• HEALTH & RECOVERY
    Welcome Guest
    Posting Rules Bluelight Rules Thread Directory 1 Thread Directory 2
    Mindfulness Links Addiction & Mind
    Sober Living Partner Program (SLiPP)
  • H&R Moderators: VerbalTruist

Abstaining from television watching

Pretty_Diamonds

Pretty_Diamonds

Bluelight Crew
Joined
Jul 13, 2007
Messages
3,382
Location
USA
I believe frequenting forums is a much better alternative to watching TV.

I took a hiatus from my lovely forums and feel STUPIDER watching all those damn marathons. Now, I am back hoping to regain a wee bit of intelligence.

How much TV do you watch?
Do you feel stupider after watching TV? What about long uninterrupted sessions?
What are some healthier alternatives? Interesting, unique ones! (besides exercise and reading).
 
i guess I watch 3 hours or so of TV (in the form of tv shows/movies ive downloaded) a day

but thats a lot less when im not in a depressive self-loathing slump

healthier alternatives imho would be documentaries (good for short attention spans and also learn something in the process)

in regards to books, it does take a while to be able to enjoy novels after watching tv all the time but its a gradual process of improving patience etc so i wouldn't give up on reading per-se

as for day-time television, i can feel my brain rotting if i have to watch something like big-brother for more than 5 minutes...

watching movies/shows ive downloaded doesn't make me dumber, but it worsens my attention span i think
 
How much TV do you watch?
Click to expand...

Let's see, Monday-wednesday 0 hours (though I'll occasionally break this for Antiques Roadshow), Thursday 1-2 hours (Doc Martin, Aibou), Friday 1-2 hours (Moyers & Company, Global Messenger), 2-2.5 hours TV on Saturday (Detective Conan, current Taiga drama (right now Yae no Sakura just started), and maybe I'll watch As Time Goes By before that).

Occasionally I'll watch Rick Steves or Huell Howser, or something on MBC (Korean channel)...but mostly it's KCET (formerly a PBS network, but went solo) and UTB (Japanese channel). And less often some random ass program from any network while bored. Oh not counting the shows I watch online, which ranges from .5-2 hours a week depending on season.

So right now...4.5-7 hours per week I'd say.

Do you feel stupider after watching TV?
Click to expand...

Not when I stick to my regular schedule, but yes when I watch more than that/random-ass-programs. It's a decent way to pass some time, and a legitimate form of art/info. I'd feel stupid if I paid for television perhaps, antenna is the way to go.

What are some healthier alternatives?
Click to expand...
Well you excluded excercise and reading, which are pretty much my go to things. I read a lot, and go on walks...other than that internet stuff....you could spend more time cooking. Socializing if you don't do that, art (music/writing/painting/etc.), meditation...beats me.
 
Podcasts. E.g. The Joe Rogan Experience is something I watch (www.joerogan.net)

I think it's cool because you kinda get the experience of socializing without actually having too..

I guess music is also another good option.

I agree with you, but just curious as to your reasons as to why you think T.V makes you stupid?
 
^ JRE is great.

"Electric valium" my dad calls it. I'll watch Tv series' and the occasional documentary (on my computer, though) so in actual fact my Tv probably gets turned on for less than an hour a week. It was when I realised 95% of the stuff on Tv actually starts making me feel depressed that I gave up flicking through channels aimlessly and replaced it with books and more activity generally. As mentioned above, podcasts and music are great alternatives.
 
Dude, I'm there with you. TV is really addicting. After I recently got sober all I did was school, work, exercise, and tv non-stop in my free time. Matter of fact, that's what I still do. I isolate alot and just watch episode after episode on Netflix. It is actually pretty sad.

Shit, I missed the point of the thread. I know I need to get out and socialize more, which i have been doing a little bit more recently going on dates and what not. After moving back home and getting out of a two year relationship t.v. was my escape, and the casts of it's always sunny in philadelphia and workaholics became my friends :\. I could actually feel either dopamine or endorphins or some feel-good chemical release when I sat down in my basement to my favorite shows. Fucking sad......
 
Thanks everyone for your responses. I really need to find more brain stimulating entertainment.

jobe28 said:
Podcasts. E.g. The Joe Rogan Experience is something I watch (www.joerogan.net)

I think it's cool because you kinda get the experience of socializing without actually having too..

I guess music is also another good option.

I agree with you, but just curious as to your reasons as to why you think T.V makes you stupid?
Click to expand...
There are studies that showed television reduces attention spans. I feel like I do have a shorter attention span especially when it comes to reading. I just to be able to read a lot smoother, faster, longer but now I can't seem to read a fricken page without getting bored. I'm not as quick when I talk or write... I don't know. I think I really just need to start reading again, you know. *sigh*
 
Very little TV, I struggle to hold concentration on it. I find it much easier if I'm with someone to engage in it for some reason. I would struggle to sit through an entire film without drugs in my system. But I have always been into computers and the Internet more so from a younger age and I think it's just down to preference.
 
I stopped owning a TV around 3 years ago, so i never watch it.

I will download movies but usually story heavy movies with complex characters and themes. The only show i download is Game of Thrones because i love the use of dialogue in the series. When im not watching something im usually reading on the internet; forums or articles, or something of interest that catch's my attention, socializing or working out.

I love puzzle games too. Portal, Q.U.B.E, Vessel. Those are freaking awesome because they all require critical thinking and it's fun in the process.
 
I don't own a TV. I hadn't for years when 9/11 happened. I went into work and had no idea what the hell was going on. I had to buy a TV on the way home from work. I kept it for a few years, and then got rid of it again. I hate TV.
 
I don't have a TV. I'd rather be do something like higher maths or physics or banging out with my fiance while talking about higher maths and physics with her.

But I don't think TV is inherently bad.
 
I don't own a TV but I like to watch TV shows on my computer in series. The times I watch TV:
a - when I'm doing something else (my second job requires a lot of mindless work on the computer, so I can do this and keep myself entertained with a TV show at the same time. it makes me want to do the work more lol)
b - when I'm hungover and everything else seems like work
c - movie night with my boyfriend
d - while exercising (keeps me occupied so I can exercise longer)

I don't think I've ever just turned on a TV show and just watched it and did only that. I get bored easily and I can't maintain concentration on a TV show for that long.

Abstaining from TV or at least limiting how much you watch TV can definitely be beneficial in general. There are lots of things to do - yeah exercise, work, reading, etc. Hanging out with friends, learning new activities, music (playing an instrument?), art (painting, drawing, sculpting, etc.), learning a new sport, education (taking online courses), learning how to bake/cook (or learning new recipes).
 
I'm 32 years old. I have never owned a TV, and have not lived in a house that watches TV since I was 20. I use Youtube, and streaming for a few things, but entertainment for me is watching a lecture or debate.
 
I watched a lot of TV when I was a kid, but now that I'm older, out on my own I barely ever watch it at home. I have a TV, but I just watch the odd movie on it or play the playstation from time to time.

I'm probably like many on here, if I'm just hanging at home and want to watch something I'll find a documentary or some kind of program on youtube or vimeo and watch that. And if I want to watch it on the TV I'll download it and put it on a USB drive and just do it that way.

Cable TV I'm just not really interested in, I have cable but I think it's a waste of money honestly, like $50 a month and I watch maybe an hour every second month.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top