No Tv!

[sweetnpetite]

Some of the quotes on this page:

http://www.mediachannel.org/ownership/chart.shtml

make me want to throw my tv out the window.

It's really scary.

 

[cantdog]

Keep it as a monitor for the DVD player. Just dump the cable service or the dish or whatever. Then you can play movies.

It's not like your kids will miss any good shows. The shows come out on DVD all the time, and in a much more timely fashion now than ever. You then buy just the good shows and the rest of the commercial propaganda can fly through the air to someone else's brain.

Read to your kids to fill the entertainment void; it's the best parenting move there is, after understanding and love.

I asked a gethering of my daughter's contemporaries what had been the most memorable thing they'd done with their parents. There were things which had obviously been done in order to be a great thing for the kids, like "we saw the balloons go up in Albuquerque" or "Riding the Paris Metro." There were things that just happen, when you put your time in as a parent, but were random, serendipitous things. And for every last one of them, as the only universal, there was being read to. They will love it, guaranteed. It's a story, it's extended intimacy, it just works-- and it is always one of the top things kids remember.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

Keep it as a monitor for the DVD player. Just dump the cable service or the dish or whatever. Then you can play movies.

It's not like your kids will miss any good shows. The shows come out on DVD all the time, and in a much more timely fashion now than ever. You then buy just the good shows and the rest of the commercial propaganda can fly through the air to someone else's brain.

Read to your kids to fill the entertainment void; it's the best parenting move there is, after understanding and love.

I asked a gethering of my daughter's contemporaries what had been the most memorable thing they'd done with their parents. There were things which had obviously been done in order to be a great thing for the kids, like "we saw the balloons go up in Albuquerque" or "Riding the Paris Metro." There were things that just happen, when you put your time in as a parent, but were random, serendipitous things. And for every last one of them, as the only universal, there was being read to. They will love it, guaranteed. It's a story, it's extended intimacy, it just works-- and it is always one of the top things kids remember.

Great advice, C. My son is four and will watch anything animated. I noticed that he just zones out in front of cartoons like a zombie and wouldn't even answer me if I asked him something. It was scary, so I decided to try and cut out the amount of mindless crap he watches. I taped a bunch of different shows on public television about trains, animals, construction, and other stuff he likes.

Since I work from home, I can't play with him and read to him all day long, but at least he isn't being brainwashed. Watching something other than brightly colored animation seems to have improved his attention span for things that aren't so visually overwhelming. The other night that old silent film 'Lobo' was on and he watched the entire movie. Weeks ago, if he saw something in black and white, he would've cried because he'd have thought the tv was broken!

 

[cantdog]

You don't have to do it all the time, of course, but it would be a shame never to have done it.

The last time I read aloud to my daughter she was a senior in college. I read Lord of the Rings in English, and she followed along in a French translation. Helped her French immensely, she said, and it had all the intimacy and storytelling magic that reading aloud always has.

Truly, do not miss it. And if you already have, then by all means, do it with the grandkids.

 

[Songcatcher]

To possess another language is to possess another soul - Charlemagne

 

[OhMissScarlett]

Reading together is such a valuable experience for kids. My SO is one of those people who never sits down with a novel just for his own pleasure. He fully admits it's probably because his parents never read to him as a child. I grew up in one of those households where saying you were bored was unacceptable if there were unread books on your shelf.

Aside from reading, it's great to get kids involved in other household activities. My son loves to stand on a chair and help me cook. Yes, he's in the way, but I'd rather have him in my way than feeling excluded or becoming a man who thinks cooking is 'womens' work'. This year we're making our own Christmas decorations which promises to lots of fun. I'm sure I'll be sweeping up glitter until Easter.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Some of the fondest memories I have are having my mother read to me and my two brothers, or having my grandfather read to me and my cousins and brothers. I have always enjjoyed reading and will always regret having nobody to read to. My youngest grandson moved away just about the time he got old enough to appreciate it.

 

[Songcatcher]

Lies like this, told protectively and from the heart, have their own integrity.

 

[rgraham666]

I've been without a TV for, hmm, about a year now.

I find I don't miss it. When I am somewhere that TV can be watched, I wonder what I ever saw in it.

 

[cantdog]

Rg? I was shocked myself at how much of an easy thing it was to do without a television.

OhMissS: Turning visiting kids into kitchen wenches is a lot of fun, but you had better not be under the gun for time.

Jelina helped in the kitchen even though she had maybe four words of English and two big casts on her legs. The kid had the touch when it came to cracking eggs with never a bit of shell in the mix. Her mother said she was very quick plucking a chicken, too. We didn't require that particular service, though. She had a strong grip and good fine-motor control.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Some of the quotes on this page:

http://www.mediachannel.org/ownership/chart.shtml

make me want to throw my tv out the window.

Do it, Sweet.

You'll be amazed at how little you miss it. You'll be amazed at how silly other people sound talking about the latest reality-TV show.

Religion may be the opiate of the masses, but TV is pure heroin.

---dr.M.

 

[lewdandlicentious]

Some of the quotes on this page:

http://www.mediachannel.org/ownership/chart.shtml

make me want to throw my tv out the window.

It's really scary.

It's only scary if you believe it.

Most of it is Bollocks!!!!

 

[sweetnpetite]

Re: Re: No Tv!

Religion may be the opiate of the masses, but TV is pure heroin.

 

[sweetnpetite]

Re: Re: No Tv!

It's only scary if you believe it.

Most of it is Bollocks!!!!

what's bollocks? the programing or the idea that a handful of people want to be inside our minds (selling us crap) from the moment we're born till the moment we die.

because those words are straight from there mouths in the media *outlets* that they own.

And it's not just TV but newspapers, radio, magazines, movies and books.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

Pretty much of all "television" I watch these days are fansubbed foreign television from Japan. The last two shows on American television that I thought showed an ounce of thought were rapidly cancelled by an uncaring network.

I agree with not setting the television on children at an early age. I plan on starting my child on books as early as possible and hold that as the primary form of entertainment for them as long as I can. I'll even promise to give them the fun pop books instead of forcing classic upon classic on them.

 

[sweetnpetite]

Re: Re: No Tv!

Do it, Sweet.

You'll be amazed at how little you miss it. You'll be amazed at how silly other people sound talking about the latest reality-TV show.

Religion may be the opiate of the masses, but TV is pure heroin.

---dr.M.

The problem is- I'm a pop culture junky!

Even my interest in history is strongly pop culture related. I don't care so much about the wars and political struggles as what they wore, what they listened to, and what they put on there lunchboxes.

My secret's out- I'm completly shallow!

 

[sweetnpetite]

Lies like this, told protectively and from the heart, have their own integrity.

Chilled Vodka???

 

[sweetnpetite]

Some of the fondest memories I have are having my mother read to me and my two brothers, or having my grandfather read to me and my cousins and brothers. I have always enjjoyed reading and will always regret having nobody to read to. My youngest grandson moved away just about the time he got old enough to appreciate it.

volunteer at a library or a school, or a neighborhood organization or comunity center.

literacy volenteers are also always needed. and they train you. again- check at the library.

 

[Evil Alpaca]

Personally, I'm just a little too much of a television junky, and over a decade of higher education has absolutely killed the love of reading I used to have. And for every annoying trend (e.g. reality shows), their is a glimmer of hope. I don't know what that is right now (maybe "Lost"), but I can still dream.

 

[Belegon]

I love movies and sports. But I watch almost no regular tv. I don't even normally watch movies on HBO, but rather my own DVD's. so I guess that really leaves just sports.

I do become infatuated with a show every once in a while and watch several episodes. Last time I did that was the first season of Queer Eye. I was hooked on Sex and The City and The Sopranos, which is where the HBO subscription came in.

I admit to a fondness for the Discovery and History channels though.

 

[sweetnpetite]

Keep it as a monitor for the DVD player. Just dump the cable service or the dish or whatever. Then you can play movies.

It's not like your kids will miss any good shows. The shows come out on DVD all the time, and in a much more timely fashion now than ever. You then buy just the good shows and the rest of the commercial propaganda can fly through the air to someone else's brain.

the movies are all made by the same people as well. and the propaganda goes beyond the advertisements of course.

I could make them watch all movies that are at least 50 years old. Then any comercial value would be mute.

My kids love it when I read to them. (except the baby, he won't sit still. none of my kids ever did sit still for anything resembling story time till they were 5 or six. So I don't put so much credence in the 'you must read to them from the day they are born' stuff. My kids see me read all the time, there are books and other reading materials literally choking out the rest of the stuff in our home. they get the picture.)]

there was a good movie w/ roddy piper about aliens controlling our mind through the media...

not to far off if you ask me.

 

[sweetnpetite]

I admit to a fondness for the Discovery and History channels though.

I like the History Channel except when it morphs into the "Hitler Channel." ANd Discovery, except during the day. All the educational channels take a break during the day and do home makeover challenge shows. (yuck) I do like "monster house" and "what not to wear" and "clean sweep" though.

I don't like most reality tv, but I do like the 2 shows where they switch moms, and the surreal world and have a sick fascination with 'the simple life' But I never watch Fear Factor or Survivor. (why doestn't the 'moral majority' go after these atrocities?)

And I'm a sucker for almost anything on VH1 these days, it's pop culture galore. top 100 lists, nastalgia, behind the music, and 'best week ever'

 

[Xelebes]

I haven't watched much tv in the past two years. I never get control of it (living in a crowded house has these problems.)

Most of the stuff doesn't interest me. Sometimes news will pique my interest but most times not. I dislike watching movies too so I'm very behind when zingers are on parade and stuff.

And I ashamedly admit to have lost my love in reading in high school - while I may pick up a book once in a while, it is never like an addiction or stuff like that. I'll merely browse it. I am, ashamedly, addicted to messageboards.