This is part of a continuing series of email letters exchanged with my Swedish friend, Absinthia. To see the whole series, start with Living a Simple Life.
TV--Putting Life on "Pause"
We have arrived at Part 13 of this conversation with Absinthia... a fitting number for discussing television. 'Nuff said.
Hello,
I
have thought a lot about what on earth might be the reason so many people go on
saying “I don't have time to live simply,” and today I think I've got it! I think
it is television. It passifies you. You sit there, and you receive other
people's thoughts, other people's ideas, other people's activities. You can't change anything. Nothing is in person, and no one accomplishes anything without
throwing money at it.
The
first thing we did when we started our path to a simpler life was we got rid of
the tv. It cost money to have it and we didn't need it for our physical
survival in any way, so “out with it.” And the first two days or so it felt
strange, but after that it felt liberating. So much time to do fun stuff instead of stagnating in front of
the “dumb-box.” Nowadays we get our news from the newspapers on the Internet.
I
no longer get what the charm is with sitting there and staring at a screen with
people running around saying embarrassing things. I don't get the charm in
sitting there hour after hour watching others doing things, when you can DO
things yourself, for real. My husband and I have talked about this more than
once, and we have come to the conclusion that tv actually is more than just a
very passive activity, it has to be a kind of drug.
After
9 years without tv, we just don't get it anymore. Why on earth should we want
to sit on a sofa and stare at a screen showing people doing things?! Why can´t
we sit at the kitchen table and drink tea, instead, where the seats are
comfier, the light is nicer and the background sounds are more discreet? Or
maybe go out for a walk and enjoy the weather and nature!
-
Absinthia
Dear
Absinthia,
I
think you are exactly right when you say it’s a drug. A major reason why so
many people drink a lot of alcohol or take drugs is so they can stop
thinking--about life and things that are bothering them. TV works the same way.
It is hypnotic and mind-numbing.
-
amanda
Hello,
Hmmm,
now you make me think again! ;-)
When
we visit someone, we always end up in their sitting room, on a sofa in front of
the tv for “something to do.” For so many people, tv is seen as
normality, common, and necessary for the survival of civilisation as we know
it--which of course is not the case. Probably quite the opposite, if you think
about it.
I
know there is a silent revolution against this kind of behavior though. More
and more I hear comments like, “Let's sit in the kitchen, it is so much more
relaxed and nice there.“ A small
kitchen revolution has been growing slowly but surely. More and more, people
would rather sit in peace and sip some nice tea. It is a silent and humble
reaction, but a nice and tasty one. ;-)
-
Absinthia
Dear
Absinthia,
I
worry that our culture is being directed by tv, advertisers, media, and
Internet services. I suppose the
best thing is to do what we personally believe in, and let everyone else march
to those ever-present “drums” as they choose.
-amanda
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