was about it. There are only a couple of shows I like to watch, but often miss them.

My wife likes HGTV and the other home improvement shows and of course the kids have their teen-shows. I wouldn't miss it and I'm not missing it now. I may get a few DVD movies for the computer, but that's about it. 16-hour days, working out/running and plenty of books keeps me quite occupied.

ROCK6
 
I was 15 before we had any electricity or indoor plumbing so it is no novelty to me to have a TV or not. I don't see the big deal, we have a toaster that we use when we want toast, we have a Micro-Wave for when we need to warm things quick, I have a house full and shop full of electric tools, If I need them, I use them, if i don't want the TV, there is this little switch that gives me a instant choice.

Could I go without TV? Yes I could, I could also go back to smoking all my meat or canning it. That is after I cut it with my flint knife and stone ax. Heck Ally Oop got by just fine. ;)
 
I am gross and perverted
I'm obsessed 'n deranged
I have existed for years
But very little had changed
I am the tool of the Government
And industry too
For I am destined to rule
And regulate you
I may be vile and pernicious
But you can't look away
I make you think I'm delicious
With the stuff that I say
I am the best you can get
Have you guessed me yet?
I am the slime oozin' out
From your TV set
You will obey me while I lead you
And eat the garbage that I feed you
Until the day that we don't need you
Don't go for help...no one will heed you
Your mind is totally controlled
It has been stuffed into my mold
And you will do as you are told
Until the rights to you are sold
That's right, folks.. Don't touch that dial
Well, I am the slime from your video
Oozin' along on your livingroom floor
I am the slime from your video
Can't stop the slime, people, lookit me go


ALRIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! +10,000
 
No TV for a long time now. It is a menace...selling stuff to people who are already too receptive to suggestion...depressing...well, others here have said it better than I.

I do own a TV, and a DVD player. I like movies from time to time...and I can control them in my home. Breaks when I want them, whatever I want to drink...nobody else's rude kids or cell phones or babies. Plus good company at home, my dogs are very discerning viewers! :D
 
I've just got the first tier above the Basic package. Gets you the SciFi, History, News, Sports, about 5 or 6 PBS channels, and CartoonNetwork. Usually tape what I want to watch and skip the commercials. More and more I watch good TV series shows on DVDs from NetFlix. Saves me the bother of taping the show each week. I'm watching Dexter right now and like watching three hours at a time, good resolution, and no commercials. About the only thing I'll watch live is a football game if it's in HiDef. Once the high power OTA transmitters/antennas are up later this year, I may dump cable if I can get sports over the internet. FWIW when I was in my 20's I never watched TV, I don't think I even owned one. Had better things to do back then. That was even before PC's. I've slowed down a bit.

Zappa fans:

http://wiki.killuglyradio.com/wiki/Trouble_Every_Day

Dexter info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dexter_Morgan
 
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After hurricane Ike we had to move into a rental. Couldn't get satellite because of the trees. Opted to not get cable or antennae. If there is something I want to watch, I can stream it from the network website for free. and in HD as well. I have my Macbook hooked up to my 43" flat screen. Spend a lot less time sitting in front of the tube.
Terry
 
No TV for about a year for me, haven't really missed it :) (apart from the history channel).

But I still watch shows on the net and buy DVDs of series i like.
 
I have a TV but I only use it to watch DVDs. I have an antenna but I refuse to pay for the converter box so it's worthless now. When I could pick up signals off the air I only watched March Madness and a few college FB Bowl games....nothing else.
 
my gf and her father NEEED tv so im forced to listen to it also i have a baby so i spend my time with him or watch baby E...sometimes ill watch a movie but ive seen just about every good movie out there....

i did live with no tv for about 4 years....listened to music and read and drew alot...good stuff
 
Haven't watched broadcast TV in my house in about 2 years. Basic cable here doesn't get me any of the channels that I care about, but it does get me high speed internet, and the higher tiers are too expensive for what you get -- the right to watch commercials.

When we moved here, I was working on a post-graduate degree that required daily high-speed access, so that's really why we have cable at all. Don't care about the TV programming, but we do usually watch a couple of movies every week. The kids watch more of them in the summertime, of course.

Can't stand commercials, or most of the inanity that comes on TV.
 
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