Welcome to the online home of Tim Challies, blogger, author and web designer. My first book, "The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment," is now available everywhere.
Read about the blog or about the author.
It must have been a couple of months ago now that Aileen and I got rid of cable TV. We didn’t get rid of the television altogether—we kept it so we could watch DVDs and enjoy the Wii. But we got rid of cable and now have access to precisely 0 channels. Today I paused to reflect on all of the things I miss about having cable television.
Here they are in no particular order:
The end.
« The Purpose of Christmas | Book Review - Worldliness by C.J. Mahaney »
Comments
Click on the star to recommend this story to other readers.
Vote 0 Votes Print ItThis & That
I have now blogged for 2212 consecutive days.
Pretty Little Buttons
Comments (66) »
1. Jamie McBride
November 9, 2008
12:01 PM
My family has been without TV for 5 or 6 years.
Let me add a fourth thing that our family has missed.
4.
2. Chris Giammona
November 9, 2008
12:12 PM
While this sounds like a noble idea, understand that this is a personal choice and I would offer many positive aspects of Cable TV - one being you are probably not big sports fans.
Chris
3. Aileen
November 9, 2008
12:19 PM
Actually, Tim is a huge sports fan. Baseball and Football mostly. When we did have the cable, the ball game (baseball that is) was on almost every night. Tim would have his nose in a book, and the game on in the background. I have to say, I don’t miss that!
4. Chuck
November 9, 2008
12:22 PM
I feel the same way. I got rid of my cable a couple months ago to save money and I can’t really say I miss anything, though I did go to my brother’s house to watch election results twice in the past month. Perhaps that counts as cheating.
5. Susan Lankford
November 9, 2008
12:25 PM
I gave up TV about a year ago, although I did not have a lot of the expanded parts of Cable in the first place. I do find myself in front of the computer quite a bit of the time, but I do read more and spend more time on my hobby. How do you get the news?
6. T. Brents
November 9, 2008
12:28 PM
Since getting rid of cable, my wife and I have found real time to study scripture (surprise surprise) and enjoy one another’s company. It has been a tremendous blessing to us spiritually, romantically, physically and emotionally.
7. Tim Challies
November 9, 2008
12:30 PM
While this sounds like a noble idea, understand that this is a personal choice and I would offer many positive aspects of Cable TV - one being you are probably not big sports fans.
I love sports. It was one of the reasons I gave up the TV!
Don’t think that I’m passing judgment on anyone here who has cable. This was just my lighthearted attempt to suggest that there’s nothing I miss about it.
8. Bernard
November 9, 2008
12:30 PM
Access to 0 channels huh?
They are fast appearing on the internet.
Does the BBC iplayer work OK from Canada/USA?
9. Craig
November 9, 2008
12:34 PM
I find “news” on TV to be particularly poor journalism. This would be a good topic for another post. I think instead of spending a cumulative 5 hours a week watching “news”, spend more of that watching or reading substantive journalism. Some good examples (sometimes) are 60 Minutes, Frontline, etc. Not that I would spend 5 hours a week on that stuff …
10. Chuck p
November 9, 2008
1:41 PM
I remember John Piper stating that it is probably hard for a Christian to grow in holiness with a TV in the house and I think he is right. I don’t watch it and have the basic cable at the cheapest price. May take Tom’s advice and just go with netflix and rent family videos and get closer to my wife.
11. Clark
November 9, 2008
1:47 PM
I’m not sure I could do without my sports. Which is probably a good reason in itself to get rid of the cable. My kids would probably kill me though and they outnumber me. Perhaps I should think about this a little while.
12. David Kjos
November 9, 2008
1:47 PM
We made the same decision when we got married twenty years ago. I’m not a bit surprised that your list of things you miss is identical to mine.
13. Van H. Edwards
November 9, 2008
1:48 PM
I’m glad you guys are exercising your Christian liberty in the area of TV. Just be careful that your liberty does not become a stumbling block for someone else or a stumbling block of pride for yourself.
14. Kristina
November 9, 2008
1:54 PM
We got rid of our cable about 8 months ago, and I really don’t miss it. The few things I watch still come over the analog antenna or I catch them online later on in the week. Over all the household has reduced the tv watching habits to way about 1/4 of what it used to be. I’m loving it.
15. Rachel
November 9, 2008
1:55 PM
LOL.
We don’t get any channels, either. Zero. But we’re thinking about getting it for our Christmas gift for eachother, mostly for PBS and sports. I’m already wondering what we’re getting into…
16. Tim Challies
November 9, 2008
1:56 PM
I’m glad you guys are exercising your Christian liberty in the area of TV. Just be careful that your liberty does not become a stumbling block for someone else or a stumbling block of pride for yourself.
That’s a very good word of warning.
17. Kyle
November 9, 2008
2:11 PM
I miss MythBusters.
18. Justin Farley
November 9, 2008
2:39 PM
We too downgraded our cable package … it takes time to adapt. On another note, I am reading your book on discernment and am so highly impressed with your teaching on this topic. As a youth pastor, I have recommended your book website to the parents and students of our church. Any other books in the works?
19. Kyle K
November 9, 2008
2:53 PM
I lived with a roommate the year before I got married. We decided to get rid of our cable because we were usually too busy to actually use what we were paying for. Another reason we dumped the cable was in order to save some money. Both being 25 years old, we figured that at the current cable rates (~$50/month) we could save over $25,000 if we made it to 70 years old.
What do I miss? The History Channel and ESPN. Now I just fill the void by reading blogs!
20. Jason Chamberlain
November 9, 2008
2:54 PM
We gave up TV about 3 1/2 years ago and don’t miss it at all. We have rabbit ears that we’ve used to watch the occasional sporting event, but with the change to digital broadcasting those won’t work either.
The thing we are happiest about is that our children do not see commercials unless they are at someone else’s house. We don’t miss them either. I used to watch a ton of sports, but now I like having that time back. I realize that there are some interesting and edifying programs out there, but I also realize that there are a lot of interesting and edifying books that I need to read.
21. Amber
November 9, 2008
2:57 PM
my husband and I did the same thing (got rid of cable, but watch movies on our TV). it’s amazing to step away from something that is trying SO hard to get our time and attention and money and then go to someone’s house and watch TV for awhile and realize how often they had succeeded.
22. sarah
November 9, 2008
3:05 PM
Amen! We did that several years ago and haven’t missed it since! Amen!
23. Matthew Carroll
November 9, 2008
3:06 PM
This is comforting. My wife and I have never owned a TV, much less cable. We occasionally watch DVDs on our PC. When the kiddies are watching their DVDs, that means I can’t get to my blogs. At times like that I think, hmmm… maybe we should get a… nah, never mind.
24. Angie
November 9, 2008
3:36 PM
I find this discussion thread fascinating. I happen to work for the cable company, you see. In one sense I love cable - it pays my bills every month. Prior to working there I made a decision to not have cable service for financial reasons and really didn’t miss it. Now I get pretty much everything. As an employee I get it for free, otherwise I might still have nothing. I am amazed (although by now I should not be) at how much garbage is available to watch. When I want to put something on, I have to wade through a lot of muck to find anything decent. I would say that if I were to turn off the cable now, I personally would miss it. I think it is because I am single and live alone and spend most of my free time at home. If I had to pay for it, though, I wouldn’t have it - the stuff I use the most is the stuff that costs a lot to subscribe to. I’d probably find another way of wasting time - like playing Final Fantasy XI…
25. Will Turner
November 9, 2008
3:46 PM
Weather Channel? Fireman Sam on demand? Discovery and National Geographic forcing evolutionary viewpoint down your throat? You don’t miss all those?
Likely we’ll do the same thing in 2009 sometime. We have the DVR and expanded basic in order to record Houston Texan games, but they and the Cowboys are playing pitifully, so we’ll save the extra money. Still, here in Tornado Alley, having Weather Channel is worth the monthly fee. Call it insurance.
26. Jeri
November 9, 2008
4:05 PM
Very good, Tim! :)
And I agree.
27. JeffrO
November 9, 2008
4:44 PM
Great post Tim. My wife and I have never had cableTV in 19 yrs of marriage. We watch the occasional show or sports event on rabbit ears, but the time and money invested in other people and activities has been a blessing over the years. I will be embarassed I’m sure when I look back at my life from eternity and see how much time I wasted on trivial things. But thankfully, I will be able to say it would have been even worse had I had cableTV.
28. michael engle
November 9, 2008
5:13 PM
Way to go Tim and family! You will not regret this decision. We are TV less as well. We use or computers for the occasional movie, but are finding it harder and harder to watch most of them with any sense that it might please God. We gave up Netflix last week.
29. Laurie
November 9, 2008
5:21 PM
I had the same experience. For us it’s been over 4 years, with only DVD’s, and no regrets.
30. Elaine
November 9, 2008
5:23 PM
Our cable is being pulled on Wednesday. Did it take you long to come to conclusion that you miss nothing. I know in the long run it will be better, but right now I can think of lots of things I’m going to miss. :-(
31. Lynn Cross
November 9, 2008
6:39 PM
Out of economic necessity we have not had cable for nine months, and I haven’t missed it one iota (that’s southern speak for bit). We have done this off and on during 26 years of marriage, and it always gets turned on because of “sports.” My husband watched the Alabama/LSU game last night on his computer. I will never miss it. That is not an attitude born from a superior attitude, it is an attitude born of loneliness.
32. Grace
November 9, 2008
7:16 PM
We just got rid of ours as well…but somehow we still get about 14 HD channels and about 30 music channels. I was actually a little disappointed when I realized we were still able to watch TV. It can be such a time waster and I hate the noise:)
33. elan
November 9, 2008
7:27 PM
Dear Tim and Aileen,
I am totally charmed!!! - that after discovering Tim’s bog this evening while looking for book reviews (thank you Tim!) - when I finally wound my way to the most recent post to see ‘who was talking’ - that I should find, first up, posted today such a timely (for me) topic - this Cable TV review! - Oh golly - it’s been the same discovery in our household - after decades without ever bothing to watch TV, (we’re a couple in our 50’s) We decided inorder to follow the recent North American elections (and because we’ve moved to a relatively isolated country-side area that we might enjoy it when the snow falls) - we’d get cable. ….but now, less than a month later - we cannot for the life of us imagine any compelling reason to keep it any longer. (and we figure we could have found just-as-good election coverage elsewhere, as we always had before too). We will probably pay a price ($) to disconnect so quickly, but that’s the cost of education I guess!
High 5 !
PS - I don’t want to sound arrogant (or naive) either - but seriously - my heart bleeds for so many who have this constant morass of distress and stressors flooding into their homes every day, ‘cause it sure ain’t all comradery and team sports! Even with careful planning (I did catch a movie I wanted to see) - many of the ‘sound bites’ I’ve witnessed between channels have been quite disturbing. - Who needs it!
34. Susanna
November 9, 2008
8:11 PM
“That is not an attitude born from a superior attitude, it is an attitude born of loneliness. “
What a telling sentence! T.V. can really rob us of fellowship with our spouses, etc but online access to shows can do the same thing if we are not careful cause there is a whole lot to be found online now too. My husband and I do not have a T.V. but that does not mean we do not sometimes get too engaged with online shows and movies. Ugh…at the end of the day, prayer, accountability, actively seeking time with our spouse, family, friends, etc and good old self -control are the only answers I think!:)
35. Emily
November 9, 2008
8:14 PM
My husband and I decided not to have cable (and hence no reception at all) when we got married. I’d been enjoying the luxury of not knowing what was happening with reality TV or the latest TV ads for the previous 3 years. We’re glad we don’t get tempted by the assault of images on TV, but we do find that we spend a fair amount of time online reading blogs :) And when we go to a restaurant and the TV is on, we’re not trained to tune it out.
We get our news online and via public radio and feel that we have a deeper sense of what is happening in the world this way.
36. sarah
November 9, 2008
9:09 PM
“I’m glad you guys are exercising your Christian liberty in the area of TV. Just be careful that your liberty does not become a stumbling block for someone else or a stumbling block of pride for yourself.”
Sorry, I’m not as generous as Tim. I do hope it is a huge stumbling block for every Christian. I hope they stumble right out of watching TV into studying God’s Word, prayer, and fellowship more! As for feeling self-righteous, I have sooooo many other sins to remind me from where my righteousness comes. I just feel for my brothers and sisters who do not know the joy of quitting TV . All in God’s time…..
37. Gayle
November 9, 2008
9:24 PM
Tim, I’ve been a lurker for some time now, but this post makes me want to post!
When we had four children at home, we allowed them to watch Little House on the Prairie before supper (yes, sappy and saccharine, but safe!). The day a rather detailed audio clip came on during a commercial break to indicate that the crimes of Paul Bernardo would be highlighted on the evening news, we yanked the cord out of the socket, and dumped the t.v.
We suddenly could not justify inviting this horrendous crime, or any other gratuitous fornication, obscenity, or self-indulgent lifestyle into the family room before we would sit down at the family supper table, open Scripture for family devotions, and discuss the days’ events in the lives of our children from a Christian perspective. The network did us a favour, and opened our eyes to the evils of the world that we had regularly invited into the privacy of our home.
Over the years, our children’s teachers repeatedly noted during parent-teacher interviews that they could tell our children were not exposed to t.v. viewing: they were good readers, did not take part in the lunchbreak Hollywood-news discussions, and kept a good level of discernment in all aspects of their lives.
Supper hour discussions were a free-for-all, no subject was taboo, we did not build a wall around them, but we let them discuss the current issues within a Christian environment. The daily newspaper brought in enough stuff to keep them informed, even with a secular and biased twist, but we talked it out. This is NOT a pat on our backs; I am simply thankful that as a parent I did not have to figure out how I could possibly erase the garbage of visual images that they had absorbed, even during commercial breaks! It simply was not worth wading through the endless programs of garbage to find the (occasional) good program.
Our children have now left the parental home, are married, and of the four, one has a t.v., with cable, but she, with her husband, is not sure whether to keep it….realizing it is more of a hassle than a blessing in the home once their two-year-old daughter figures out the “on” button!
38. aryn
November 9, 2008
9:43 PM
No tv reception here. Even if cable were out this far (in the hills) I would reject it . I don’t have satellite dish either.
Mainly for economic reasons but also because 99% (even Discovery and History channels) of shows are slanted to fit an agenda. Many “factual” shows often leave out much important information in order to present a particular view point.
Funny thing is my TV watching friends and co-workers always try to convince me that I MUST get satellite service. They simply cannot believe that people can live rewarding lives without TV. They think we are a little strange or “fringe types” because we don’t know what the latest TV show is !!
We do watch DVD/video of course but it is economical and we can choose exactly what we want to see.
39. David Mackay
November 9, 2008
9:52 PM
I disagree with point 2.
40. chris giammona
November 9, 2008
10:12 PM
Sarah, you said:
“Sorry, I’m not as generous as Tim. I do hope it is a huge stumbling block for every Christian. I hope they stumble right out of watching TV into studying God’s Word, prayer, and fellowship more! “
That is the problem and you missed the point. To assume that one who watches TV does not study God’s word, pray, or fellowship is wrong.
Chris
41. Barry Wallace
November 9, 2008
10:16 PM
Thanks for posting this, Tim. I sent it to a couple of friends who just cut the cord.
42. sarah
November 9, 2008
10:56 PM
Chris,
which point did I miss? I respectfully submit to you that you did not fully read my comment. I never said that people who watch tv don’t ever use the tools of grace. Rather I said, “I hope they stumble right out of watching TV into studying God’s Word, prayer, and fellowship more” The word “more” is the word on which you should focus. To say that I missed the point by saying that people who watch tv don’t ever read the Bible etc, shows a lacking either in that you did not fully read my comment, or you don’t care what I really wrote and just placed upon me what you think I’m thinking, or you were (at least slightly ) irritated at my comment and so you had to put forth a straw man’s argument in order to deem my comment as unsubstantial.
43. Lana
November 9, 2008
11:47 PM
This probably isn’t kosher use of a blog (entering an unrelated message), but I recently came across your website when I was looking for reviews of “Walking with God” by John Eldredge. I’m not sure how else I could get a message to you. The comment section of your review of Eldredge is of course closed (review was in March). I’m hoping you’ll do another entry about Eldredge.
After reading your review, I wasn’t sure I wanted to read the book, but then I got interested to find out how off-beat it could really be. His dog dies and Jesus says Scout is in Heaven. Has Eldredge really gone off the deep end, I wondered. The dog story sounded unusual, for sure. But when I read the book, it had a very different feel. Eldredge is so vulnerable, so honest, so deeply committed to seeking God. I don’t know if dogs go to heaven, but if Eldredge believes that, it doesn’t offend me in the least. Is there a verse in the Bible that says dogs don’t go to heaven?
His theology surely isn’t Reformed. But Eldredge makes no claim of being a theologian. He’s writing about his heart’s search for God. I don’t find arrogance in his writing. Can Reformed Christians seriously find nothing good in his writing? This is a man who came out of a “pagan” alcoholic family, connected with God as a college student, and is now ministering to a generation of deeply wounded people. Those of us who grew up in sheltered Christian homes shouldn’t be hasty in judging people.
I hope you’ll open your heart and give Eldredge another review. How do Reformed Christians propose to heal the deep woundedness of people who grew up without fathers, fell into drug abuse and the ghastly lifestyle that often goes along with such abuse, and now need radical healing? What does Reformed theology have to offer people with broken hearts?
I hope you’ll give this some thought.
44. sarah
November 10, 2008
12:17 AM
“What does Reformed theology have to offer people with broken hearts?”
Christ and His true Gospel. Fuzzy-feeling words will never heal a person’s soul…only Christ can do that. Saying something untrue about the Gospel (dogs go to heaven) is breaking the 3rd and 8th commandment. Christ is not only loving and gracious, He is also holy and righteous.
45. chris giammona
November 10, 2008
12:49 AM
Sarah
Actually, I read your comment correctly. When you state “More” you are really making an assumption that TV is somehow preventing Christians from studying or praying enough. If that were not the case, then they would not need to do it “more”.
My original point was that this is a personal choice and I agreed with the comment that one should not let their Christian liberty infringe on the liberty of others.
Watching TV is not a test of righteousness or holiness.
Chris
46. sarah
November 10, 2008
2:33 AM
Chris,
respectfully, no, you do not understand my comment. What I mean by more is this: the time one devotes to tv could be devoted to using the tools of grace instead. You are quite right that not watching tv doesn’t equal righteousness, but then again I never said that was the case. You alone thought of that idea and then placed it upon me being the bearer of that idea. Actually, I never said that not watching tv and using the tools of grace more equaled righteousness. It was your idea that I thought any one of those things makes a person righteous. I know people who are not Christians who do not watch tv and they certainly are not righteous. Those same people could use the tools of grace all day long and it wouldn’t make them righteous. So what makes a person righteous??? Christ imputing His righteousness onto us through of the use of the tools of grace. The more you use them the more He works through them to make you righteous. He does the work. When I said in my earlier comment (the one you didn’t like), “I know from where my righteousness comes” I was speaking of Christ…not the absence of tv or even the use of the tools of grace.
Secondly, we can never spend too much time using the tools of grace unless it is interfering with the daily activities that need to be done. Watching tv isn’t a daily activity that needs to be done.
47. Mike
November 10, 2008
6:23 AM
We got rid of cable to save money. We miss CNN (sort of).
48. Tony
November 10, 2008
7:11 AM
Hey man your list is blank!
In seriousness, we have been considering cutting the cable off at our house. I get freaked out to see the appeal multiple channels and free time has on our kids. This posting was helpful becuase it shows me that I am not alone in my concern over the T.V.
Thanks.
49. Jim W
November 10, 2008
8:26 AM
I recently got the digital converter box and I get just about all the channels I used to get on basic Cable without the cost. Better picture, too.
50. Lilly
November 10, 2008
11:23 AM
My husband and I gave up TV when we got married, about 2 years ago. It wasn’t really a concious choice - it just happened because cable bills didn’t fit into our budget and we were so busy in ministry. Now we realize we don’t want cable TV back in our home, not only because we wouldn’t even have time to watch it, but because it can be such a huge distraction from everything else.
51. Van H. Edwards
November 10, 2008
11:44 AM
Sorry, I’m not as generous as Tim.
sarah, you’ve done a good job proving that.
52. brian
November 10, 2008
1:59 PM
Whew…
I thought there would actually be reasons… I’m glad there are none.
53. Brother Eugene
November 10, 2008
4:44 PM
Thanks for sharing, Tim!
Here are a few random thoughts on the subject:
At 25, I wish my parents had been more strict with me as a teenager in regards to tv watching.
Thankfully, my wife and I live in rural China and couldn’t watch cable tv even if we wanted to. In China, we could subscribe to Chinese cable tv for about $3 / month, but we don’t even do that.
It is just not worth the temptation to waste time.
Honestly, I haven’t missed TV hardly at all for the past 5 years that I have been living as a missionary in China. When I am back in the States, there are occasionally things on tv that try to grab my attention, but I am rarely even tempted to turn it on.
I had one bad experience with tv in Peru last year. We were visiting my wife’s family in Lima (my wife is Peruvian) and I let her family’s cable connection distract me daily from getting into the Word as I should have, and from getting out on the streets to share the Gospel. I look back on that short period of time in disgust at time that I wasted.
I am so busy nowadays with work, ministry, and family (3 kids: 2, 1, & 3 weeks old), that I can’t imagine when I would have time to watch tv.
54. James
November 10, 2008
7:52 PM
We still have basic cable in our home but I hardly ever watch any more. This past spring the sewer backed up into our house and I have to admit it was hard to tell the difference. ;-P
55. James
November 10, 2008
7:59 PM
“…you did not fully read my comment…”
T.V. watchers are prone to do that, with their short attention spans and all.
56. Robert Johnson
November 10, 2008
9:05 PM
Tim-
I get a feed a blog to my email and the strangest thing happened. The reasons you gave for missing cable tv were blank. Then I checked your website and it was missing the reasons too. Please Tim, tell me I need to know what is you miss. I need to sleep tonight.
57. Brance
November 10, 2008
9:20 PM
My wife and I both had cable before we got married, but we haven’t had TV since we got married three years ago. We both miss the same things you do.
Just think of all those shows we could be watching instead of reading good books, biking together, studying together, spending time with my precious six month old daughter, etc.
Nope, we don’t miss it one bit!
58. Jim
November 10, 2008
10:38 PM
We dumped cable several months ago at our house. We “replaced” our $50 per month cable with a $12.95 per month satellite radio subscription which has been delightful. All the news we could ever want and lots of great music with no commercials.
59. tracy
November 10, 2008
11:22 PM
Well….I’ve never really was too into cable, so I just never got it. It is no big deal. I love all the PBS travel shows, and the korean dramas that have English subtitles. It’s pretty fun…I am tired of being a neurotic, stressed out Christian! It’s FUN to watch good stuff!
60. Michael
November 11, 2008
12:10 AM
My wife and I also ditched our Direct TV after having it for around a month in our first year of marriage. We both agree it was a wise decision, and we are thankful to be free of the filth and wasted time. Since getting rid of it, we’ve found we have so much free time to devote to Bible study, family worship, prayer, reading, & simply enjoying each other’s company. We agree with those who warn that we must be careful not to look down upon others, but confess that we have a difficult time understanding how we, as Christians, can continue to welcome banality & evil into our homes. One of my wife’s favorite quotes comes from Ginger Plowman’s book “Heaven at Home” where she states that “Everything is a spiritual issue. We were created to worship God. Our main purpose in life is to glorify God in everything. Therefore, all that we do is either glorifying Him or not.” 1 Cor. 10:31 says “So, whether you eat or drink, or WHATEVER YOU DO, do ALL to the glory of God.” This is a proof text for the answer to the first question in the Shorter Catechism: “What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” If we’re honest with ourselves, we will admit that the rampant sin that is exalted on TV does NOT glorify God…and DOES affect us negatively. Therefore, how can we, as His children who are supposed to live for His glory alone, follow the rest of the world in welcoming this “liberty” with open arms?
61. Deanna
November 11, 2008
6:56 AM
So funny! My friends all ask over and over where we get the time to read so much. I just laugh and ask what their favorite show is. :)
62. John
November 11, 2008
1:19 PM
We haven’t had a TV since we got married almost ten years ago, and we haven’t missed it either. We watch dvds on our computer, read books individually and as a family, and have friends over to play games a lot.
If I had to list the things we’ve missed by not owning a TV, the list would look like Tim’s. If I were to list the benefits of not owning a TV, the list would be very long.
63. Steve Allen
November 11, 2008
5:37 PM
My last year in Africa, I never blogged, read, played with my kids and did so much in my life. I am back for a short furlough and can’t wait to leave again so I’ll have no TV… People would say I blog too much and I just said, “It’s amazing what you can do when you don’t watch TV!” Thanks for the post, Tim.
64. Trent
November 12, 2008
12:28 PM
My wife and I fell into TVlessness out of the fact that we’d always roomed with people with TVs. When we married, neither of us had one, and my wife was in grad school, so we thought it best not to get one. We eventually did, but only to watch videos. Fourteen years later, we still have that 13” TV, but we only use it for DVDs because the integral VCR gave up the ghost. We now have three boys, and we get two PBS stations via the rabbit ears. We rarely watch it. After going so long with very minimal TV, I don’t know how people who do watch it get anything done. My evenings are so full with kids, interacting with my wife and getting chores done, I have no time at all for TV.
65. Ben Makuh
November 12, 2008
9:15 PM
Amen!
I suppose I’m a bit biased, though, since I’ve never had TV in the first place.
66. Larry Geiger
November 16, 2008
9:27 PM
We don’t have cable but we do have an outside antenna. We generally never watch TV, only the occasional DVD. However, we live in Florida and go into total hurricane mode every couple of years or so. We both get sent home from work and theTV goes on and stays on until the thing is gone! As soon as the hurricane is gone, we might not turn it on for another six months. I’m not sure that I could live without my weatherman fix :-)