Lose Television, Live Life

If you have any respect for yourself and the life you’ve been given, you’ll take seriously these 6 compelling reasons for giving up television. The great television is nothing more than a tool. It is a tool to tell us what we want, to tell us what we should act like, to tell us who we should and shouldn’t like and to tell us what to fear.

Reason#1 – Television is the leading cause of wasted time.
“In our busy lives, we find it hard to find the time to do the things we want to do.” We hear this all the time. Must of us have said it and most of us believe it. Television constantly tells us this. It is nothing but pure bullshit. Even those who only watch 1 to 2 hours of television per night are wasting their lives away. We all know how much we can produce at our day jobs if we really want to. It’s amazing how much some one can get done when they’re on the clock. However, when we get home at 5, we have a hard time getting the lawn mowed and the dishes done before bedtime. Why? Because out of the 6 hours we have between work and bedtime, most of us will spend 4 to 5 watching the tube.

Reason#2 – Television is hard on the environment.
There are many households with a television running all day long. Some televisions never get turned off. Ever. Increasing numbers of households have more than one television running non-stop throughout the day. This is a definite strain on our power grid. More than that, televisions are increasingly a strain on our garbage dumps. Once, there was a time when a television lasted 20 years or more. Now, with rapidly improving technology, televisions are being dumped in favour of new ones after only a few years.

Reason#3 – Televisions are an over-all money waster.
The cost of cable is ridiculous. Some are paying upwards of $200 per month! That equals $2400 per year! Even at $100 per month, that’s still $1200 per year. Add to that the fact that most new televisions are running from $1000 to $4000 and you’re now expected to upgrade every 3 to 4 years. Add to that the damage being done to your hydro bill. Add to that the specialized furniture and cabinetry that has to be purchased to accommodate your television. Oh, you can’t forget surround sound systems. That equates to a lot of living that you and your family could have been doing.

Reason#4 – Television is a medium for advertisers to brainwash us all.
Think about it. Is McDonald’s healthy? Does the Canadian Olympic Team eat McDonald’s everyday and maintain their world class athletic ability? To both those questions I answer “I think not.” How come we see Canadian Olympic Team members, or any other muscular, highly athletic, young person for that matter, sitting at McDonald’s, wolfing down a Big Mac and Fries? The reason is we’re being brainwashed and lied to. This obviously just doesn’t go for McDonalds. This goes for most any corporation that advertises on this horrendous device.

Reason#5 – Television is one of the leading contributors to obesity.
Of course it is. You burn more calories when you’re asleep than you do attached to the couch and mindlessly staring at the screen. Not to mention, how many of the previously mentioned fast food meals have been bought because there’s simply not enough time to cook a real dinner on ‘Survivor Night’ or ‘Big Brother Night’ or ‘American Idol Night’ or, well, you get the picture.

Reason#6 – Television lets us watch others living out their dreams.
I believe I’m paraphrasing Anthony Robbins on this one, but it’s so true. Do you think Will Smith or Jennifer Aniston became such huge stars by sitting around for 5 or 6 hours a day and watching others on the screen? I have a personal saying that goes “On your deathbed, will you look back and be proud that you saw every episode of ‘Seinfeld’?” The answer will most always be ‘no’. Just think of the things you could be doing that you would be proud of at the end of your life.

Okay, let’s be reasonable. There are many who would never, ever, never give up television. But, if you are one of those, consider putting time restraints on your viewing. Or, consider recording what shows you feel you must watch and fast-forwarding through commercials. Or, as in the ‘olden days’, treat television like a treat and only allow yourself to watch it after you’ve completed your chores or to-do list.

Regardless of your decision, realize that maybe television isn’t the greatest invention of all time.