That's why I am here!

Or else I'm reading something...

Or napping...

Or whatevering!

and after I was on my own I could only afford what I could get with rabbit ears. To be honest, you don't miss what you never really had. So the first time I had cable was when I was 30. Ironically I've also found that since I've turned 30 I've been gaining more weight over the years. Coincidence? Who knows.

But after this season's "True Blood" ends I'm getting rid of the cable. I've figured I'm paying about $175 a month for something that keeps me sitting on my ass instead of getting out there and doing something. I figured the place of cable I would go with netflix, huluplus and rabbit ears. I figured that will put my TV Internet bill(which include internet) down around $60/month.

I did enjoy watching the election stuff on MSNBC but figured I can do the same with PBS.

internet, sex, woodworking, housework.

Oh, and liquor. Lots and lots of liquor.

Between the 8 hr job and everything else I want to do I hardly have the time to watch even that stuff I really do want to watch Mad Men -currently out of season
Boardwalk Empire -currently out of season
and a daily 30 minute fix of Jeopardy during dinner

So currently, even tho I am not really practicing what you describe (totally no tv), I am pretty close.

Although I do miss sports. I usually go over to a buddies to watch big games.

watchTV? Like all haughty and they are doing something SO much more worthwhile?

I ask them "What were you doing instead? In your garage,
trying to find a cure for cancer?"

A friend of mine, who is unfortunately turning into a wingnut and TV junkie, was watching CNN when I came to visit. I was struck by how spoonfed and simplistic it was delivered; and how much it resonated with him. When I scoffed about how stupid this all was and how I rarely watch TV, he asked me how will I ever find out what's going on. I said by reading on the internet, lots of news sites and blogs where you can read in depth about what the cable news sites gloss over. He got all indignant and said "I got better things to do on the computer!" Yeah, looking at Simpsons comics is earth shattering stuff.

you just don't. Most everything is on the internet somewhere if you think you must. Stewart & Colbert come to mind, although I haven't watched them in weeks. I'd rather read & do internet stuff.

I never watch TV on workdays as I'm busy getting small chores done and getting ready for work, and I don't get home from work till midnight. The last thing I want to do is watch TV: All I want to do is shower off, and quietly enjoy an adult beverage as I read or do a little internet surfing. Catching up on the days news on DU is a big part of that. Oh, it must be said I'm exposed to TV as someone always has the one in the breakroom on, tuned to some sports bullshit or whatever stupid sitcom or reality show. Oh, and the way news is delivered is pure torture; no wonder people are so dumbed down. They usually have it so loud I'll eat my dinner in another room but just the small exposure to it while I'm microwaving dinner, washing my tupperware, or getting coffee is enough to steel my resolve and dislike of TV. I find what's on an extraordinarily annoying distraction that gives me a headache. I just don't like noisy "busy" entertainment.

On my off days I'll watch a DVD movie or 2, or a DVR recorded movie off of TCM. Other than that I'm doing things around the house and yard, reading, or flying my favorite WW2 flight simulator.

My peers are quite amazed at my ignorance of what's on TV, beyond my usual litany of no, no, no to their answers of "didja watch......?"

I did miss the internet at first but after a few days that passed.

You get used to what you have or don't have.

With at least two computers and a fast connection you can watch anything on line.

I could live without the tv, I would miss the internet.

When the Houston economy went in the crapper and I was unemployed for 8 months. Gave up the daily paper too.

I still watched tv, but one year gave it up for Lent and never went back.

Ike was a very interesting experience. Since I was use to no TV, I didn't notice it much. Got my news from the radio and computer. Lot's of friends to visit so no problem with boredom. You socialize more without a tv.

What do I do? Read, write, learn to make cheese, learn to make wine, learn the ukulelia, knit, make presents, volunteer, bake....the list goes on and on. Frankly I can't wait til I retire so I can have more time in MY day.

I never realized how different I think until I went to visit some friends. All they were talking about was the latest new show and raved on and on about these characters lives. I found my self thinking....these are not even real people, do you know your kids this well, or your flesh and blood family and friends.

Getting weaned off TV was the best thing I ever did!

People learned to talk to each other.

Except for the heat and the hunt for ice, it was wasn't that bad.

I was just glad it was September, not August.

has ever been available, and satellite is too expensive and unpredictable out here. Even with the converter box we only get the two local channels, PBS and Faux.

So I'd say for us its a combination of things: we never had the habit ingrained when we were kids, and now we're rural and it's just not readily available. FWIW, my 24 yr old has grown up all her life without teevee but now as an adult she lives in a suburban area and watches a bunch like Glee etc.

I'm never bored - we watch movies from Netflix, read, write, cook leisurely meals, surf the net (and DU), sex and canoodling, hell we even play chess!

I love baseball, so when the Sox are playing, I go to a sports bar.

Last edited Mon Jun 25, 2012, 04:25 PM - Edit history (1)

I don't really qualify, since I watch live soccer matches and DVD's of old shows, but I essentially stopped watching all else in '88 when I was too busy to.

What's really creepy is trying to watch again after a few years -- at a friend's house, say. It's difficult to describe exactly, but modern TV makes me feel as though the world has been taken over by lunatics, narcissists and sociopaths.

This is even true of regular (non-reality) TV shows. The people portrayed by the actors don't speak to each other, they deliver lines. I won't bother to go into what kind of world the people that appear to inhabit the world of TV commercials appear to live in.

Worst of all are the pod-peopled remakes of excellent foreign TV series like The Killing, Prime Suspect, and Life on Mars. I've heard that they're even going to remake the superb French drama Spiral with an American cast and setting.

and commercials - they just make you

it's like you ingested something, an actual physical unease is what I feel

In the end, it was Masterpiece Theater and Monty Python. I found books more enriching.

not since the cable and broadcast channels started their race to the bottom of brainlessness. Imagine, A&E used to be like a commercial version of PBS (it was cited as a reason that PBS was "unnecessary&quot , Discovery showed science, history, and nature documentaries, Bravo showed foreign films, and History showed historical documentaries besides World War II, the Bible, and the occult.

The last straw was when BBC America dropped almost all its dramas and comedies to go nearly all reality show.

I haven't watched network or local news for years, not since I realized how stupid and slanted it was. Now I turn on local newscasts only if there's a big weather event predicted or someone I know is going to be featured.

If I hear that HBO or one of the premium cable channels is showing a good series, I wait for the DVDs.

Otherwise, I read a bunch of newspapers and websites on line.

However, I love foreign films and a lot of older and foreign TV, so I have a large selection of imported DVDs ordered from foreign branches of Amazon, a region-free player, and a Roku streaming player for Netflix and Hulu Plus.

Without paying for anything but basic-basic cable, I have more video content than I have time to watch. If I could cut back even further to just PBS, MHz Worldview and NHK Word (both on public access here in Minneapolis), I would.

I'm also an avid reader, and I always have at least two books going, an e-Book on my phone and a paper book on my bedside table. I also sing in two choirs, volunteer (one regular gig, others sporadically), and go to the gym.

That's in addition to my at-home business.

Really, another few hours in the day would be helpful at times.

(because my Internet is cheaper with it than without it--go figure), and bought a region-free DVD player. I haven't regretted it for a moment.

was mindnumbing crap. Never had a tv in college or in gradschool.

I have one now, but usually if I turn it on, my immediate reaction is: They don't actually expect me to watch this shit, do they?

I guess I keep meaning to watch the nightly news -- but since I can get better info over the internet, I haven't actually turned on the tv for over a year

I stopped cold turkey, and really haven't missed it. I do love to watch movies on DVD (NetFlix is great), but otherwise I prefer to read. Being a natural-born hermit helps a lot.

My TV watching has peaks and valleys. I recall a period where I watched 5-6 hours per day, now I probably average 4-5 hours per week, not counting the kids watching various cartoons while I am in the room. There are some amazing shows that have been produced over the years. I have enjoyed a lot of the recent "high production value" shows like Rome, Mad Men, Deadwood and a few others. I currently enjoy Shameless, both the original UK and new US versions, and I watch True Blood on HBO. I will always enjoy a few classic shows like Archie Bunker and MASH. Plus I can watch the 3 Stooges at any time.

I think it gets boring watching too much TV, but if you pick your shows, you can find some great product to enjoy.

fills up my day.

i just have a lot more things i am interested in.

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One of their good points now is that AMC is one of the best channels for
producing original series today.
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Or streamed. True Blood, Breaking Bad, Dallas. Walking Dead and American Horror Story when they come back. Big Bang a few random others.

But I do admit tuning in occasionally to the trashiest of the trash for shits and grins.

Things like Hoarders and Swamp People and Teen Mom,Those guys eating weird or huge amounts of stuff and Wife Swap.

puzzles; sit and talk with my wife; use the intertubes with my laptop; play with the dogs; play
bebop on my full box Gibsons; and that sort of thing.
Have not had a tv in the house for close to 10 years and never think about it to be honest.

Even when I can get it, which is only when I am in a location where I can get over the air reception, I only watch PBS shows.

However, I do subscribe to Hulu and Netflix so I can get certain shows (Daily Show, Colbert, Frontline, NovaScienceNow)

TV/Radio is corporate trash -- stopped watching/listening 20 years ago. Not boring at all.

It has more to do with quality programming than anything corporate. When I do watch, it's generally something I've DVR'd.

... everything in moderation ... except DU.

grew up with only 5 or 6 channels anyway, out here last time we had one hooked up we got 2 and a half channels (pbs only came in when it rained, oddly enough and it never rains here) broke my ABC soap opera addiction when I figured out I could hook the big arial antenna up to the stereo to hook up and recieve the Tucson community radio station - after that it was adios tee vee - the only time it has been back on was a coupld of times the morning of and days after 9-11.

had cable for a few months when we lived in Tucson - who the hell needs 300 channels of nothing to watch?

Stewart and Colbert are my ONLY "regrets" as I am mostly on dial-up. Recently got a usb modem for using cell data but it is pricey and I doubt I am going to keep it. Nice for using during the thunderstorms, though - I must say! used to have to shut down.

the rest of the family plays games or watched dvds - two have unlimited data smart phones (bastards!) so no need for tee vee at all and when I do encounter it like at a restaurant or even the bank lobby? It jsut makes me feel really weird, like I am on some kind of drug - and THAT makes me realize it is the rest of the world that is on the effing TEE VEE DRUG. Explains a LOT.

Given a choice between expensive cable and the internet (No, rabbit ears don't work well in the City of San Francisco, too many hills.) I have always opted for the internet. Besides, TV has grown incredibly stupid over the years...with the huge wave of so called "reality TV", I couldn't stand to watch it.

TV Commercials have been around forever. There was a time when you would get several during a time slot, but then somewhere along the line, you started getting hit by multiple blocks of them.. sometimes 10 in a row! Who needs that? I can't even remember the last TV series I enjoyed...

Alley McBeal?