“Watching too much TV can triple our hunger for more possessions while reducing our personal contentment by about 5 percent for every hour a day we watch.” ―David Niven
Television is a powerful medium to influence thought, behavior, and even society.
We know this to be true.
- Television is carefully choreographed. Settings, dialogue, and movement are meticulously planned by writers, directors, actors, and actresses.
- Television is a one-way conversation. There is no opportunity for viewers to push-back, debate, or ask questions.
- Television engages viewers’ minds and thoughts with action, sensory, and emotion.
- Television uses story to teach values and information—just like every good communicator (and civilization).
- Television speaks to us in the privacy of our own homes. As a result, our defenses are down.
- Television is chosen by us—we decide what we want to watch.
Years ago, I sat down to interview my grandfather for a still-upcoming project. He is 93 years old, one of the wisest men I’ve ever met, and has experienced 10 different decades of America. I asked him about wealth, poverty, and consumerism.
At one point, I asked if he thought America was more consumeristic today than it was years ago. He said, “Yes, absolutely.”
My next question was a follow-up, “Why do you think that is the case?”
His replied without hesitation, “I think one of the greatest reasons America is more consumeristic today is television. Television can glamorize anything it wants to promote. And yet we willingly invite it into our homes and lives.”
He is, of course, absolutely right. Television can and does glamorize anything it desires. It gets to share any side of the story without needing to reveal any of the consequences. And it does so willingly again and again for selfish gain.
As a result, it can make any situation seem attractive: broken families, sexual unfaithfulness, unemployment. Television can romanticize drug addiction, gang life, or mob culture. It can sensationalize war, crime, revenge. And it can promote wealth and consumerism as the answer to our problems.
Television will glamorize anything it desires. And even though we know this to be true, it is helpful to be reminded over and over again.
nathalie brisebois says
I LOVE this post!!!! You’ve put down in exact and precise words what I think and am trying to express in many discussion with friends and family… I could not do it like you… so simple, clear and concise! Thank you for this post! For sure I will share this one everywhere I can!!!
I am not to the point where I have completely let go of my television yet.. working on it! But I no longer have a cable service on it… I have a subscription to Netflix and I can see that over the last month, I have really only watch a 2-3 movies over the week end on rainy evenings…. and a few documentaries! I think I would miss documentaries but anything else not really. I use to watch about 2h of television per day – which is well below the average- but was still too much for me (it was series like NCIS, Hawai 5-0 or the like – nothing ever significant)! Taking out cable TV was the best thing I did… and next will be getting rid of the television all together!
Jorge Navarro says
When our association cut cable as part of maintenance fee 8 years ago, we decided to go without television. In that time frame, with now 15 and 12 year old daughters, no one has complained about not being “connected”. We do watch occasional movies on our Amazon Prime account, but there is so much work to do internally that we average about 1 hour a month. I have enough ADHD without being force fed by the media. Short, but to the point. Thanks Joshua.
Maggie says
I like watching tv series and films from the mid-20th century just to what they have in their (albeit staged) homes. What I see in the staged homes of today’s tv series and film is an abundance of stuff. These days you see children’s rooms chocked full of toys, kitchens full of gadgets, and living rooms replete with excess furniture and general ‘things’ on every shelf. And this is considered “normal”. *shudder*
Bridgette Erdey says
I really enjoyed this post. I recently wrote about the TVs role in our home. We were burgled and the only thing stolen was our TV. You can read more on my bloghttps://berdeyblog.wordpress.com/2014/04/10/thanks-for-taking-my-tv/ Id love to hear your views!
Valiente says
I like this reminder. To be really simple is to live without too much distractions in life like TV. I agree with Kent Julian, if you are watching TV, use the “talk back” technique so that you’ll be able to communicate with TV not one-sided only. If I have a magic wand, TV will be on top of my list to get rid off our planet Earth.
David Y says
I quit watching the major networks years ago. Now it is mostly news, documentaries and classic movies.
I remember how supposedly average people on the shows usually were beautiful, had nice clothes and always drove new cars. It’s hard to measure up to that. We may think we are immune to those images, but they do have an effect.
My sister likes to watch some of those house hunter shows. It is amazing to watch childless couples looking for large, very expensive homes to match their extensive “can’t live without” list.
Kent Julian says
You’re grandfather is a wise man!
When it comes to the influence of TV, we’ve tried to teach our kids to “talk back” to all media. In other words, when they realize something isn’t true, to actually say, “That’s not true.” This habit has created some interesting conversations throughout the years.
(BTW…picked up this strategy from Rick Lawrence.)
German says
Thanks for the “talk back” to media tip.
I will utilize this tool to filter my media consumption.
Nowadays we are careful about what our bodies consume (calories, carbs etc), but we do not really pay attention what our mind and soul consume thru the media.
It’s always good to talk to folks who grew up in radio area. They have so many great insights!.
Rachel N. Palicki says
Your words are so beautiful & true.
The way that I see television is this: it’s a mesmerizing portal in which we become sucked into, and it causes us to compare ourselves to the people we see on the screen & point out our own insecurities.
And we wonder why we always want more & more. We are desiring to fill the “gap” of the ultimate lifestyle, as portrayed on a majority of television channels.
Toni says
Since joining the Minimalist movement, I have started turning off the tv and I am shocked to see how much I get done! It was becoming difficult to find something to watch. I was WASTING so much time watching it. I still watch the news & PBS sometimes, but I am loving the new TIME I have gained! More time to declutter!!
Thank you Joshua!
Marla Taviano says
We got rid of our TV last year and haven’t missed it for a minute.