Tuesday, 7 October 2014

TV Confusion - October 7, 2014

I don’t watch TV.  If I do watch TV it has been when I am amongst people, particularly family members who have certain shows they feel they can’t miss.

I haven’t carried cable since my breakup three years ago and the ex-boyfriend had insisted we needed it, and I pretty much had stopped watching anything on the stations about a year… no even longer… before that relationship ended and I moved onto my own place, cable free.

I no longer remember when I ceased watching as much TV as I once did.  Don’t get me wrong, I always enjoyed it up until a handful of years ago; the best cartoons to me were when I was growing up in the eighties and nineties, and I reminisce about them as I get older. I don’t know why, but somewhere along the way I lost interest, and even when I see the shows that is on these days my brain and eyes just don’t feel a connection.  If I do develop a liking for a show it is because I decided to give it a try via rental at the local libraries on a movie night at home and perhaps I invest in the DVD collection, but most times I rent it, watch it, and then return it.  The rare times my television is on it is usually for a film in the old VHS or a DVD player, or, to play a video game. Otherwise the TV stays off.

I have explained in previous blogs my preference for spending time with loved ones, investing in my hobbies of creating through art, picture taking and writing, or reading books I am intrigued by, walking and hiking, researching, or playing video games.  In case anyone wonders (as most people in my personal life do) this is what I do with my personal time besides working. 

Someone could say I am using the internet so I am able to watch shows online.  But I don’t.  Also, when I am writing online or using the internet for anything it is because I am some other place that is not my home (like right now I am using it at my Mom’s while I am visiting) and even then I am not watching shows online.  Internet is for messaging and posting my blogs these days and that’s about it.

The hilarious thing is that everyone who makes this an issue of this even when I explain what I do with my time.  And, they all have the same thing to say, or rather, their argumentative-like comments are all similar though coming from many different types of people associated with me; and it hasn’t changed in the whole period of time that I lost my strong liking for the television that I once had:

They try to convince me to get cable and tune in by telling me about their favourite shows, and commercials (yes I said commercials)

Attempt to persuade me by implying there might be something wrong with me, like it’s a disease to not watch TV. Or worse, I have actually been asked what is wrong with me!

Even after I explain what else I do for fun they still will ask, “What do you do?” Almost as if the list above of what I do with my personal life went through their ears but didn’t register.  As if they don’t hear anything about a TV in the conversation therefore counts as if I have nothing interesting going on and by asking the question over again it is going to change me.

I write this not to be negative about anyone who enjoys TV and have shows that they like that makes them happy to watch.  This is more for those who maybe have a hard time comprehending those of us who don't watch much television, and, hopefully for those of us who don’t have cable or watch much TV to be understood a little more.

~Ange.

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