I haven’t owned a television since I arrived back in Jersey late in 2009. I lived in a crummy room for six months while I got my life together again and it hardly seemed worth the bother; plus I had better things to do with my money.
It was during that time that a few things happened. First, I learnt that I didn’t miss the television, not for a minute. I bought myself a cheap old radio and started to enjoy listening to local radio in the morning and sports news and commentaries in the evening. I haunted charity book shops and started to read voraciously. And, crucially, I started to write.
It was several years earlier that I drafted the first chapter of what was to become my first, very raw, novel Barry. Back in Jersey at a pretty low ebb I set myself a couple of targets to focus on. One of those was to finish that book. I did that, but in the process discovered that I was enjoying the writing process. I got the germ of an idea for a second book whilst out running on our Railway Walk (which last saw a train in 1936) and embarked on that project.
Finally, moving into my small, expensive but beautifully located apartment I found that I didn’t have the slightest inclination to invest in a TV. That was over four years ago. Now I am certain that, if I owned such an item, it would only ever be switched on for the occasional football or rugby match. But there’s a pub 200 yards down the road if I want to watch a match with a nice pint.
So I don’t have one. But, here in Jersey at least, families consider a television a necessity – wall-mounted widescreen of course. (And a smart phone – one per family member. And a car, one per adult. At least one foreign holiday a year). People cry poverty otherwise.
So what am I missing? Do you consider a TV vital to your life, or just an ordinary item that most everybody should have? I’m certainly not loftily suggesting that it’s a bad thing – indeed I can’t think that anyone with children would get away without one. But you writers out there – surely you don’t have the time. I know I don’t. I think I ‘keep up’ and know what’s going on in the world. But am I missing vital news, documentaries, things I ought to be watching.
Despite the cartoon I guess it’s not all rubbish so let me know what YOU think.
Back On The Rock 
Roy, this is fascinating as I was planning to write a similar sort of post.
There is a TV in our house, so complicated that I gave up years ago trying to even turn it on. Hubby, by my standards is a complete addict, as in needing telly on all the time he’s here.
I got a black and white portable for my 21st birthday and loved watching sport and documentaries on it. Just 2 stations. Sometimes, I wish I had it back, hanger aerial and all, but really I don’t think Id watch more than Wimbledon and a few other sporty bits and pieces.
So, you’re not alone. Maybe we are missing some great dramas but I would prefer to see mine out doors, like waves crashing and the like.
I reckon the intro of zappers was the killer blow in many households but less said about them the better. Our TV requires 3 for some reason and I used to think that people only had two hands!!! Lol 😁
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Jean I can’t imagine you for a moment parking yourself in front of breakfast TV when there’s a never-ending story going on outdoors. I’m pleased for your affirmation that I’m not missing out on crucial programmes. Good point also about the working of modern appliances – I’m sure I’d just stick to one channel for safety 🙂
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Surely the most rewarding thing about TV is that it enables you to talk to other people about what’s on TV.
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I don’t believe you watch TV much or talk about it. Talk about what – the Great British Bake-Off, Celebrity Big Brother? Talk to who? How are we advancing the sum of human knowledge by talking about TV when we ought to be working or doing something constructive 🙂
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They should be paying us to watch TV. We watch the news, weather and nature…all of the other 600+ channels are worthless.
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Hello Jill! That’s a poke in the eye for all those lovely people sweating to produce programmes for your entertainment – worthless 🙂 It’s a relief that I’m not missing out then.
I’ve just finished reading Pride and Prejudice and they seemed to get along famously without the distraction of television.
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A few nights a week, we watch a movie or documentary on our t.v. It’s quite lovely to cozy up on the sofa after dinner and unwind that way. For us it’s not an everyday thing (except during the FIFA World Cup, of course).
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See now, I think that if I switched on for the football then I might be writing a different sort of blog. It’s wall-to-wall here and I’ve followed footy all my life. Maybe I’d give up reading, writing, running and just watch football for the rest of my life. Possibly I’m in denial, just like walking past cake shops.
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I also don’t have a TV, Roy, for I likewise feel that in between working full-time and maintaining some semblance of social life, I don’t have time for it if I also want to maintain a disciplined writing schedule (which I do). As well, my apartment is already so small, a giant plasma screen would totally dominate the space and make me claustrophobic. Plus cable is expensive!
That said, I did finally get Netflix this January past, and I don’t at all regret it. It’s much cheaper, so I don’t feel like I’m wasting my money by only watching on weekends (more discipline). I find it a perfectly enjoyable way to obtain some visual entertainment, which, I believe, is important for writers. As I watch, I imagine how I would describe what I’m seeing in prose.
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We’re so suited Janna! I really can’t imagine my blogger/writer friends sitting down like The Simpsons and spending the evening watching whatever the networks deem to be best for you. Yes, selective viewing at certain times, by all means.
That said, I’m not so disciplined. I do spend too much time surfing the Net, following Twitter, reading articles. But at least I’m in front of the screen and can give myself a slap and start writing. I have an hour-glass which I must make more use of – write for an hour before breaking to do other stuff. When I’ve done writing I’ll go out and do something.
Good on you with your self-discipline.
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I got a couple of things right with my kids and one of them was ensuring they each had plenty of bookshelves in their bedrooms but no TV. I don’t see TV as such a big threat any more to kids, exercise routines or novel writing ambitions- tablets and laptops have taken over. Who would be bothered channel hopping from rubbish to rubbish with so much internet distraction on hand?
TV for me is irrelevant. I can catch what I want on real player but even that’s not too often as our internet ‘speed’ is a joke.
Where I need to be disciplined is online. I could spend hours on it if it weren’t for the fact that I have certain responsibilities. Teaching the kids to use the net wisely is now the new challenge- not that boring little box in the corner.
I enjoyed the backstory in this post, Roy. The lemonade you made out of a difficult situation. I’ve read Barry and love it all the more for knowing that you pulled it out of that six months in a crummy room.
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Thank you RH. You’re quite right of course about the growing distraction of new technology. One of the reasons I stick to my prehistoric push-button mobile is that I fear I’d waste even more time checking, surfing etc. I absolutely don’t need this intrusion in my day.
Maybe I need to have (new) children to whom to set a good example!
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We got rid of our TV a few years ago as we realised we didn’t watch it and the programmes we did watch could all be found online anyway. Recently we signed up to Netflix and so we now watch something each night with dinner – something relaxing before something productive (eg writing).
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Hello Laura. Yes that makes sense. You need to make a positive effort to choose something half decent rather than zone out with whatever is on the schedule.
I do take great pleasure in ignoring the TV licence reminders that, if you were to believe them, have inspectors outside my door as we speak 🙂
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We ditched our TV when we first moved to Milwaukee, then because of the ridiculous winters, we ended up with a big one in the living room for movies and sports. We had Mr. H’s family over for Packers games all the time, which was really fun.
We left our TV behind when we moved here and love not having one as it such an eyesore, especially in a small place. We’ve been Netflix members forever, so we stream movies and documentaries occasionally. It’s nice to have the option to kick back and watch a good foreign, indie, or classic flick when we’re in the mood for it. Usually we use our free time staying active, going out to eat, listening to music, reading, and of course…writing/blogging for yours truly.
Don’t miss it, but everyone I know has a big ass TV and watches it religiously. Hence the reason I know very few people who read, because they don’t have time for it. : )
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Hi Britt! Many years ago the NFL was screened on terrestrial TV over here and I loved it. I followed the Cowboys, though my (then) wife reckoned I only watched them to see the Cowgirls 🙂
Netflix seems a sensible option. Very occasionally, usually over Christmas, I’ll watch an old film or two via the BBC website and I thoroughly enjoy them, but without wanting to do it all the time. The other thing about radio is that you can be doing other stuff at the same time. Writing is pretty impossible though whilst listening to a sports commentary!
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I certainly don’t watch as much TV as I did – and analysing it, I reckon my non-watching coincided with us getting satellite channels – which we did so that we could watch football. Everything else on these ghastly channels is less than second rate. Give me the good old BBC any time. But even dear old Auntie is now churning out programmes for the masses: gone are the wonderful one-off dramas (I’m thinking Play For Today – a superb series of the late 70’s); very rarely we get a decent three part drama these days.
I make a point of watching University Challenge and I love the odd half hour of comedy but anything else I can quite happily miss, although I have been watching “The Honourable Woman” which has been compelling if a bit confusing.
Could I do away with the telly? Yes, but I don’t think the others would be too pleased about it. I think also, RH has a good point – we have other screens to keep us amused. I’d far rather be reading good blog posts these days 🙂
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Play for Today indeed! It’s just sad that such quality has bitten the dust in the search for optimum viewing figures. The networks know darn well that Mr & Mrs Average will grumble if something like that comes on and they’ll go flicking through looking for a game show or something dreadful. All about audience numbers in this brave new world. All that potential writing talent wasted.
Do you remember Edna the Inebriate Woman and Boys from the Blackstuff?
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Oh yes, those were the days. Abigail’s Party, Nuts in May, GBH, the list used to be endless. And anything by Stephen Poliakoff was always worth a watch.
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It was Patricia Hayes in the title role of Edna. Probably her finest moment. I think she won a Bafta for her performance.
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I did live without tv for a while. I’m not sure why we finally got one again. Probably the kids. I could happily live without it and only watch a couple of shows a week. You’re not missing anything.
My daughter and husband seem to have the tv on all the time. Like they need the background noise of it. Having it on during the day actually depresses me.
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That’s a good observation I think Julie. If you subject yourself to hours of whatever is delivered up to you then it must, to some degree, shut off one’s ability to exercise your mind. You stop exploring, investigating, creating – albeit even at a low level. That would frustrate/depress me, I’m sure. At least there has to be a little bit of discretion and quality control in viewing, and a bit of self-limitation.
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I’m actually surprised by how many of your commenters don’t have a TV Roy as I do tend to think that everyone has one! I have a TV and I do watch it – although I never watch anything live – I record it so that I don’t have to watch adverts. If I look at what’s currently in my recordings it’s a mixture of arts programmes, movies, documentaries and dramas. And say what you like, I also like a bit of reality TV, yes, I’m watching big brother…. 🙂 But then, I also read and write and paint…
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See, at least you use discretion Andrea. It’s the soaking up of everything without discrimination that puzzles me. That said, when I was younger maybe I watched too much TV – possibly my children did as well. There are many things which I wish I’d learnt to do when I was younger that I’m only now beginning to look at and appreciate. Who’d have thought, in the 1950s, that this marvellous new invention would become so invasive and criticised.
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Agreed. We gave up tv 5 years ago and don’t miss the barrage of commercials and all the bad news. We do have netflix and stream our tv by choice. We are on a new adventure and have little time for tv. Pop over to see our new blog as we build our tiny home derrickandlisagettiny.wordpress.com. Likely no room in our new home for a tv. 🙂
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Hi Lisa, nice to hear from you. No one has yet admitted to sitting down to watch TV indiscriminately and, to be honest, that doesn’t surprise me. Those that don’t write or blog! I’m heading over to your blog now.
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Haven’t owned a TV, wide screen, whatever, in 14.5 years. And I rarely (honestly) miss it. Far too many other interests worth my time and attention. 🙂
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Good man Eric. I’m certain there is stuff that is worthy on the TV but life is too short to be a slave to it. Surely better to explore one’s own interests/potential whilst one is capable of doing so. Thank you for your input 🙂
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Fran and I do have an old TV and once a week (or less) we watch a documentary or movie from the local library. A decade ago we had a satellite TV dish for a couple years, but then realized we were watching the news at 6 PM an were still at the TV when the new came on again at 10. Alternatively, now that we have the internet dish, we get to know and interact with wonderful people like yourself – half way around the world no less. Way better than the passivity of TV! I’m with you on this, Roy.
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Thanks Bruce. Certainly, with the Net, traditional TV no longer dominates people’s lives. I’m just reading a social history and, in the early 50s, people were abandoning radio and the cinema in their droves to spend every evening indoors. In the UK there was great controversy over the monopoly held by the BBC with the belief that it was run by Socialists and Commies. So much has changed since then, some of it for the best of course.
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