Where Knowledge Rules

Home:

Computers & Technology

Get a Widget for this title

Assessing the place of television in our lives

Television used to be my patron saint. When I woke up in the morning I'd flick the TV on and see what was playing. Even if there was nothing good I'd watch just for kicks. I'd watch for a few hours, leaving that lovely flickering light only to fetch food on commercials or for a bathroom break, then take maybe an hour break to do something else - and, invariably, I'd come right back to it.

Now? I watch the news a bit. Check the weather. See if MythBusters is on. Then it's off to work on the computer or outside to enjoy the fine weather. Even in the winter I'm more likely to be outside than sitting and watching TV. And I think increasing numbers of people around the world are like this: while television still has incredible drawing power, it's not nearly as powerful as it once was.

What happened?

Well, this very gem we're sitting on right now. The Internet happened. It provides instant gratification where TV falls flat. If we want to watch a specific television show, we don't need to wait countless hours for it to come on; we just boot up the appropriate website, find the show we're craving and watch away. Piece of cake, really. Besides, you can access way more information online than you ever could on television, so why bother with it?

Now television is a passive form of recreation. When I need to rest for a while I'll lie on the couch and watch TV. Or, when I'm playing video games, I'll use it to play. That's about it. I have no overriding commitment to television anymore, and were television programs to suddenly vanish from the face of the Earth I wouldn't be too depressed. Surprised and jarred, maybe, but you wouldn't catch me jumping off rooftops in despair.

I guess the problem is that we have too much other stuff to do these days. Between video games, the Internet, texting, movies and all those other forms of entertainment, television has been plucked from its leading spot and relegated to a roughly equivalent place amongst the rest. It is no longer the king, just a viable option for families all over the place.

Which isn't to say, of course, that I think television is going anywhere. Far from it. There's still a big place for televised shows in our hearts and homes, and that hole won't be filled by something else for a long, long time - and even then it'll probably be something roughly equivalent, if quite a bit more advanced. But television is surely no longer the mass media baron it once was, and I don't think those halcyon days will ever return.

142610_m Learn more about this author, Matt Bird.
Contact this writer Click here to send this author comments or questions.


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Assessing the place of television in our lives

  • 1 of 31

    by Matt Bird

    Television used to be my patron saint. When I woke up in the morning I'd flick the TV on and see what was playing. Even

    read more

  • 2 of 31

    by A. South

    The image of the typical family spending a quiet evening at home has migrated from scenes of mom, dad and kids at the dinner

    read more

  • 3 of 31

    by Karen Scharmen

    I believe that television does have a place in our lives but when it comes to our children they spend way too much time

    read more

  • 4 of 31

    by Jenkathryn

    Television has progressively become an arena in which Americans walk a fine line between First Amendment rights and abuse

    read more

  • 5 of 31

    by Erich Heinlein

    It was once true the average American watches more than 2.5 hours worth of TV a day. It is what numerous people do when

    read more

View All Articles on:
Assessing the place of television in our lives

Add your voice

Know something about Assessing the place of television in our lives?
We want to hear your view. Write_penWrite now!

102293

Featured Partner

Breakthrough India

Breakthrough India has partnered with Helium, giving you the chance to write for a cause. Browse Breakthrough's ...more

What is Helium? | Buy Web Content | Contact Us | Privacy | User agreement | DMCA | User Tools | Help | Community | Helium’s Official Blog | Link to Helium

Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA