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RSSTelevision Without Fail
It’s sad what a cliche I’ve become, when after a shit day on the job, the only thing I want to do is pour myself into the couch and bleach my brain with the deluge of prepackaged, lifeless programming until it’s time to go to bed. And worse, television had become such a constantly available crutch in my life that I found myself looking to live humans for entertainment less often.
And I guess that was the point of shutting the box off: Make the house more boring and force the need for more human contact. Reawaken the brain. Get out of the house. Make the strangers acquaintances, the acquaintances friends, and the friends into good friends.
Yet, it was an uphill battle, because even though I was consciously making an effort not to watch, TV’s are everywhere. They’re at the gym facing all the cardio equipment distracting me from my workout. They’re in the bar facing the dining room distracting me from my lovely date. Fuck, there is even a big ass, widescreen flat panel in the kitchen at work that runs CNN all day that drags me under whenever I want a drink of water. There have been several occasions in the last week where I’ve snapped out of an unconscious haze and found myself staring at a random TV watching nothing in particular.
By shutting the TV off, I found that I switched my brain on. Unfortunately, instead of transforming into a big, enlightened Buddha, with peaceful thoughts flowing around the meaning of life, I found myself becoming increasingly antsy and frustrated a lot of the time. Not only did I have plenty of time to dedicate to thinking about both large and small issues, but I had the time to dwell on them. And as my brain ramped up, I noticed a decrease in both my complacent attitude and my tolerance for being treated like an idiot.
While probably positive in the long run, this has pretty much precluded me from getting any enjoyment from morning drive time radio or my job. Just this morning, I found myself getting excessively frustrated as the radio “personalities” punctuated their re-hashed, unfunny jokes with poorly chosen sounds clips and moronic callers. The thought of topping that forty minute fucktard sundae with eight hours as a zombie had me ready to attempt a ’70’s action hero jump from the car.
But, I didn’t.
I went to work and did my job.
Like I always do.
Tonight, because I’m tired of feeling like there’s something wrong with me, I turned the TV back on and let myself slip back under the wave.
Because I really don’t know what else to do.
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March 6th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
I didn’t partake in your challenge, mainly because there are a very select few shows that I enjoy watching, that aren’t completely mind numbing.
I generally watch Heroes on Monday nights when I get home from work (technically Tuesday morning)
Then I watch Grey’s Anatomy Thursday after work, and then I watch Psych and Monk Friday after work.
Anything extra is just filler for my day.
I’ve actually cut back on the amount of time I spend at the computer at home - because it really was too much, plus my job requires that I spend the majority of it at a computer.
Aside from those shows, if I watch anything it’s either Law & Order (any variation), CSI, or something to that effect.
I don’t get into the reality type shows, but it was surprising when I watched Dateline tonite on lunch rather than some other mundane show.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
the difference between you and many americans….you don’t drink. most folks, when they have a crappy day, have a craving for an alcoholic beverage that will do for them what tv does for you…take you to another world where you can forget your problems for a while. when we have free time, we feel the need to fill it with something “meaningful” and when we can’t think of something meaningful we feel like crap. today for example was a BEAUTIFUL day on the west coast (sorry east coasters) and my priority was sunshine (after months of rain, you’d be feeling the same way), but i had to convince myself that it was ok to sit in the sun rather than do all the other stuff i should be doing. i’m not condoning your tv watching, b/c it might be a bit excessive, but sometimes you need mind numbing… by the way, the rss feed rocks.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Did you see the BMW X5 commercial at the Nürburgring?
I learned a couple new lines for GT4 from that ad.
No TV and no beer makes Homer something something.
-d—
March 6th, 2007 at 11:53 pm
- Go crazy?
– Don’t mind if I do!
Oh geez I really need to finish up my seasons of the Simpsons so I can justify getting the newest seasons that are out.
Thanks DD for reminding me that I’ve been neglecting them for so long.
March 8th, 2007 at 6:53 am
“I didn’t partake in your challenge, mainly because there are a very select few shows that I enjoy watching, that aren’t completely mind numbing.”
I only watch a select few recorded shows as well, but even so, I have to say that the experience of shutting of the tv completely has an impact no matter how little we think we watch.
And why should we have to drink or watch tv at the end of the day? If the days are that bad that it’s required, doesn’t that indicate that something is wrong with how we spend the rest of our time?
March 8th, 2007 at 7:56 am
“And why should we have to drink or watch tv at the end of the day? If the days are that bad that it’s required, doesn’t that indicate that something is wrong with how we spend the rest of our time?”
yes, i think it does. but i also think it’s a good sign in a way as well. i mean, if we’re spending our days functioning and doing what needs to be done, maybe we need to shut down for a while to prepare for another successful day. unfortunately we live in a world where jobs don’t consist of beach-going or holiday-taking. so we need that time of mindlessness to prepare for the next day of hard work. and if you think of it that way, we’ve earned it.
btw, if we DON’T have the mindlessness at the end of the day (at least in my example..) you get sick because you’re overworked. so, i say, some tv a day keeps the dr. away.
this comment is entirely too long.
March 8th, 2007 at 10:47 am
I’m pretty sure that if I turned the TV off for a prolonged period of time, I too would succumb to some serious angst and frustration, regardless of how much Zoloft I might be taking.
I need the escape most days…even if I’m having a good day at work, my brain still continues whirring at 100 mph, thinking about my finances, school, what i need to do at work the next day, etc. Without the escape of tv (or books) I’d never get any sleep!
March 8th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
But shouldn’t what limited life we are alloted be spent in a way that doesn’t require us to need something mindless? If you haven’t read it, Days of War, Nights of Love poses this type of question a lot.