In an editor's opinion space on Wednesday, The Lantern's final statement was one of such truth and magnitude that it bears repeating: "Those who want to hear an authentic discussion might want to turn off the television and just start talking with each other."
Turn off the television? What a novel concept. I think we in the United States live in a society where we are bordering on being controlled by the TV. From sensationalized news coverage, to over-analyzed sports coverage, to ridiculous shows that keep us dreaming of an unattainable life to commercials making us buy things that we don't need, we are constantly bombarded with information that is at best useless and at worst harmful.
When I studied abroad in Spain in the fall of 2005, I stayed with a family where watching TV was not encouraged, and the only exposure I got was a few glances per day at the news during lunch. For four months, I roamed the streets of Granada, traveled and did all sorts of things, none of which required me sitting in front of a colorful, glowing box for hours at a time. If I had some time to kill, I read. And best of all, I didn't notice it. I had adapted to life without TV and had basically forgotten of its existence during my entire time in Spain.
In coming back to the U.S., I wanted to continue living my TV-free life, but I realized quickly that the jig was up. Not only was it hard to ignore the lure of TV, but it was increasingly impossible to escape. Everywhere I went it seemed like it was following me. It was constantly on in my house and most of my friends' houses too. I go to a bar, and there it is. Even at the gym you can't help but get sucked into the stupid mtvU that's always on.
I'm not saying all TV is bad. Certainly there are good shows, and interesting things that are on that aren't a total waste of time, and don't make you slightly stupider after watching. There are even informative things on TV, and movies and sporting events that are worthwhile. But those programs are few and far between and rarely do people actually tune in and watch just that one thing they wanted to see. TV is made to be addicting, hooking you, the viewer, into an endless web of must-see TV and season finales you don't want to miss.
The biggest argument I get when I present my anti-TV campaign is that sometimes, after a long and arduous day's work, you're too tired for a book, and you want to decongest your mind. You want to just sit in front of the TV, and watch. And that makes sense. Except for one thing. Why do we need the TV to relax? Are we too afraid to be alone with our own thoughts?
TV's biggest failure, and in the same way its biggest success, is its infringement on our daily lives. It has permeated every aspect of our existence: our work, our leisure, our values and even our thoughts. Nobody spends any time sitting and just thinking, or even daydreaming, but many of us will watch that rerun of "Friends" for the 10th time. Well, I challenge you to change that. I challenge you to turn off the TV the next time you are casually watching it, and do something else. Take some time for yourself. Or do nothing. Even sitting there with the TV off, not doing anything will be better for your mind. Or have we slipped too far to be able to enjoy uninterrupted personal time?
Lev Elgudin is a senior in journalism and Spanish. He can be reached at elgudin.1@osu.edu.
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