Mmm Mondays
It Turns Me On When You Turn it Off
I think my life and my mental health is much improved since I learned to switch it off.
Stop
I stopped watching television, apart from live sport, nearly nine years ago. To clarify further I do watch old films or documentaries now and then, usually sourced from my computer.
I grew up in a household where breakfast TV would not be tolerated. I was allowed to watch the programs suitable for children. Then, as I got older, I enjoyed many of the choices Mum made for us. It was typically a period drama series or a quality sit-com.
News
Mum would also put the news on, but only once, at six o’clock.
“That’s enough joy for one day.” She’d sarcastically say.
Nowadays the kind of news dished up is certainly not quality unbiased journalism.
When I left home at nineteen I could make my own choices. But to be honest I was far too busy living to find time to watch more than an hour or so a week.
Having Children
I changed my outlook to the TV once I had settled down and had children. There were some excellent educational programs my kids could benefit from. I would tape them and when they wanted to watch the television we’d play them back. So they didn’t get dragged into the mindless drivel that was often on at tea time. This was a clever thing to do as now they don’t really care about TV at all.
But during those child-rearing years I got into the habit of watching the reality or talent shows with my then teenage kids. Often tired I would just want to shut my mind off. I think I was too busy with family life to look at the pros and cons of watching TV at that time.
Talent shows are my guilty pleasure. To make it more acceptable, I started watching ‘The Voice’ of other countries, pretending it was for learning the language!
The Audience
However, I paid less attention to the TV as the children got older. It seemed to me many of the programs were treating the audience as if they were stupid. I was more interested in reading or doing something on my computer. Although the TV may have been on in the sitting room as other family members would be watching, but I rarely chose a program myself.
So by the time I hitched up with my partner it was very easy to dispense with the box altogether. A good job too as he can not tolerate too much of it.
Looking Back
Reflecting back, I notice during the times I switched off the TV, I’ve been far more productive and creative. I put this down to not being drawn into wasting time watching the latest fad.
These days the best thing about the television is the power switch….
Agenda
A few years ago I met this lady who was in her seventies. She was the cleaner for a friend of ours. We got chatting and for some reason, television came up as a topic. She said,
“Oh no, I don’t even own one of those blasted things. It is either trying to sell you something, brainwash you, or scare you to death. I’ve got better things to do with my free time.”
The thing is I believe there is a lot of truth in the old ladies words. I also think television is often used as a means of keeping us in our place. How will we find the time to plan the next revolution if we are hooked on watching all the television programs during the week?
Switch off
One thing that really is a bugbear for me is how rude other people can be where TV is concerned. There is nothing more annoying than a household who have one switched on constantly. Even in the background. And then don’t turn it off when a visitor, such as me, arrives. I do not wish to compete with a TV!
I am able to regard television as a useful resource which has a switch that can be turned on and off. It is not my master and neither am I its slave.
I have had to bite my tongue several times when I’ve been in a house that doesn’t switch off when they have guests. It is disrespectful.
Selective
So what is it I am saying here? That nobody should watch TV and it does not have any benefits? No, not quite. I am sure if we are selective about the choice of programs watched, and steer away from much of the news, (I am more than capable of sourcing my own news now we have an internet society thank you), then I expect we can get some enjoyment and relaxation from it.
And let's not forget there are a few well-produced educational/documentary shows, where we may learn a thing or two.
Thankfully there are still programmes covering the arts and the occasional good documentary series. I also watch documentaries that deal with health issues especially mental health.
Choosing what to watch was far more straight forward when we had fewer channels. It made the decision easier to put time aside for a particular program and then after, turn off.
If television was bubble gum, it would be that glob of pink stuff that quickly loses flavour and hurts your jaw.
Precious Time
Personally, I don’t miss TV and will carry on occasionally watching sports and a few entertaining old movies or dramas on my PC. A bit of sexy stuff thrown in too!
Not watching frees me up to spend time on walking, reading, and chickens— some of my favourite things which make me say Mmmmmmmmmm…
Another Mmm Story from May More 💜 Tales
