25 years, no TV

[blackhawknj]

It's been 25 years since I have had TV at home, haven't
missed it. Somewhat ironic since one of my irksome memories is we moved from Westchester County, New York to Vermont in 1956, my mother and grandmother couldn't be bothered to rig up a proper antenna, so we got only one station, the NBC affiliate. Which resulted in my becoming a reader.
Not a sports fan, so that is no problem, used to watch the home repair and improvement programs, recall seeing a hunting program with Jeff Cooper, read his columns, articles and books for years, to actually hear him speak....
At the risk of being called a prude-which I am in some ways-I find so much of it very vulgar and tasteless. Caught a bit of a "sitcom", the teenage daughter is going out, the mother calls out "Dear, haven't you forgotten something ?", her derrière is digitally blocked out so you can tell she's not even wearing shorts-then the father gets off the couch-in his underwear. It's been a long time since I knew anybody who could even be remotely called "white trash", but I think they would object to a teenage girl-or her father-parading around at home like that.

 

[NikA]

Don't have TV service here either, occasionally watch shows on DVD with the wife. Don't miss it; there's plenty of news on the radio or to read without being bombarded by the boob tube.

That said, my objective on most weekends is to avoid putting on pants, and I succeed a significant portion of the time. I have to spend ~60 hours a week in town and can't be bothered to be uncomfortable on the weekend; it's been nearly 100 degrees here for the past 2 weeks. I will do tasks up to and including light stick welding in a tank top and boxers. No neighbors around to see me and impose their morality on my comfortable lifestyle.

To each their own.

 

[blackhawknj]

I have found coveralls to an excellent lounging garment, and good for sleeping in cooler weather. And I have found books to be a better way to spend, and make better memories.

 

[Poco Oso]

Happy anniversary. I haven't had a tv for several years now. I've found the only thing I really miss is the NHRA drag races. I've always been a voracious reader but this Kung Flu cluster**** is keeping the libraries closed. It's costing me a small fortune to keep myself entertained. Even with using the thrift stores, at four or five books a week, it's getting up there. I've found my own imagination creates better scenes than tv ever could.

 

[blume357]

I think somebody needs to call the authorities and report you......

 

[GRAMPS 51]

I am just the opposite my dad was a TV repair man he went to electronics school right after WW2 I got to sit in front of the TVs he was working on to tell him what was happening on the screen even more so when working on color TVs as he was color blind now a days the TV watches me more than I watch it

Gramps

 

[blackhawknj]

Yes, I miss the libraries. I joke I'm working on my cold winter nights projects during the summer.

 

[Bud0505]

Happy anniversary. I haven't had a tv for several years now. I've found the only thing I really miss is the NHRA drag races. I've always been a voracious reader but this Kung Flu cluster**** is keeping the libraries closed. It's costing me a small fortune to keep myself entertained. Even with using the thrift stores, at four or five books a week, it's getting up there. I've fou
nd my own imagination creates better scenes than tv ever could.

Does your library offer digital media services? I have been using my local library’s digital offerings for a couple of years now. Books, audio books, magazines etc. currently reading James Patterson’s 13 Minute Murder.

 

[reuben_j_cogburn]

No TV for 15 years... I don't really miss it. If I can't find it on DVD, I can download it off youtube.. All the "old", shows are there....

 

[Bob Wright]

I do own a TV, a pretty nice 42" digital HD wide screen thing. What I enjoy most is the DVD player/recorder. I have converted many of my photos to DVDs and can enjoy slide shows. Yes, even a couple of shows showing Rugers, Colts, and Smith & Wessons, and holsters as well. One slide show is somewhat sentimental as there are photos of us "out for a ride" in front of some distant little restaurant, and two in the photos are no longer capable of going on such drives. One sister is dead, the other in a car home.

But I have travel photos, of the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Bar Harbor, Reelfoot Lake, etc.

And, at times, there is occasionally a fit program to watch!


Bob Wright

 

[Paul B]

My late wife and I dropped TV something like 6 or 7 years now. We just used the TV for watching mivies from our rather large collection. (Roughly 1,100+ DVDs at last count. Hollywood liberals may have made money when the were sold but not from me. I'd estimate 95% or more were bought from swap meets, yard sales and pawn shops. Until her passing it was dinner and a movie every night, sometimes a double feature. Remember those?
Paul B.

 

[Jeepnik]

Happy anniversary. I haven't had a tv for several years now. I've found the only thing I really miss is the NHRA drag races. I've always been a voracious reader but this Kung Flu cluster**** is keeping the libraries closed. It's costing me a small fortune to keep myself entertained. Even with using the thrift stores, at four or five books a week, it's getting up there. I've found my own imagination creates better scenes than tv ever could.

Most libraries have downloadable electronic copies of thousands of books. Before I retired I listened to many while driving. I simply switched to the print editions. Some need special readers, but I've found many that can be read on a tablet using one of the apps.

Recently saw a video from the Nashville public library announcing curbside pick up and drop off. Libraries are starting to adjust to the current state of things.

Fortunately my wife retired from the Los Angles Library system a few months before this current mess began. On the other hand, with the libraries closed the staff is staying home and still getting paid. Considering this I'm surprised when I hear folks complaining about folks staying off work and drawing unemployment. What they should be complaining about is that cities are going to raise taxes to pay for staff not working. Said taxes to be paid by folks without jobs.

 

[Jeepnik]

I am just the opposite my dad was a TV repair man he went to electronics school right after WW2 I got to sit in front of the TVs he was working on to tell him what was happening on the screen even more so when working on color TVs as he was color blind now a days the TV watches me more than I watch it

Gramps

Orwell was on to something!

 

[Poco Oso]

Happy anniversary. I haven't had a tv for several years now. I've found the only thing I really miss is the NHRA drag races. I've always been a voracious reader but this Kung Flu cluster**** is keeping the libraries closed. It's costing me a small fortune to keep myself entertained. Even with using the thrift stores, at four or five books a week, it's getting up there. I've fou
nd my own imagination creates better scenes than tv ever could.

Does your library offer digital media services? I have been using my local library’s digital offerings for a couple of years now. Books, audio books, magazines etc. currently reading James Patterson’s 13 Minute Murder.

Yes, they do offer digital downloads. I've tried a few but my hearing is so bad that, even using headphones, I have a hard time keeping up with what's going on. I'm a real visual type person. I mostly need to be able to see the words. Nothing compares to paper and ink. I find trying to listen to a book while I'm driving, or in the shop working, to be too distracting. I either end up missing half of the story, or doing a poor job at what I'm working on.... Or both. :roll:

 

[Poco Oso]

Happy anniversary. I haven't had a tv for several years now. I've found the only thing I really miss is the NHRA drag races. I've always been a voracious reader but this Kung Flu cluster**** is keeping the libraries closed. It's costing me a small fortune to keep myself entertained. Even with using the thrift stores, at four or five books a week, it's getting up there. I've found my own imagination creates better scenes than tv ever could.

Most libraries have downloadable electronic copies of thousands of books. Before I retired I listened to many while driving. I simply switched to the print editions. Some need special readers, but I've found many that can be read on a tablet using one of the apps.

Recently saw a video from the Nashville public library announcing curbside pick up and drop off. Libraries are starting to adjust to the current state of things.

Fortunately my wife retired from the Los Angles Library system a few months before this current mess began. On the other hand, with the libraries closed the staff is staying home and still getting paid. Considering this I'm surprised when I hear folks complaining about folks staying off work and drawing unemployment. What they should be complaining about is that cities are going to raise taxes to pay for staff not working. Said taxes to be paid by folks without jobs.

Jeepnik, my only cyber connection is my cell phone. The screen is too small to be practical for a regular reader. No router and very scarce wifi service around where I am. ( out in the Central Oregon High Desert, makes my laptop virtually useless. They've just started offering curbside pickup, but I haven't used it yet. I live under pretty primitive conditions. I'm kinda, what would probably best be described as, anti-social. It's peaceful, and I don't have to suffer the Portland fools that have invaded our territory. Once a week into town for supplies and books is plenty for me.

 

[Daveboone]

Dad sold electronics...we were lucky to have two Sony Trinitrons in the house, but we also were raised as very avid readers, and the whole family is to this day.That said, I guess you could say we dont watch "TV", as we dont watch anything that is network or series....ok, occ. miniseries. I do watch alot of documentaries, hx shows, and movies. I guess "alot" is comparative. I will go a week or two without watching anything but will be happily reading my books/mags. I guess we can say the time spent watching TV for entertainment value is the same as time spent in front of the computer though.

 

[coach]

My wife loves her kindle. About $100. You only need internet access to download books, then you can read anywhere. Paid as well as free options with libraries are available.
Poor eyesight for reading has lessened the enjoyment of it over the years. I think I’ll keep my high def tv.

 

[Big Old Boy]

We watch a lot of TV but we watch what we want not what they try to force feed us. Most days it’s Fox News our tv is internet based so we can search for what we want. If we tried to watch the network garbage I’m sure I would throw it through the window.

 

[InjunBro]

I've never owned a TV, as a farm kid we had too much work to do to watch & as an adult there's too many books to read. Whenever I was in a motel w/ one I discovered I'm not missing anything... & some people actually pay for it!

 

[375hh1973]

I havent watched tv in about 20 minutes lol. I enjoy Family Guy, Simpsons, and some of the crime stuff. Food network is good too. Havent watched news of any kind in years.

 

[daveg.inkc]

I didn’t have tv in 1980’s. I had 13 ponds to fish in, a 250 yrd shooting range, and a new Harley Davidson 883. I did not miss it. I miss that old farm.

 

[bogus bill]

Our tv is on almost all hours we are awake and home. Mostly Fox news and that is broken up when wife watch's Heartland and those damnable house fixer up or Hallmark channels. Occasionally on these gun sites it seems it`s supposedly "a badge of honer to not own a tv. How do you get your news? It`s a given there is a lot of trash but for us sick, lame and lazy shut in`s they are a blessing.
Personally, I am usually on the computer writing my memory`s and it`s just background noise until something comes on to make my blood boil.

 

[blackhawknj]

On these summer evenings I find it more entertaining to sit on my front step watching the kiddies play.

 

[Kevin]

Occasionally on these gun sites it seems it`s supposedly "a badge of honer to not own a tv.

I would agree with you on this. Kind of funny really.

 

[bobski]

tv was invented for educational purposes.
when it changed to entertainment, it spelled doom to TV's purpose.
I view it now as a toy thats played with and put away.
like any toy, if mom thinks its dangerous or if im playing with it too much..it goes in the closet.
I only have a tv for hurricane or tornado reports.
I use it as a tool, nothing more.

 

[bogus bill]

I recall seeing my first tv about 1949 through a store window. Then about 1952 a neighbor had one and invited a bunch of us boys over to watch a boxing match. It was funny. They had a small living room with about eight of us
rooting for the white guy. About the next year (1953) my folks bought a used one. It was quite a deal!
I moved to California and lived in a little 17 1/2 ft travel trailer. After my first year on the job I drove home to Wisconsin and took my large old tv back to California. It took up the passenger seat and then some. Drove a little sideways with my elbow resting high on top. Got to my trailer and the damn tv wouldn't go through the door!

 

[Kevin]

Driving from Wisconsin to California? I bet you and that tv got to be good friends. That’s really funny. :D

So it wouldn’t fit through the door? What happened to it?

The first time we bought one of the newer style LCD tv’s, I had it for 5 days, and knocked a fan over into the screen, cracking the display. Sweetie wasn’t very happy with me.

 

[bogus bill]

If I told the truth it would be funnier yet. Anyway I gave it away and bought a smaller tv.

 

[Rook]

Times have changed. In the 50s people bragged about having a TV. Now they brag about not having a TV.

 

[Colonialgirl]

Almost six years living aboard a 36 ft wooden ketch in Long Beach, CA harbor; lived with a 14 inch portable TV strapped to a shelf above the double berth. 1972-1978.