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Parenting & Farm Kids:  doing without cable tv  |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 26 2005 : 10:07:27 PM
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We had our cable tv turned off a couple weeks ago and I have to tell you...it has been wonderful. I was rather surprized that husband would even consider it..he is sort of hooked on the history channel and ESPN but he agreed so we "pulled the plug". The kids have adjusted just fine too. Made me realize that we just don't watch that much tv!! We do watch movies on video or DVD quite a bit and as long as husband can get Monday night football and news he is doing fine. With rabbit ears we still pick up the three big channels, Fox and PBS so that isn't bad at all..just plenty. I am hoping we can do away with tv all together at some point..but this is a good start!! 
Jenny in Utah
It's astonishing how short a time it takes for very wonderful things to happen...Frances Burnette |
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BlueApple
True Blue Farmgirl
430 Posts
Julia
Oregon
USA
430 Posts |
Posted - Nov 27 2005 : 07:45:40 AM
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I would LOVE to get rid of the TV. I've mentioned it a few times but then I get the "well then YOU get rid of your computer!), wellllllllllll can't do that! Your post is going to spur me to "turn off" the TV though and ask that it stay off at times. How many times do we automatically just turn it on but aren't really watching it? It sure happens!
Julia
BlueApple Farm |
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BlueEggBabe
True Blue Farmgirl
417 Posts
Susan
PA
417 Posts |
Posted - Nov 27 2005 : 09:30:13 AM
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Jenny,
We don't have cable. Never did.
We had an old TV for years that we would only watch an occasional VHS movie on.I just didnt want the kids subjected to the TV when they were younger.
Now that one is almost 22 and the other 16, they bought a DVD player and a set of good rabbit ears for the TV. 
We still only get the 3 major stations and PBS.
I watch some early morning news, LOST on Wednesday nights(guilty pleasure), and an occasional PBS special. That's it......The sound of sit-com canned laughter and commercials when you aren't accustomed to it is truly annoying! I always opt for the radio or CD's.
www.feedsackfarmgirls.blogspot.com
www.farmatcoventry.com
"If more of us valued good food, cheer and song above hoarded gold,the world would be a merrier place."
J.J.R.Tolkien |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Nov 27 2005 : 09:58:50 AM
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We have cable TV only because we can't get any channels even with an antenna. I turn it on in the AM to watch the news then it goes off for the rest of the day. I do watch certain programs in the evening. I do feel like I spend more time watching TV than I should and am trying to wean myself off. My hubby would be happy if we didn't have TV at all. So I give him the "if you get rid of the computer" line.
The only place that success comes before work is in the dictionary!
http://rusticcottage.blogspot.com/ |
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prairiemaid
True Blue Farmgirl
200 Posts
Margret
Canada
200 Posts |
Posted - Nov 27 2005 : 12:41:16 PM
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We've never had cable, can't get it out here. We get 4 channels with the antenna. I've thought about getting satelite but it's my opinion that I'd just be paying for more channels of nothing to watch. It's nice to sit down to watch in the evenings, especially in the winter when there's not much to do. But other than that, it can stay off as far as I'm concerned. 
Call me old fashioned. |
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thehouseminder
True Blue Farmgirl
361 Posts
USA
361 Posts |
Posted - Nov 27 2005 : 1:54:32 PM
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I wish we could get rid of cable but apparently it is the equivalent of asking me to ditch my sewing machine.
Dh has agreed to switch the TV off one night a week for game night. We play board games and catch up on conversation then. He resisted the idea at first but now he actually suggests and extra night now and then.
Lucinda
When we were young, there were moments of such perfectly crystallized happiness that we stood stock still and silently promised ourselves that we would remember them always. And we did. --Holly J. Burkhalter , "Four Midwestern Sisters' Christmas Book"
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Krisathome
True Blue Farmgirl
90 Posts
Kristin
Iowa
USA
90 Posts |
Posted - Nov 27 2005 : 8:47:11 PM
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My dh is a tvaholic, has been forever. But...we lived with no tv for 5 years. We turned off the cable when my dd was born in 1993 and we did really well with it. My oldest was 5 at the time and I know it had a good impact on him and her. One day my dh got a wild hair and got it turned on. It hasn't been off since. 
I could easily live without it, let me tell you. |
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McKenzie Mist
Farmgirl in Training
41 Posts
Bev
Walterville
Oregon
USA
41 Posts |
Posted - Nov 27 2005 : 10:08:39 PM
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Where we live, the only TV reception is via cable or satelite. For years, cable was considered a necessity at our house; right up there with the telephone and electricity! We "decablized" over 10 years ago when our two older dd were about 9 and 4 years old. Up until that point, I set time limits on their TV viewing and dh and I both cut way back on our viewing time as well. By the time we decided to save the $25 a month we were spending on cable, none of us missed it very much since we had gradually cut back. What we did find was that all of us started reading more in the evenings, and spent much more time playing board games, working on various projects, etc. It was one of the best changes we've made in 25 years of marriage! We did keep our old TV and VCR to use for watching an occasional movie and we still do that. When something "big" happens and we want to watch coverage on TV, we are fortunate to have family close by that welcome us into their homes to view the event.
After going several years without watching commercial TV, it was amazing to me how shocked I was at some of the risque' commercials when I did watch a television show. When I watched it day in and day out, I had become de-sensitized I guess, and just never took notice. It was really very interesting how complacent I had been without ever realizing it. |
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AnnieT
True Blue Farmgirl
287 Posts
Annie
287 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2005 : 12:54:22 PM
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We get no tv channels at all. Never even tried to get them. I think we gave away our bunny ears, too. We watch plenty of movies. We have cable internet, so that's how we keep up with the world. I find it a lot easier to filter out the carp that way. If I don't want to read something I can go on to something else. I feel like I'm held captive by a tv. Even without tv chanels, though, my little girl (almost 2 years old) is constantly asking to watch a movie, so I think the stupid thing is still on too much.
Annie
Visit me at my blog: http://bramblestitches.blogspot.com/
See what I have for sale: www.bramblestitches.etsy.com
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Kate
MaryJane's Farmgirl
135 Posts
Kate
Moscow
ID
USA
135 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2005 : 1:59:51 PM
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It's so true....getting rid of TV opens a whole new world. I've never really had spare time but I always seemed to watch TV. I would never sit down doing nothing else and watch a show but I would have it on while I made dinner or cleaned. Now I play music. I found that I was subconsciously depressed I always watched the news and felt that I couldn't do anything to fix all the problems in the world. I now knit more read more and spend more time with loved ones. It was kind of like a diet for me I told my self if I didn't feel any difference after one month of no TV I would go back...now I have way to much spare time to spend it watching TV.
Tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it.....unless they are spelling mistakes. |
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Parenting & Farm Kids: doing without cable tv |
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doing without cable tv
