BOY TRAPPED

Where the inside of my mind leaks onto the screen.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Addiction

I just read an interesting email forwarded by my father in law.  The writer tells about a stranger who has lived with them for the past 50 years.  Despite the morals of the parents and the rules of the house, this stranger was allowed to swear, to drink, and to make smoking and sex look cool.  He often interupted family meals, and the children were far more interested in his stories than in listening to their mother.  The punchline?  "We called him simply... TV."

I thought for a moment.  How great would it be if I didn't allow the TV to say anything I wouldn't allow my kids to say?  (Insert mental picture of me on a high horse here.)  Easy to enforce for the kids, I think.  Then I thought about the shows I watch.  (Quick dismount from said horse.)  I'm not sure I can think of a single one of my "shows" that fit this standard.  If I truly did decide to raise the bar for TV viewing in my house, what would be left to watch?

When I think about turning my back on my favorite TV shows, it kind of makes me panic.  What would I do with my time? 

And then that thought kind of makes me panic.  Am I addicted to TV?  Could I stop watching it?

Then sadly, I start to think, "If I really did that, everyone would think I was weird.  My kids would be made fun of."

Do others' opinions really mean that much to me?  Am I seriously factoring that into the decisions regarding the eternal salvation of my family?

I'm not saying I need to turn my back on TV.  And I'm certainly not saying I'm going to.  I'm simply asking myself if I even could, and the answer scares me.

The definition of addiction:

"Being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming."
Hm.

6 comments:

Kris said...

Becoming poor might help you reduce the amount of t.v. watching (not that I want you to get poor or anything). We can't afford cable or anything so we simply don't watch t.v. anymore. It's been kindof nice because I get lots more accomplished and I feel more productive. You really get use to it after a while.

However, I'll admit that when we are DYING to watch a show, there is always the internet. Fox and ABC has their shows on their websites which is kind of nice.

Kirk said...

Although I love TV and watch it far more than Andrea I can honestly say I am not addicted to it. I was able to not watch TV on my mission. Well mostly not watch TV I did catch the end of one football game, saw one super bowl, and watch a UFC paper view fight. Now the last one was with and investigator and all non members, that doesn't make it right but it made good justification to me. Outside of that I really didn't miss the TV.

The question of could I give it up, yes I could. The only problem is I don't want to give it up. There are some important things you learn from TV and it helps keep you current on what is going on in the world and in your area. I realize the show's I watch don't always add to my well being or better me as a person. Honestly though who doesn't enjoy a good show on Discovery or the History channel?

Kenedijs said...

As with everything there are pro's and con's to evaluate, but I've always been a big pusher of moderation and harnessing the greatest potential of an item. It takes a little bit of work, but it can be done. For me, growing up, my mother made sure we knew the rules about watching TV (homework done, piano practiced, chores done) and then what we could or could not watch, and provided movies that would uplift and enhance our education. Every family and person is different, though.

coryshay said...

interesting post... much to think about :)

Anonymous said...

I am totally addicted to TV. Totally. I always use the excuse that it's "research" for the great novel I'm never going to write. But I'm not fooling anyone. Especially myself. No excuses. I am an addict.

Mecham Family said...

I feel the same way. I think I could be more selective about what I watch, but the thought of giving it up completely just doesn't seem possible! :0)