Watching Television

Note: This Hub is written in response to the question, "Why do some people watch tv instead of reading a good book or growing themselves personally?" I'm sure this Hub has a somewhat defensive tone to it; but as someone who is not above watching the occasional television program, I find the presumption that people who watch television don't read or don't "grow themselves" not only incorrect, but just a little insulting. So, it is without any hostility, and yet admittedly with just a hint of defensiveness that I've put together this response to the question.

It is said that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. For many people, watching a little television is a form of "play" (i.e., relaxation, entertainment, leisure). Watching television doesn't always mean not engaging in other, more productive, activities. In fact, those of us who are secure enough in knowing how much reading, "self-development" and "others-development" (i.e., raising children) we've done in our lives can often be quite confident in knowing how little some television viewing will detract from us, or our lives.

I, personally, have never been much of a television fan. Even so, I appreciate a good sitcom that makes me laugh, or the occasional good drama. Although, today, we have many sources of news, I still make it a point to watch at least one of the daily, local, news programs. Like so many other adults in the U.S., I'm a faithful viewer of the "talking heads" program, "Meet the Press" on Sunday mornings. Like so many other views, I make that pot of coffee and settle in to watch the program that not only is informative, but that helps me differentiate Sunday from other days in the week. (David Gregory is fine, but I still miss Tim Russert, almost a year after he passed away.)

The fact that put the morning news on during breakfast or settle in to watch the 11:00 p.m. news with a cup of tea doesn't mean I have not spent a whole lot of time, over the course of my life, reading or otherwise growing. In fact, after spending a lot of time in my youth, reading fiction; since I've been an adult I read primarily non-fiction, including many reference and text books. The fact that I watch two or three sitcoms a week doesn't mean that I don't socialize with friends, spend time exercising to my many fitness DVD's, write, think, or do any number of other things that would be considered "growing" myself, my family's well-being and closeness, and/or my life in general.

For me, when there's that evening when I just decide to stop doing all those other things I do, make that coffee or tea, and just settle in to watch the occasional hour-long drama; it is most often because I need a rest, and both want and need to just enjoy a good story.

My "life history" with television involves having watched it in the 60's, when I was still a kid and home evenings. Even then, I didn't "do nothing but watch tv". Still, I watched a lot of the shows that were on. I generally missed most television during the 1970's because I was single, working, and out most nights. Besides the usual "growing" that young people do, I used most of my other free time to read. I also missed most television in the 1980's (except for a nightly viewing of Nightline, and some morning exposure to Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers). My children were young in the 80's, and their television viewing was limited. I made time for the half-hour of Nightline each evening, as part of my "me time". In the 1990's I would watch a few programs with my kids, who were old enough to watch a couple of sitcoms most nights. It was "family time" for all us, which, in itself, can be a way of "growing" as people. It was in the early 2000's that my kids began graduating, and I found I had a little more time for myself. As a result, I developed the patterns I've describe above and stayed with them to this day. Even so, if anyone were to check out my Internet activity it would be clear that most of the television-watching I do is accompanied by a number of useful, practical, and even "growing" activities online.

The point is that not all television viewing involves someone settling in at 6:00 p.m., with a "tv tray" in front of him, and "vegging out" until bedtime.

I can't stand a lot of the junk that's on television these days. I have cable, but I can't stand a lot of what cable offers either. I didn't want my children spending a whole lot of time watching television when they were little. Still, it has its place, and watching television does not necessarily mean not "growing ourselves" or not reading. In fact, selective television-watching can help a person stay a little more informed, find those few laughs he can really use in this sometimes very sobering world, or just offer some plain, old, entertainment (which isn't such a terrible thing either). For my most recent birthday my son,knowing my approach to selective viewing, and, himself, a very selective viewer (and recent college graduate, as well as well balanced/"growing" individual) gave me the DVD set with the story of John Adams. Not all television- and DVD-watching is equal. I don't happen to believe that making the time to watch those DVD's has taken anything away from my otherwise well balanced, fairly "grown" (and still "growing") self.

While I'm ordinarily about the most selective viewer when it comes to identifying those few programs with "redeeming value" of some sort, I have a confession to make: As my stress level goes up, so does my need to find that leisure activity that will make no demands of my energy. That's not the worst of my confession. This is: Recently, I've discovered the "joys" of watching YouTube videos when I want to take a little time to relax and can't find anything I consider "watchable" on television. I'll look for either beautiful musical videos or else the funniest videos I can find, and before I know it my mood has either been lifted by music or laughter - and that, for the person dealing with the stressful days with which so many adults these days must, is, in itself, a form of "inner growth". All work and no play does make a Jack a very dull boy indeed, and watching television (or YouTube videos) is just another form of play. While my online writing is nothing more than hobby writing; and while it certainly doesn't come close to painting a picture of all the productive/"growing" activities in which I've engaged throughout my adult life; I have hundreds and hundreds of articles on line that would at least, I think, show evidence that, even as a television-watcher, that I'm not some "mindless vegetable" who hasn't engaged in productive thought, introspection, or reading.

When people are secure and mature, there is no need to fear that watching television will turn them into a mindless couch potato. As with everything else in life, television watching, too, is a matter of moderation, balance, and being selective.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." One may think it is inconsistent of me to generally not be a big fan of television and yet to both admit to watching it and also defend it. I like to think Emerson's words apply in this case. Besides, I also like to think that I'm far from being a "dull boy".