Two weeks without TV experiment
July 31st, 2007 by Kendall
Introducing to you our very talented guest writer for today, Kendall! You may already know Kendall as my husband. For those of you who don’t know him, I will tell you that he is a great man and the type of person that makes you better just by being around him. For this, and many other reasons, I am happy that he is joining us today. As an avid sports fan he shares both his extensive wisdom and passionate rants over at VIGILANTE SPORTS. While he writes about all things sports, he has a special place for Cubs and Mariners baseball, Michigan college football, and the Chicago Bears. Today we happily welcome him as a guest writer to One/Change.
I’ve not been without a TV in my home ever. When I was growing up I had a TV in my bedroom. A couple of weeks ago my wife and I decided to do an experiment to see what it would be like to remove the TV from our home. How would our interactions change? Would it be the pure bliss that we have heard about from people who don’t own a TV?
Well, let me start with this. Mollie and I don’t really watch a lot of TV. The TV is mainly used for watching DVDs and sporting events. There are a few shows that we’ve gotten into (we both like LOST, and I’m a sucker for Survivor), but other than that the TV isn’t really on. We knew going in that it probably wouldn’t be a huge change, but we wanted to see.
So what happened? Well, 2 weeks ago last Sunday we took the TV down to the storage unit in our basement and locked it up. It had been a pretty focal part of our living room, so we stacked books where it had been. At first it wasn’t a very big deal. We didn’t feel like we were missing anything because it was normal for us to go days without turning it on. There’s something about a long day of work, and a desire to just veg-out that made me long for our TV. Early on in the experiment I found out that I have turned to TV for an easy way to check out of the world. I don’t really like that, and spent the rest of the 2 weeks thinking about that and developing other ways to relax, sans television. I feel the need to confess that we did watch a couple movies on my computer during the experiment. But that really isn’t what the experiment was about.
I’d say that the biggest change was not watching baseball games on TV. Mollie and I both really enjoy following the Cubs and the Mariners, so this was a stretch for both of us. But this past weekend I went to the Mariners game on Saturday with a friend and then on Sunday Mollie and I went together. We decided that if they were in town and we wanted to watch the game, that we could just hop a bus, or walk to Safeco Field, and take in the game in person (bleacher seats are only $7).
So what have I learned from this experiment?
- My wife and I talk more when there isn’t a TV in the house. When it’s easy to just turn on the TV to watch a game, or a movie we’re more likely to do that than talk and listen to each other. This has been the biggest takeaway for me.
- Not having a TV forces me to be more creative. I have to think about what I want to spend my time doing? Going to the park? Going for a walk? Reading? Thinking?
- I really do enjoy watching sports on TV. I miss watching baseball.
- It wouldn’t be as big of a sacrifice as I thought to get rid of our TV.
As of right now (we’re 2 days past our original 2 week time period) the TV is still in the basement. There isn’t anything tugging at me to bring it up. I’m sure we will, but it does feel nice to have it not be something that MUST happen. I think the experiment has caused me to see television for what it is, a luxury item. I don’t need it. I do enjoy parts of having it (mainly watching sports, I can watch movies on my computer). I think the experiment was a success.
If something in you twinged, or tickled when you started reading this, I’d say think about making some sort of change to your TV habits. If you’re someone who watches a lot of TV and couldn’t even consider putting in the basement, maybe try to ration your TV watching. Or cover your TV with a blanket or a scarf to remove it’s prominence in your living space. If you already don’t watch too much TV, consider removing it for a short period of time. See how it makes you feel. What you like and dislike about it. It’s really helped me see my relationship with television more clearly.
July 31st, 2007 at 12:34 pm
I’ve been without television for over five years. I still use it for dvds and video games, but it does not receive a signal of any kind. That might seem like cheating, but I don’t think so at all. With a TV, receiving a signal, it’s so easy to sit there clicking away bored that there’s nothing on any of the 500 channels. With a dvd it’s something I’m doing on purpose and when it’s done, it’s done. I’m not waiting for something good to come on. Also, during football season it’s an excuse to be social and watch the game with a friend instead of rolling out of bed and vegging in my pjs.
July 31st, 2007 at 4:04 pm
I don’t think that’s cheating. I think the important thing is, like you said, making conscious decisions to do what you do. Sometimes it is nice to roll out of bed and flip on the game, but it’s great to force yourself to interact with other people too.
August 1st, 2007 at 4:26 am
I think it\’s a great idea. Like the previous comment, we really only use for videos or DVD\’s. I would be interested to see what feelings are revealed if we removed its function totally.
Cyndy~~
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no
other name under heaven given to men by which
we must be saved. Acts 4:12
August 1st, 2007 at 5:52 am
I’m not too attached to TV shows. I used to play a lot of games on the TV but now I rarely do that, and if I do, usually use the computer. I’m an avid movie watcher, so I do watch those on TV, but agree that it’s not as bad as vegging watching shows all day. There are a few shows I get a kick out of, but if I don’t watch them I’m not dying to see them or downloading them on the internet to watch (though I have done that a few years ago..). Like most things, in moderation, TV is OK.
August 1st, 2007 at 6:34 am
I have noticed that since we moved into an apartment, we have the tv on more, but we do actually watch fewer mainstream shows. Thanks for sharing your experiment with us. Makes us think.
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Great job guys! We’ve been without a TV since high school. We use the computers for movies though, and internet can sometimes be as mind numbing as the tubes.
We’ve also had a video projector for a while, makes movie watching fun.
Anyways, I think it’s great! Keep the TV’s away! I’m hoping Ady doesn’t even know a TV exist until kindergarten…
August 13th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
The TV is back in our apartment, but pretty much remains out of use. We’ve watched it a couple of times since we brought it back up, but all of the things that were learned during the experiment are all pretty much still intact. So it feels nice to have learned and grown and now even when the TV is re-introduced into our living space, it is still able to be contained.
I think that Mollie and I both were concerned about how that would play out, but it’s been really positive.