"Television offers neither rest nor stimulation. Television inhibits your ability to think, but it does not lead to freedom of mind, relaxation or renewal. It leads to a more exhausted mind. You may have time out from prior obsessive thought patterns, but that's as far as television goes." -- Jerry Mander, from the book "Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television."
If you want to feel your best, as well as succeed in life, you're going to have to turn off your television. If you were raised in front of one of these electronic I.Q. reducers you'll have a hard time adjusting, but you can do it! There have been numerous studies done on the advantages of active learning as opposed to passive learning. Active learning keeps your brain functioning at it's peak level, possibly even staving off dementia in your senior years. But without even getting into all the scientific reasons for avoiding television, here are some practical reasons to shut off the "idiot" box right now.
1. You could be reading a book or magazine, learning something new and expanding your world.
2. You could be exercising, walking in the park, getting to know your neighbors, networking with professional associates, or spending some real quality time with your family and friends.
3. You could be volunteering for that charity you've been making promises to for the past decade.
4. You could be doing almost anything that's legal and it would be better than sitting in front of a television.
The point is, if you want to feel better and live better, you've got to get off your backside and move around a bit. You need fresh air, sunshine, and physical activity. Watching the tube just won't cut it. Only losers (and future losers) sit and stare at televisions hour after hour.
It's your choice. What's it going to be?
The human body is truly not designed to be sitting. It is designed for muscular movement.
ReplyDeleteYour article is just plain common sense and I believe maybe it was Churchill or Twain who said this was something in short supply.
P.S. If you are going to watch something, have it engage your mind such as Jeopardy, the History Channel. A mind is a terrible thing to waste and more so for a dull mind.
Leanne Hoagland-Smith
Author of Be the Red Jacket
The human body IS designed for movement and when I just want to "veg-out," that's when I watch TV which pretty much proves your point! I enjoyed visiting your blog and I'll be back!
ReplyDeleteI gave up cable (although I still have a TV...to watch DVDs on) almost 5 years ago. Large and by far, I do not have the time to waste to get into a routine TV-watching schedule. However I will say that when I do watch TV...it is pretty enjoyable. It gives you a glimpse of something outside of our own existence. I proceed with caution and most of the shows that I'm into...only come on once per week. So at the best, I'm wasting 3 hours a week watching TV. A bigger fear that I have with TV is that people watch it and cannot determine truth from fiction. In other words, they can't think critically about what they see.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post and topic.