I don’t want to watch someone else live their lives.
by Keyyth G. of whataboutkeyyth
Photo from Edwart Visser’s flickr (flash.pro)
TV; we all love it. Everyone has that favorite show that they set time aside to watch. The really dedicated TV lovers have several that they time their lives to. There is something for every member of the family. Cartoons for the kids, lifetime for the ladies, sports for the men, soaps for grandma; there are an endless variety of chooses. Sadly though that seems to be the most exciting part most people’s day, they wake up and watch the news while they get ready for work, on their lunch breaks they catch up on the drama of their soap operas, after which time they spend the rest of the day wondering what new plot twist tomorrows show will bring. Then when the day is don’t they rush home unwinding with their regularly scheduled programs, and end their nigh by listening to the news again; allowing the night anchor redeliver news the morning anchor may have missed.
I myself don’t watch TV for two reasons. The first; I did at one point share the same love for TV as anyone else, and I also had my regular shows that I would make sure that I caught. The shows that I watch depicted situations that I was dealing with in my everyday life. I’d watch and see how the main character would present his problem. Somehow in the 22 minutes of the program he’d managed to make several attempts but fails to fix his problem sparking a few laughs along the way, address someone else’s problem, and ultimately fix his own problem, and learning a life lesson all in that made him better for the experience. I’d engulf myself in the show, but get anger when I see that my own situation isn’t resolved with a TV show-like quickness. I’d adopt a desire for someone else’s life only because they may be presented with adversity but before the day was over they had it solved. I guess you can say I was one of those extreme TV watchers.
The second reason: I don’t want to watch someone else live their lives, I want to experience the excitement of doing something for myself. When we live through the people that we watch eventually we will grow to dislike the life we have. I want to be the person jumping out of the planes, or breaking records in someone’s Olympics. I don’t want to talk with friends about how they life they lived on that one show was exciting, I want to be able to say “they could have made a show from my exciting life.” I’m sure a little TV is fine, but at this time I just don’t have time for TV!
Get up and live, the TV will be there tomorrow;
life is now!
I’m a 22 year old college student currently pursuing my associates degree in computer science. I’m an artist, well I am whenever I get a chance to be which is far and in between here lately.
Moment Matters 
Most of the TV out there is a waste of time. I have my own life to live, without dealing with other people’s drama, especially as seen on the sensationalized news.
I couldn’t agree more TV has its place but we need to live life to the fullest and the only way we can, is to just get up and do it. I say you cannot sore until you open your wings and fly, it is a little difficult to do this on a couch.
TV are not all that bad .. it’s all done to us .. to use it in a healthy way .. I wouldn’t knock it completely – I love my “SUITS” and “DAMAGE” and I’m mad about “Do You Think You Can Dance” and “X-factor” – but it’s on my terms. My mum has TV as company and I think that is great .. she sit in a wheelchair and are 90. Life is wonderful, but we can’t be out there grabbing it 24/7 – we need space for some artificial stuff too.
I get Keyyth’s point here, but it must be used in context. There are ways to catch up on TV – Netflix, DVD’s, online, tons. Our time is burning though, so I would say, get up. TV is bad if we’re missing life because we’re sitting in front of it.
Hey, I love Modern Family, and Damage is pretty interesting.
It’s with TV as with everything else in life .. good in moderation.
Love it! TV is SUCH a waste of time!
I stopped for many years….
I also stopped watching the news in 1983.
I agree with most thoughts here, I can’t say I live the practice. I know I watch way too much TV and would love to cut back a lot.
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I agree with what you say about TV in many respects. Of course, as my mom always puts it, everything can be great as long as it’s in moderation.
I think that there are some TV shows that you vicariously live through, because there’s no realistic way of living that life here in the real world. For example, I love Game of Thrones and Lost! Where else could I “live” on a deserted island or in “Westeros” without going crazy (well, there are books…)?
It’s so true. TV can be so damaging–not only on our outlook on life, but also on our sleep patterns and health in general. Great post!
I grew up without a tv and after I finished university I remember moving to a field station for work for 3 months and we didn’t have a tv or the internet for that whole time – I have never owned a tv since but alas have had to get the internet at home to be able to talk with my partner BUT the internet is going at the end of this month so when I am home I can do things other than sit on my butt like I have to do most of my day at work anyway! We need to stop leading sedentary lifestyles! I hear so many people complain that they don’t have time to work out and yet they never seem to miss the latest episode of that show they love. I guess we all have out own priorities! Each to their own! Great post 🙂
Well said!
In my house……..husband controls TV and I control the computer. He does enjoy some sporting events and half hour of news…which really is no news at all. We also like to see some old old old movies because we are old old old.
Sometimes I think my husband is watching TV and I find he is fast asleep with TV blaring. If I turn it off, he wakes up immediately. So TV does have its good sides. lol
There are certainly times when I too think why am I watching these people instead of living. of course there are other times, like in these days of deep grief over the passing of my mother and sweet Molly two weeks later that tv occasionally provides a respite from sadness. all things in balance yes? thanks for another great post. Beth from middlescapes.com
Great advice! I have given up TV in recent years, mostly because it is so addictive and I’d prefer spending my time doing something else. I have found however that I spend a lot of time staring at my gadgets, although sometimes it is for productive reasons.
Last year we purchased a TV after four years without one. It’s still the same time and thought drain as always. SOOOO little worth watching.
Got rid of the tv 2 months ago, and lovin it. So much time gets wasted in front of that thing.