| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| cmandle |
Posted - Jul 23 2006 : 6:57:31 PM
Hey Farmgirls!
DH and I have recently decided to "put away" our TV for one month to see what life is like without one. I'm assuming that we all run the gammet on this forum of living with and living without them, so I wanted to ask you all what you think and why. Do you live with a TV? Without one? Why do you choose to live that way?
If you have a TV, where is it? We don't have a large house and it's currently in the living room. I'm tired of it being the focal point of our main room - this big, ugly black box. But I don't want it in our bedroom either - bad feng shui for sleep! Where's yours?
I mentioned to my mom that we were getting rid of it and she (more than half-seriously) joked that she wouldn't be coming over to babysit Jackson if we didn't have a TV...
Why does having a TV matter so much to some people?
Okay 'girls, tell me what you think!
Catherine
yogurtandgranola.blogspot.com |
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| brightmeadow |
Posted - Aug 08 2006 : 7:11:57 PM
We have TV. But we hardly ever watch it! Just watch the local news in the a.m. and the beginning of the Today show before going to work, then after 10:00 we watch whatever police show (I love crossing Jordan) happens to be on. Sometimes we even set the sleep timer and stay up to watch the Tonight show. Our old TV in the family room gave up the ghost last year so we shopped and shopped and finally got a plasma high-definition TV. It seems extravagant, especially with the amount of TV we watch, but after all, you have to keep up with the Joneses and all (just kidding, well kinda).
Since we don't get cable TV (just internet) we are kind of concerned about what is going to happen when the old analog broadcast stations are no longer available in 2007? We intermittently can receive the digital stations from Cleveland but not very high quality. I shopped for a digital HDTV antenna and found one, but it was only good for stations within a 40-mile range and all the stations we usually watch are 70 miles away or more. There is one local station that we get just fine in digital mode, but it is an independent station, the programming isn't very good.
Speaking of abusing your kids by depriving them of the TV, my youngest daughter always thought she was deprived because I didn't subscribe to cable TV. (We had it until she was 3 and I came home from work to find her and her older sister glued to VH1 where there was some pretty risque dancing going on - I cancelled it- my ex-husband was mad... Oh well. He was always mad!) She was the ONLY one in her WHOLE SCHOOL. When she moved out on her own, she had cable right away, and watched TV all the time, but her bills got away from her and after a few months she cancelled it, and doesn't watch much TV now. Funny how different it is when you are paying the bills!
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com, web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
| katiedid |
Posted - Aug 08 2006 : 5:41:04 PM
Carla! That is exactly why TV drives me nuts! It is an advertising machine, you friend is totally brain washed by adds!!
Give me a break.
My peeve lately is those new McDonalds commercials...."At our house it has calmed raging battles, Motivated homework; Been a reward for good behavior; Now with healthier choices like itty bitty chemical treated apples with sugar erm...caramel dipping sauce, and CHOCOLATE milk." It really irkes me!! This commercial is all emotional, making parents believe that they are being better parents when they choose McDs over Wendys....
Ok, so life is far from perfect around my house, but I don't really need McDs advertising execs telling me how I can be a better parent!
OK, deep breath, relax, rant over now........we eat some sugar around here, and we occasionally buy the chocolate Silk for our girls with dairy allergies, so I am not pretending to be a food Nazi, the emotional crap just bugs me......
Thanks for the therapy ladies. Obviously I needed it :)
Love and light to all my FarmSistas
Kate
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| FlipFlopFarmer |
Posted - Aug 08 2006 : 09:28:37 AM
Glad to read that you're enjoying being TV free. We went TV free for 6 months last year. We really enjoyed it and talk about removing it again. We live in the country and don't have cable so we only get about 5 or 6 channels in anyway. Much of our time is spent on chores anyway it seems.
It is amazing what a difference it makes in the home though. It quiets down your whole environment and I swear my kids are happier without the TV/XBOX. I have two boys, 5 & 15 and they grumbled a little about not having it at first but then that quickly went away and they found other things to do.
It was sorta funny though because one of my co-workers wives told me that I was abusing my kids by not allowing them to watch TV. That is was cruel and .....(get this....my most ridiculous thing I've ever heard)...."How will they know what's cool and popular? They're going to go to school and get made fun of!" Oh good gravy that is just shallow and laughable!!!
 Carla
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly. |
| cmandle |
Posted - Aug 08 2006 : 08:52:20 AM
K-
I am LOVING the TV-free household. I don't think we'll go back. I so appreciated reading everyone's ideas on TV. Everyone has different ideas and that's totally okay. But for us, we like life without TV. We're thinking of getting a teeny-weeny TV on a cart for DVDs and Sesame Street down the line...we'll see!
Changes: A QUIETER house when the babe is finally down for the night. We talk, we knit, we read, we zone out...
Better: More TALKING time with dear hubby...
Worse: Nothing that I can think of. I still like watching the news, but I catch the NBC Nightly News online after 10pm and that's good enough for me. Most of our local news is fluff anyway. Did you know that an entire 30 minute news broadcast contains the same amount of actual news as the the front page of your newspaper? Hmm...read the paper and be done with it!
Missing: Nothing. I may miss reruns of Will & Grace when winter comes around (I loved that show but hated the finale!), but I've got plenty of books and knitting to keep me busy.
I'm glad we took the plunge!
C :)
http://yogurtandgranola.blogspot.com |
| katiedid |
Posted - Aug 05 2006 : 12:24:43 PM
C
Just wondering how the TV-free household is doing?
Give us all an update...what had changed? What is better? What is worse?
What do you miss about TV?
Can't wait to hear more....
K |
| Kathigene |
Posted - Jul 26 2006 : 11:38:00 PM
Jaime, I'm all for not letting little kids watch tv. I have two nieces who have a 3 year old and a 2 year old. Neither child has really ever seen tv. You can't believe how much more focused they are. The little girl at 3 years old is very very close to reading. It was a real eye opener to spend time with these children and to see what I think are the positive effects of no TV.
Kathy
Dogs make such good friends because they wag their tails rather then their tongues. |
| Jaime |
Posted - Jul 26 2006 : 7:56:24 PM
My husband & I were just talking about this earlier this week. We aren't against tv, but not exactly for it either! We have 1 tv upstairs & 1 tv downstairs that also functions as our computer moniter. When the new episodes are on in the fall we watch 4 shows (no cable). This totals only 4 hours a week of tv. If I watch much beyond that I feel like I'm wasting my time. During the summer when reruns are on we just don't turn it on. I'd rather be outside while I can! We are debating on whether or not to replace them when they die. I guess we'll want one just to watch movies on, on occasion. We're also not sure if we want our kids (when we finally have some ) to watch tv. Seems like it might be a good "babysitter" sometimes!
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| jorlex |
Posted - Jul 26 2006 : 06:21:08 AM
My dad got my girls a XBox and I wish he didn't do this. I really dislike that thing! I have to monitor their time and often time just disconnect and hide the thing. I talked to DH about removing the tv from our lives, that conversation didn't go the way I wanted it to. DH loves sports to much to say goodbye to the tv. I used to watch it a lot, but got away from it, find enough projects to keep me busy. |
| westernhorse51 |
Posted - Jul 26 2006 : 06:02:21 AM
I hate the push for tv to make consumers buy also but... I just don't do it. I love Grays Anatomy and Gilmore Girls. Im so busy during the day, its hardley ever on except to catch up w/ the news. I think w/ TV, its just like anything else, moderation.
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
| connio |
Posted - Jul 25 2006 : 5:47:55 PM
Hey Farm Girls!!!
When I lived in Dallas, I had cable and was absolutely addicted to CNN. I finally realized that it was skewing my perspective on the world so when I moved to the country in 2003, I did not sign up for cable. It was also part of my plan to simplify my life and reduce expenses. I have no regrets.
I can get 2 channels: ABC and PBS which is just fine with me. I find that I am watching less and less TV. Some days I don't even turn it on. Last Sunday I decided to turn it on to catch the 5pm weather and what should I find but a televised "low-speed chase" involving a hostage and an 18 wheeler. Just what I needed for a cheery day! I do have to admit that I was transfixed since this was occuring practically in my back yard when they started shooting out the radiator on the truck. As I look back on this, I really think that I could have been doing something better with my time and read about the entire event in the paper the next day.
I also resent all of the commericials on ABC! Buy, buy,buy!! I want to be a Conserver not a Consumer!!!
When I was married, my husband always had the TV on. I found this quite boring.
Educators have also found that children who watch great amounts of tv are much less creative than those who do not.
Well, I am getting off now and will be enjoying the evening reading.
Connie
Texas Farm Girl
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| primjillie |
Posted - Jul 25 2006 : 10:44:42 AM
I could happily do without the tv, but my husband is addicted to it. I hate the way he has to have it on all the time, and will watch it constantly if he could. There is nothing on 99% of the time, except junk. I did buy a nice armoire and try to keep the doors closed when I can. I think it is sad that most of the people I work with all eat dinner in front of the tv and that their families don't eat together at the table. |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Jul 25 2006 : 10:37:00 AM
I have a love hate relationship with my TV. We have one in the living room (no family room ) and one in Steph's room. I watch a small amount of early AM news then the TV is off for the rest of the day. I usually turn it on about 4 or 5 when I'm having my afternoon sit down. I only watch it in the evening if there is a specific show that I want to see. I am totally hooked on Gray's Anatomy!!! Haven't been watching this summer as I've seen all the show. But when fall rolls around it will be my Thursday night thing. There is a new station by PBS called "Create" -- we get it on the higher digital channels. It's a lot like HGTV used to be -- gardening, cooking, and craft shows. No commercials!
But I have really thought about cutting our cable to just the bare minimum for reception purposes only. Otherwise we can't get anything because of the mountains. I feel that if we didn't have that stupid thing hooked up to all the channels then we'd be interacting more as a family, outside working and playing, and working on hobbies. That's where the love/hate thing comes in.
I choose faith not fear.
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| bboopster |
Posted - Jul 25 2006 : 07:18:19 AM
Since our move into our new house we have only one TV and it is a 13 inch in our bedroom. We have a space for a wall hung in the living room out of focal point view, but no money to buy the new TV. My husband also uped our cable to include more then the basic channels that we had drop because the youngest child was watching to much teen stuff on MTV and the such. Go figure more channels smaller tube. I like HGTV, PBS, History and the channels that have the old movies (Sunday nite one was playing to slient films) on them but really can live with out it. Did for years and my children did also. I would never pay for TV but hubby does. But if Mary Jane had a show I would sit in front of that little screen and be glued to it.
Pray for our troops to come home safe and soon.
Enjoying the road to the simple life :>) |
| KJD |
Posted - Jul 25 2006 : 06:31:10 AM
Hilarious, Amie!! |
| Amie C. |
Posted - Jul 25 2006 : 06:20:03 AM
My husband and I have an ongoing dispute about TV. I like it. Don't feel like it has an unhealthy control over me, enjoy being able to turn it on and be entertained from time to time. I have a few shows I like to watch, but I like to flip around our 5 channels and be suprised. PBS is a favorite.
Now he, on the other hand, resents getting sucked into the programming. Thinks it's a waste of precious time that he could be accomplishing something useful in. When we moved into our house after a period of extensive TV use in our last apartment, he stuck the box up in the attic. If anyone asked, he was proud to say that the TV was alone in a corner with its face to the wall, thinking about what it had done. A bird got into the attic and pooped on it, and he was gleeful.
I eventually talked him into allowing the TV back into our lives. It's set up in the spare room and we lounge there in the evenings to watch the Simpsons. Recently, however, he's been talking about banishing it again...I guess our relationship with TV will always be a fluctuating thing. The conflict may come to a head when TV goes totally digital in a few years - will we replace ours or not?! I already know his position, but I'm not sure whether I enjoy TV enough to spend money on it. We'll find out soon...
amie |
| Mumof3 |
Posted - Jul 25 2006 : 06:02:42 AM
I'm right with ya Michele! We have 2 TVs- one in the family room and one in the living room. They are not always on, but when my husband comes home from work he becomes glued to one of them. It's his way of escaping. Unfortunately for him, we are not escapable! 
But that is another story..........
Karin |
| westernhorse51 |
Posted - Jul 25 2006 : 05:23:26 AM
well, I guess I will be the "unpopular" one here. I love tv, we have 3 of them all plugged in. There are times when it gets to me but then I just turn it off. I am a news nut! I love old black & white movies and HGTV. We don't live in front of it though, we have it on to watch something & then turn it off & go do something else. My daughter (15 y/old) and I still read together when we can. I don't think the tv is any worse then the internet. Anything that makes you sit at one thing for hours at a time is bad. I feel if you do things in moderation, your ok. In Farmingdale, N.J. (where we live) everytime a storm hits were out of power, don't know what it is about this place but were always out of power, thats enough for me to know what its like w/out power, especially in summer!! On the Jersey coast in the summer there is alot to do so we watch it more during the colder months but I think it's fine if its not all you do. I hate ALL reality tv but my husband loves it, I just don't watch it.
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
| abbasgurl |
Posted - Jul 24 2006 : 11:03:16 PM
Catherine,
Our family was without a television for 7 years. That was during our "back to the land phase". :) I do believe it had an effect on our children as far as their creativity. My kids were involved in very imaginative play, and continued to play long into their teens! Funny to see the diference between my boys & their friends in that respect.
I know I was much more productive without tv, we also read alot compared to most folks I know. My garden sure looked better. :)
After our 3rd son was born, going out much was "out" for Mom & Dad, so we bought a television when our oldest son was 11 (I think). For a time we had no antena attached, so only used it with a VCR. It was nice to be able to see a good movie now & then.
These days we are back to TV. Hubby & I still don't watch a lot. My oldest loves the history & discovery channels. The younger boys are more inclined to watch things that I consider not worthwhile. We mostly watch dvds, season sets from tv shows. We are all big fans of "The Simpsons" and a one season wonder called "Freaks & Geeks". No cable here in the boonies, so not much worth watching.
Blesings,
Rhonda
...and I will sing at the top of my lungs, and I will dance, even if I'm the only one! |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Jul 24 2006 : 10:41:08 PM
When I was eight, my dad literally threw our tv out the window... seems we were spending too much time spellbound by the tv and not enough time doing chores. At first my sisters and I missed it, but now I am glad we spent our childhood without one. We did a lot of reading, we learned to play together, and we all developed ways of entertaining ourselves. We also spent the time learning how to do stuff around the house - like doing crafts, cooking or sewing. It made us more creative and we became more confident because we knew we could do things for ourselves. We became more curious about our surroundings and consequently, we also got into a lot more trouble than we might have otherwise - like when we took apart the clocks and stuff to see how they worked, or when we repainted the bathroom three times in one summer.) But it made us more self sufficient and no amount of tv could have done that for us.
Now after years of excessive tv watching, I wonder how well I might survive without one. Probably very well... :)
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| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jul 24 2006 : 5:53:34 PM
Greys anatomy is one show I really like. I even know when it comes on..unusual for me. I have always been the kind of tv watcher who half way pays attention or just watches whatever comes on that someone else is watching..and never KNOW what time or day anything comes on. I have looked forward to that show though. But since it is in reruns for the summer I havn't cared again now.
Husband talked about cable alot again today. I hope that it is not back on soon..he sounds determined. I sidetracked him by asking him to work on a fire ring out back for family campfires..and he is busy with that right now. Hopefully he won't think of it again for awhile (fingers crossed behind my back) the only time the tv was on today was when the two youngest watched Chitty Chitty bang bang on video this afternoon when it was just too hot to be outside. THat I could handle. I was in the kitchen anyhow.
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
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| KJD |
Posted - Jul 24 2006 : 5:48:22 PM
Glad to say no one is addicted to tv here, but it's nice for all the boys I have to watch baseball, etc. I have a small one in the kitchen because I'm in there all the time - mostly use for movies and occasionally Oprah, depending on the topic. Youngest son is great at self-regulating. He doesn't watch until MASH comes on and he just loves that on Hallmark! Otherwise, we're out doing stuff, or reading or working inside the house. I have recently learned of Grey's Anatomy and I do like that. I think everyone in our home could easily live w/o tv... |
| katiedid |
Posted - Jul 24 2006 : 09:20:13 AM
The thing I loved the most when we were tv-free was the time we spent together.
Instead of turning tv on for the kids, I read them a book.
After dinner, instead of turning the tube on immediately, my husband and I would play a game of Yatzee...the loser had to wash the dishes.
Before bed, I meditated, read, had a nice conversation with my husband.
There are things about the tv I enjoy, pbs kids, nova, the food network, home and garden....
I am just so tired of it ALWAYS being on.
And the advertisements!!!
I just know we waste so much time watching tv when we could be using our time better.
Kate |
| _Rebecca_ |
Posted - Jul 24 2006 : 07:01:23 AM
We have only a handful of channels and have been this way since Nov of last year. During the season my husband downloads LOST on his iMac for us to watch when it's on. We like watching it commercial free that way.
I am so tired of feminine product commercials. Talk about uncomfortable if you are in mixed company and one comes on. They practically spell everything out for tampons & pads. Yeah, and I agree about the pharm, ED & sleep aid commercials! Good point!
When we move in Aug more than likely we will be getting cable. I have mixed feelings about tv. Sometimes it would be really nice to have in the kitchen when I'm cooking. Sports are important to my husband and son. But, overall I would rather relax and listen to good music.
After watching 7 years of OETA I am so sick of all the children's shows. They are NOT educational they are 'a'-musements which means NO thinking is taking place. But, my real objection to them is that after 7 years they are just plain annoying! The characters voices whine and whine and it gets on my nerves. My children know that I hate stupid fluff on tv. One show that they have fallen in love with is "Fetch" on OETA. It's a cartoon dog that sets up challenges for the kids and they have to follow his clues and figure out answers. If they watch that once or twice a week I don't mind.
I grew up with the tv and my dad as one being. He had it in the garage for when he was working on stuff and he constantly sat in front of it in the house. We never had cable or a vcr. So, if I am near cable I am pretty much glued to the tv. Flipping channels is so addictive. I love cooking, travel, decorating and craft shows. Plus I would watch old series that I never watched before.
I am debating what to do about tv in our new house. I know that it will be on our Mac. Other than that I am not sure where we will have it. The Mac will be in the office not the livingroom. I think it would be great to have a tv kept in the garage that we could wheel in the livingroom for specific things like important sports events when we have friends over. But, we'll see.
.·:*¨¨* :·.Rebecca.·:*¨¨* :·.
Wife of Jonathan, Mother of Joel, Caitlyn, Elia, Nathanael |
| garliclady |
Posted - Jul 24 2006 : 06:20:20 AM
I would have a hard time getting things done without a TV. We have no cable or satilite so PBS is the only channel my 2 preschoolers know. Rainy days and very hot humid days it is helpful to have the PBS channel for the kids. I like to choose one program after the kids are in bed to sit and watch while fold laundry snap beans etc. My husband and I like a couple of shows to sit a watch together. Having limited stations does help us not watch as much.
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| emma.birdwhistle |
Posted - Jul 24 2006 : 05:04:41 AM
I would very much like to abolish the television from my house...but it's not actually "my" house after all, and my sister and mother enjoy their daily ration of the Space channel and CNN, respectively. So I'm out of luck for the moment! Maybe I'll just hide it one day (it's a small television set) and see if anyone notices... 
- Elizabeth Ann
If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. - Thoreau |
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