No Cable/Satellite TV! Am I the only one left???

Bob_Skurka · Sep 28, 2004

His wife commented that they seem to never watch complete shows because it takes too long to scan thru the "good" ones 

I find I do that when I travel because all the hotel rooms have cable. So I end up spending time surfing the choices and usually see about 1/2 a show. Seems to me your friend should ask for a discount on their service if they only get to see part of the show! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

MossRoad · Sep 28, 2004

I think that much of this has to do with what you do WITH your children. 

THAT is why your daughter is successful... not because she doesn't watch TV. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

RCannon · Sep 28, 2004

( THAT is why your daughter is successful... not because she doesn't watch TV )
And this is what I've been trying to think of a way to say.
TV doesn't hurt them, it's doing nothing but watching TV that does.

DCRC · Sep 28, 2004

( His wife commented that they seem to never watch complete shows because it takes too long to scan thru the "good" ones )

Ah ! They have go you covered there with the DVR (digital video recorders-like TIVO) boxes.

I simply can't live without mine.

Believe it or not it actually cuts down on my TV watching.

I set up all my shows or show that sound interesting to record once or on a recurring timer.

Get home push one button on the remote and it give me a list of all the shows that are recorded and I can watch them in an order, skip commercials, or even start watching a show that is in the middle of being recorded.

If your paying for TV service the definitily make since because it lets you watch TV on your schedule not theirs.

On sundays during the Nascar race I usually catch the begining watch for the first 30 or so laps pause it and go work in the garage or outside for a few hours. When I come back in I fast forward (or fast cue) the race until a pit stop, caution, or unitl I'm back watching live again. I've even pause my show to come surf the web and see what you've guy's posted.

OkeeDon · Oct 1, 2004

Bob, I haven't had time to do more than skim the replies so I apologize if someone has already said this, but I think you are only half right. The half that you have correct is to restrict your daughter's TV viewing to a reasonable amount and to provide plenty of other activities for her.

The part I think you have wrong is the source of your TV. You say you get 10 stations. With the exception of your local PBS station, I'm willing to bet that 9 of them are garbage. I can't think of a single redeeming social value in broadcast TV today. On the other hand, you are missing out on the History channel, Discovery channel (and likely several variations on Discovery with satellite or digital cable), The Learning Channel, some excellent programming on Bravo, great old movies on AMC and Turner Classic Movies that make wonderful family viewing, and a whole lot more that is better for your child than anything on network TV.

Yes, there are hundreds of channels and many of them are junk, but there are many more valuable and worthwhile channels on cable or satellite than have ever been or ever will be on commercial TV. If you're already limiting the viewing time, it's a simple matter to review to viewing content. One of the most valuable ways to do it is to sharethe experience as a family and discuss what you are seeeing. Who knows, you might even enjoy National Geographic TV or the Animal Planet.

Bob_Skurka · Oct 1, 2004

OkeeDon . . . you make an excellent point about the quality of programming, but let me clarify what we actually get and maybe I can move up from 1/2 right to 4/5ths right?

CBS
NBC
ABC
WGN (WB newtork)
WTTW = Chicago based PBS
WYCC = Chicago based PBS with different PBS programming
WCYU = garbage, reruns, etc.
FOX
PAX = (religion network w/mix of wholesome family shows)
UPN = trash network
W??? = N.W. Indiana based PBS with even more PBS programs

So I get actually get 11 stations, but 3 PBS stations, and all 3 offer different PBS programs, I get the networks, and I get some junk. We also have plenty of DVDs and Videos in the house, many produced by National Geographic detailing adventures of Lewis & Clark, the Egyptian empire, Pilgrams, Salem witch trials, etc.

MossRoad · Oct 1, 2004

Ah, 2,5,7,9,11... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

PBMAX · Oct 1, 2004

Bob great timing on this post. Oddly enough when we got home last night niether the of us turned on the tv before dinner to catch the local news. I commented about how nice it was to the wife. She told me that she rarley does andy more. I travel 50/70% of the time during the week so this was supprising news to me. You see the wife is a news junky any thing news or weather.... So we decided to do so more often... if not every evening.

We already have a DTV TIVO and as DCRc mentioned it realy has cut back the amount of tv we watch because it can easly be set to record our shows we do watch weekly weather we are there or not. So we now spend that time we would have been glued to the tube doing other things... knowing we can watch them at our leasure if we choose to watch them at all.. Plus no more commercials they can be forwarded easly thru...

Our Son is 2 1/2 and we try to spend time outside with him when we get home in the yard with the aniamls or following him along the road as he rides his buddin buddin..(battery 4x4) I plane to buy him a bike(with training wheels) hopefully this weekend and my self as well so we can ride together once he is peddling better. he still hasn't quite gotten used to it on the big wheel....plus a bike should be easier to peddle as it's done in a position more akin to walking....

He does have a tv and vcr for some videos. He likes the Tomas and freinds stuff and likes to hear it play while he is in the living room playing with his tomas and friends cho cho set. The boy is a cho cho and tractor nut....So far so good!!! We do plan to let him watch the learning shows for children on limited bases once he is older. Along with maybe Scooby Do and buggs bunny of course...

I also plan to get him a
weemote . Which will help us along with the V chip limit his acces to programming. But no cable or net in the room till he has his own place /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I did without it and was fine...... One channel he will not be watching is Nickleodeon(spelling). I had a highscool pschyc teacher back in 88/89 that showed us a few shows from it she had found her daughter(8/9 athe time) watching. The one had a young girl that in the whole show was back talking her parents, or bad mouthing this person or that one. She had watched a few episodes and then blocked the channel. Funny what will stick in your cell....even when you are 17/18.

Looking back I had access to tv 24-7 from about 11/12 yrs old on. While I did watch it for an hr or 2 each evening I spent most of my time out side after school and on the weekends till I was old enough to drive and work. The best memories of Tv I have are watching Ma and Pa Kettel or old war movies and DUKE westerns with my dad on SAt and Sun morings when it was to miserable to go outside. Then I headed to a nieghbors for cards or board games with the rest of the kids... or they came to ours we took turns torchuring our parents /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I rember at about 11/12 my dad made it very clear to me what he expected as good behavure and how he expected me to behave in certain um... situations...s and what the cost of crossing the line would be. This talk id be willing to bet came from me watching Miami Vice and such and he wanted to make sure I knew the difference between TV and life. But he aslo was very frank and made it very clear I could discuss things up front with him if I felt or new we had not done so before. Don't get me wrong I still had some concrete rules and chores... This I think made me feel I had the choice ultimately and new the price of doing wrong. If I chose to take chances and got cought....

So I plan to give my son a choice of a few diffent thing to watch on tv in a limited time frame or period adjusting each as he grows up. So I guess since this methode worked for me it would work for mine... I think as long as it is done in a positive way Bob and many others have got the right IDEA.... TV can be god or bad influence on you depending on its methode of exposure as anythings can be...

HickoryNut · Oct 1, 2004

Growing up in the 60's my dad had a rule, no shows with canned laughter. For instance, I could watch Lassie but not Mr. Ed. Then "All in the Family" came along and he made me watch Archie Bunker.

We only have rabbit ears and my kids could care less. I do try to buy a DVD every week or so.

AndyM · Oct 1, 2004

CBS
NBC
ABC
WGN (WB newtork)
WTTW = Chicago based PBS
WYCC = Chicago based PBS with different PBS programming
WCYU = garbage, reruns, etc.
FOX
PAX = (religion network w/mix of wholesome family shows)
UPN = trash network
W??? = N.W. Indiana based PBS with even more PBS programs 

I only get one PBS station with my antenna, but I receive FIVE NBC stations (Youngstown, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Steubenville, and Erie). I also get three each of CBS and ABC, one PAX station, and one garbage station (UPN?).

Interestingly enough, I don't get the FOX station closest to my house, but I do get one 60 miles away. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif