Is Television Really That Bad?

It is currently very fashionable to shun television.  I constantly hear or read about people bragging that their family has been without a television for X months or years.  We are supposed to be impressed by this.  We are supposed to think, “How bold of them!  How can they live without a television?  Maybe I should try that.”

More often though, you will hear the same sentiment expressed like this: “I’m really not a TV person, I hardly ever watch it.”

To which I say, “Yeah right.”  I used to say this myself… all the time.  Then I began to realize how greatly I underestimated my viewing.  Everybody underestimates their viewing, but that’s not really my point.  My point is that there is nothing inherently wrong with television!  Just like anything… excessive television, and the wrong kind of television is the problem.  We tend to forget this.

Parents who brag about not having a TV are allowing their children to miss incredible shows like these:

Curious George – teaches Math, Science and Logic
Zula Patrol – teaches Science, Astronomy, and Non-Violent Conflict Resolution
Cyberchase – teaches Problem Solving and Logic
Arthur – teaches Social Skills

These parents are, frankly, retarded idiots.  These parents are “typical Americans” who would rather act on what “They Say” (as in “they say TV is bad for your kids”) rather than trying to think for themselves and come to their own conclusions.  Turning off the TV for the sake of turning off the TV is not a sound justification for the action.  That time must be replaced with something more valuable than good television.  The command to “go play” isn’t necessarily more valuable.  However, “go read a book” is vastly better.  No argument there.

This post was prompted by something I read on a boardgame website that I frequent.  Some guy’s kid’s school is having a “Turn Off the Television Week“, so he was asking for boardgame recommendations to play with his family that week.  Boardgames are great and you can learn a lot about problem solving, logic, and social interaction by playing them.  But are they really a more valuable teaching tool than good television?  And just like television, the content and company is what matters.  You might have to stretch your brain to play Caylus, but your mind will be numbed by playing Hungry Hungry Hippos.

Somehow “face-to-face interaction” is surpassing “learning and understanding” on the “List of Important Things For Our Children“.  This is the main reason why video games get a bad rap.  Good video games in moderation can hone the mind.  Sitting around the table chatting with friends may be entertaining, and may yield some social comfort, but will rarely contribute anything to your Knowledge and Understanding.  Most people are ignorant and will gladly fill your ears with urban mythology, hearsay, and 4th-hand information.