11–20 of 63 posts
> Decide on any exempt shows: There may be few shows that you feel are educational and want to encourage yourself and your other family members to watch. That's exactly what I have done. Family Guy is exempt, Seinfeld is exempt if it's one I haven't seen before (I'm new to the US, so I still have that occasional joy)
I'm actually getting rid of my TV when I move. It's not worth the cost, plus 90% of what I watch is on Hulu the next day anyway. I've also thought about buying a Slingbox and hooking it up to my parents cable if I really miss some shows that aren't on Hulu. There are some amazing gems of entertainment on TV but the ridiculous cost is what bothers me ($42 for basic cable, WTF comcast).
I rarely watch shows, but still have a bit of a movie addiction. However, my total weekly watching of video might amount to 2-3 hours, so I'm ok with it. Video games are a much harder habit to kick in the interest of productivity.
When I read "How to Get Rich" by Felix Dennis, I made a list of 10 things I had to do to affirm my commitment. "Get rid of my TV" was #1. I did it and it has made a huge difference. A few points:
- I put a radio next to my computer. It's much easier to work with radio than with TV.
- I watch a couple of shows with my mother and SO on their TVs, not mine. 2 to 3 hours per week.
- I only watch sports at a sports bar. If I'm going to spend 3 hours and $50, I think long and hard about which games are really important. I have also made lots of new friends at Steeler bars. I can't imagine watching a game alone ever again.
- Someone please let me know if Michael and Lincoln are still alive when "Prison Break" ends its run in 3 weeks. This was my last "favorite show". There will not be another.
I'm actually getting rid of my TV when I move. It's not worth the cost, plus 90% of what I watch is on Hulu the next day anyway. I've also thought about buying a Slingbox and hooking it up to my parents cable if I really miss some shows that aren't on Hulu. There are some amazing gems of entertainment on TV but the ridiculous cost is what bothers me ($42 for basic cable, WTF comcast).
>I'm actually getting rid of my TV when I move. I highly recommend this. I've been watching my 'exempt' shows on my laptop for over a year. I'm not quite sure if i will ever have a TV again.
I thought about this, but for me, this doesn't count. Even if the screen is part of a computer, it is still a "TV". Separating my dev and internet machines has made this a moot point.
Based on a lot of our responses, I think a lot of us are just substituting web surfing for watching tv (self included). So how do we keep from just substituting another time sink for tv? How much time do we waste "web surfing" in the evening when we could be doing something else more generative?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
>I'm actually getting rid of my TV when I move. I highly recommend this. I've been watching my 'exempt' shows on my laptop for over a year. I'm not quite sure if i will ever have a TV again.
"I've been watching my 'exempt' shows on my laptop for over a year" I thought about this, but for me, this doesn't count. Even if the screen is part of a computer, it is still a "TV". Separating my dev and internet machines has made this a moot point.
I also keep my work and internet machines separate.
Otherwise, it sounds like great advice. I'll have to give up tv shows and movies for a few weeks to try it.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
"I've been watching my 'exempt' shows on my laptop for over a year" I thought about this, but for me, this doesn't count. Even if the screen is part of a computer, it is still a "TV". Separating my dev and internet machines has made this a moot point.
This is a really good point; I hadn't considered that view. So on your internet machine, do you consider 'mindless internet surfing' watching TV? I also keep my work and internet machines separate.
Activity Value Reasoning
------------------------- ----- -------------------------
watching TV 0 totally passive
mindless internet surfing 1 you do some initiating
actively working 9 usually produces benefits
reading Hacker News 10 basic research :-)