Comments about ‘'TV' stands for 'The Vampire' — kill it’

Wow, this guy is on something. First, in mid february, television (let's call it what it is) is not going away. Only a few luddites will be left wondering when it goes. The rest of us have converters in place already. Second, you kid and the kids of society are chasing aliens in a computer game, not watching tv. Finally, if it was trashing your home, that's your fault, not that of television.

I wonder if this is taking things to extreme. For some probably not but it increases attraction as forbidden fruit. There are many good programs no tv. And saying it has gotten worse is a false appeal to emotions that cannot be backed up. I enjoy ball games and other good programs on tv. Reading, playing board games, snowmobiling in excess can be as bad as tv.

The other night I happened to catch a bit of the show "Great Performances", in which "Cyrano de Bergerac" was being performed on stage by top-notch actors. It was an excellent play and actually made me want to read the original work.

A little while ago, I watched a history channel special on the Dust Bowl with my husband. It was excellent and taught me a lot about a time period I didn't know much about before.

I like to watch Sesame Street and other PBS children's shows in the morning with my toddler-aged daughter while we eat breakfast. She loves the songs, muppets, and animation, and I love the wittiness, education, and safety the programs offers.

Occasionally I watch "Nanny 911" while I fold laundry or work out. All the melodrama aside, I pick up some good parenting ideas from time to time.

And yes, I play music, read, study languages, write, cook, clean, and play with my family as well.

TV--like movies, music, internet web sites, and yes, even books--has a lot of good to offer along with the bad. Don't demonize the medium as being wholly evil but rather be judicious about time and content watched.

Studies consitently show that people who rely on television for their prmary news source are extremely uninformed. Turn it off--Read instead.

We've given up TV for a month at a time each year, then allowed it again only on weekends and only limited channels (we're not strong enough to pull the plug completely--yet).

What an amazing change! We are a family of 10, yet without TV dictating our schedules, we find we have FREE TIME to do hobbies! Read books! Play outside! Do family activities!

I always thought of TV as an obnoxious uncle who cares nothing for anyone else, says whatever stupid things are on his mind, and never ever shuts up.

Make it shut up and enjoy your life again!

I've also been without a TV for over a year now. It started as a cable accident which took too long to get fixed. Now my wife and I are hooked on all the free time we've got we've disposed of our TV forever.

My wife and I made the decision to go TV free almost 10 years ago. It was an interesting transition. At times it was difficult, but I will honestly say that my life and that of my family is better. We have the ability to watch cable TV if we were to choose, but no one chooses to do so. Instead we talk, we play together, we read books, etc. I for one feel better connected to my individual family members and my wife because of our decision.

On occasion as I am out of town on business I will turn on the TV in order to find some entertainment to unwind by, but I find that there is really nothing that I find that attractive that I want to give my precious time to, so I choose to read a book or take a walk.

We do still rent and watch movies that we feel will be of value to us.

We've been TV free for 11 years and don't miss it. Our TV is used for DVDs of our choosing (Discovery and National Geo have some great ones).

And no, my kids don't sneak around trying to catch a glimpse of the neighbor's TV for a "fix". To say it will become "forbidden fruit" is laughable. Actively participating in the real world is much more enjoyable - and healthier.

Kudos to Mr. Milne.
We've been TV free 11 years. Even our kids don't miss it.

I've been without a TV for fifteen years this month, and I haven't missed it yet :D

The Milnes are ike the Puritans of old who railed against drama, novels, etc. TV is the literature of our age. Granted, a lot of it is horsepucky that I would never watch, but my TV is a great source of pleasure and learning. I wouldn't give up Masterpiece, the British comedies,"Lost," etc. I LOVE my TV.

I haven't watched TV for years. I can't say I miss it.

I enjoy more peace in our home when the TV is off. TV free too.

I cant begin to imagine how many hours adding up to days adding up to months of my life were lost just to worthless commercial breaks.

Re: Oh Please

I can see you LOVE The Vampire. FYI, the Puritans were not tolerant of the beliefs and actions of others and acted to control them. Deciding not to watch TV program does not make one a Puritan, since this does not prevent others from doing so. I prefer my literature to not come with 25% commercials. Any program on TV can be watched on DVD or download. People that have abandoned TV programs have active control over their entertainment choices, not passive control as is the case with The Bitten.

I don't watch TV anymore either, with the exception of a very occasional commercial free youtube fave, or a movie - its become a dust magnet in our home too.
I feel very lucky that I no longer place importance on the shows I used to think I couldn't live without. I really believe that anyone who does love and watch TV is going to be more stressed out than someone who doesn't, because its feeding your mind with panic and fear constantly, without giving you time to form your own opinions and reactions.
Good luck and please try going TV free for at least a month to see how it can change your life.

Re: Oh please

Part of the reason that the TV has been banned from many people's homes. is because they do NOT Want Their Kids watching Junk. Our mainstream media is controlled (Fox being an exeption) By a bunch of whinging lefties. public broadcasting is not as bad, but is still controlled by people with the same ideas.

a pattern I've noticed is that people who watch the TV conservatively/no TV at all are by my experience free-er thinkers, they have the ability to get outside the proverbial "box" more easily.

TV is wonderful. You just need to select appropriate content and take everything is moderation.

To go with out TV is not to go without entertainment. To take a Television programs out of your homes is moderation.