TV Closedown

Around a month ago I stopped watching TV.   There was simply nothing in the schedule that I found interesting or stimulating.  Even the politics shows have lost their value, reduced to mere ego positioning opportunities.   It doesn’t matter what the politicians are discussing - they have lost the ability to detach from their own ego;  long gone are the days when we had politicians who did what they did because they cared passionately about community. 

And TV news is simply bad for your health.  Sure, it’s great to keep up to date with what’s going on in the world but we don’t need to get constant updates.  And how often do you hear a happy news story?  It’s a rare event.  Listening to the drip, drip of negative stories does one sure thing – it gradually depresses your mind.

If I can help the people in Japan then I’ll find out what can be done and just do it.  As for Libya and Afghanistan – well, I tried marching in Glasgow against the Iraq invasion.  At the end of the march we arrived at the front of the SECC just as Tony Blair sneaked out of the back door. I realised at that point that the day had been a waste of time and energy.  In our democracy, protest marches seem to play into the hands of politicians.  They are a perfect tool for letting people think they are being heard – and in a controlled fashion; to let people vent their frustration and use up valuable energy.  In reality we are not being heard.  Think about it....when was the last time politicians changed their decision in response to a public demonstration?  

Unfortunately the only protest that seems to work right now is determined by where you spend your money.  By donating to good causes or withholding spend on something to cause a detrimental impact, however small. Or by not engaging with TV.  

I believe that now - more than ever - we have to be consciously aware of the messages being transmitted via the media.  Because, you know....it’s very hypnotic.  So easy to come in after a hard day at work and sit down in front of the TV and before long become absorbed by a programme. Then another programme.   And most of it’s rubbish that we’re watching.  Before you know it four hours have passed of your life that could probably have been much better spent. 

At the end of your life, are you really going to be reminiscing about an episode of Eastenders?

Truly, I think we sometimes forget that our lives are made up of the experiences we have and it’s our responsibility to use our time to create as many good and rewarding ones as we can.   

Put simply: TV steals time.