TV Poll Followup question

[papabliss]

I hope people were honest about the TV situation at your home. Now is your chance to share what you really want as far as TV's roll in your home. I don’t want to insinuate that your family’s TV habits should change, but rather if you are not totally happy with them, then what would you change?

[PM]

We use it for old movies and the news (European channel). Dd, 22 mos, has never watched (videos or children's shows). So we're fine the way we are.

[rsps]

We do keep ours unplugged in the closet!

[jasnjakesmama]

DS is only 11 months so he doesn't watch. My DD is 8 and she watches maybe one pre approved show a day, sometimes not even. I however, creep into the living room when the little one's are fast asleep and gorge myself on all the trash TV I can take!

I'm working on it. It's an addiction but I could be addicted to worse :

~Jennifer

[AMum]

I am determined to watch less, but haven't followed through on that yet. I keep telling myself that I need to pull the plug & put it back in the closet, tomorrow.

[MotherDove]

too much tv!

I rarely watch tv during the day (though I occassionally turn on a morning "news" show in the morning). I get so mad when I watch news shows 'cos I can see how they promote products and ideas I don't agree with rather than giving the news. I also think they play on sensational news and pictures that end up numbing ourselves to things that should disturb us.
Anyway, we watch hockey all the time. We won't give up tv, 'cos we won't give up hockey. My dh also loves to watch sitcom reruns at night before going to bed. It's a ritual. Dh doesn't read, though he "wishes" he did. We also have some favorite shows like Friends and the Daily Show. We're also watching the Home and Garden channel lately 'cos we're buying a house and want to build on to and decorate it.
I wish we would not watch it every night. It definately saps creativity. I also plan on not ever turning on kids channels for dd as she gets older (she's 8mo). I want to do things with her that are creative and fun and interactive. I'll stay home with her until she goes to school at 5 yrs old, so she won't get sat down in front of Barney but some preschool teacher.
I'm pretty sure we can tone things down as far as the tv goes as dd gets older. (Fingers crossed.)

[laralou]

I chose the last. I would feel disconnected without it at first but I would get over it.

[truly_sarah]

Fine the way we are, since we don't have one. Once in a while we do get a DVD to watch on my laptop, but they are few and far between. My 'husband' and I take turns taking my 11 year old to the movies. I also go to the occasional adult ed program in the evening, with or without my 11 year old.

Lately I have been spending lots less time away from the internet as well.

Sarah

[Dov]

We would not get broadcast/cable again. We're used to not having it now.

The real issue dw & I have with broadcast/cable (even satellite for the most part) is that changing a channel is very low interactivity and that sucks (it's also not really much of a "choice" is it?). We don't want to even look at an ad unless WE choose to do so at OUR convenience. We don't want to be locked into a time chosen by someone else in order to enjoy a drama or comedy or documentary, etc. We want to choose when, where and how we view media. The net to some extent has spoiled us in that way; we decide, we pick and do so when it's best for us.

There's too much to do in life than to be locked into the damned industrial media groupthink. We're supposedly humans, not sheep!

Until "TV" becomes on-demand, interactive and completely about OUR choices, we're gonna stick to using the box to play stuff we want to see when we want to see it. If that means missing out on shows we'd probably like, c'est la vie... and we'll work on spending time living that vie.

Dov

[Irishmommy]

I only watch 2 shows a week, and I tape both to watch when it suits and I have the time. Dh is more likely to veg in front of the tv (I veg here with you lot!!!), and dd is beginning to watch a lot more - she would zone out all day if she was allowed. It's amazing - no matter what show she is watching when I tell her to turn off the tv, it's always her favourite, and can she not just watch it to the end!

[saige]

I dont feel like we watch very much,I used to feel guilty every time Saige watched a video,now I realized a bit of tv is ok.

[Grateful_Dad420]

Tele

We have two televisions that are turned on about as often as Janet Reno. If selective cable was possible where we only got what we wanted and nothing else (ok so maybe the homeshopping network for those REEEEEEEAAAAALLLLY borring times) but other than that nothing else I would watch more of it. But since thats not happening I'll leave the thing just as blank as Bush's face just after he's asked a question.

[B&K]

For the last four years we haven't owned a T.V or a V.C.R, ever since before dd was born who is now three. We were lent a T.V and V.C.R just before ds was born last winter and yes for movies and PBS it was great. We never went as far as getting cable. We have just moved a few months ago and back went the t.v etc.. So here we are in the spring and summer spending our time outdoors, reading books and listening to music. For me it's the perfect arrangement and I would now like to buy a T.V (we were given a D.V.D player as a gift?) and just use it during those winter months when we only do one outing a day. And snuggle up to an occassional movie at night with dh when the kids are asleep. Who knows I may have second thoughts before purchasing. I do miss some shows that I use to watch prebabies.
joy V

[ladylee]

One hour a day for her to watch a video. I never watch TV--DH watches soccer & hockey...

[TreeLove]

We don't have cable, and our VCR just broke. I *wish* we could stuff it in the closet and only use it about 1x/month for a video from the library, but alas I need it. It is my sanity saver. I have 4.5 yo twins, just diagnosed as PDD. The tv seems to be the only thing that they are calm around! I use tv as a non-punitive timeout when they are hyper or fighting, etc

[familyman]

i gave up cable 15 yrs ago over a billing dispute. dont really miss it much(a&e, dicovery maybe). we were at the in laws last weekend who have satalite, 1,000,000 chanels of diaper filler. all that programing and nothing to watch. a&e, bio of some war hero, dicovery, some bio of a war plane. who needs it. if there is nothing to watch, turn it off. its off alot these days.

[Jish]

Diaper filler

[Cakes]

I voted that we are fine wihth what we have/do. We have the tv but no cable and no reception. I allow my 4yo to watch one video a day during the week M-F while I get dinner. Usually it is 30 minutes. On the weekends we are to busy with dad to watch anything. For some reason we get this one obscure channel at night and my DH and I will watch a rerun of "That 70's Show" if all the kiddies are in bed by 7:30. It makes us laugh and takes us back to our childhood. Other then that we don't watch the tube.

Julianne

[prouddfofscorpio]

we have tv, but no cable. watching dvds now and then are fine for us!

[earthpapi]

we have calbe we just leave it on one station to try to watch it when we can. most of the toys are in the living room anyway so it is a combo of watching and playing. our son though does not watch it at all which is good. if he starts i may think about cutting it out more.