Social engineers in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World had a simple plan for indoctrinating children with the values of their society. Recordings of cultural mantras were played again and again under the pillows of infants and toddlers until the messages became carved into their subconscious minds.
To a large extent, we do the same thing to ourselves. We do it through television.
Violence. Greed. Revenge. Exhibitionism. Sex. Vainglory. Materialism. Power. These are the values that form the steady diet our children and we ingest day after day, evening after evening, weekend after weekend.
At least that's how I grew up. Throughout junior high and high school, my parents strictly limited my viewing to two hours on weeknights and four hours on weekends -- a total of 18 hours per week (if I didn't cheat.)
True, that was less than two-thirds of the current national average, but it was over 5600 hours through six years of secondary education. Assuming that my consumption at least doubled in the summertime and during vacations, my total television consumption during those six years adds up to almost 7000 hours, or 290 days. That's four-fifths of a year, about 20% of my waking life between the ages of 12 and 17, spent with my head stuck in the boob tube.
The "boob tube" -- presumably so called because of its power to turn a thinking person into an imbecile. But the term suggests another, more sinister meaning. An infant sucking at its mother's breast cannot draw its sustenance until the nipple is placed squarely into its mouth. And we do the same, with remote controls in hand, allowing foreign thoughts, values, and attitudes to seep into our minds, without even the effort of having to suck.
Our brains are more active when we sleep than when we are watching TV.
According to at least one study, our brains are more active when we sleep than when we are watching TV. Indeed, perhaps television's greatest danger lies not in the corrosive influence of lust, avarice, and the 8000 murders witnessed by an average twelve year old, but in the way it makes us passive, dulling our minds as effectively as lobotomy.
Is this the legacy we wish to leave our children? Do we aspire toward becoming a nation of two hundred million brain stems deadened by thousands of injections of two-second images and five-second sound bytes, unable to follow a syllogism from beginning to end, unable to propose solutions because we don't recognize or understand the problems, unwilling to allow our minds to be stimulated by ideas instead of images?
My wife and I got rid of our TV years ago. Except for the 5-inch black and white that gets pulled out of the closet for such events as the World Series and the Olympics, our house is TV-free. We don't miss it. What's more, our kids don't miss it. They're also reading several years above their grade levels, playing sports, learning musical instruments and, perhaps most important, talking with their parents. You couldn't pay us to bring a big-screen TV into our home.
Turn off your TV for one week. Cold turkey.
Perhaps you're thinking: "I'm different; I don't let it control my life."
Okay, prove it. Turn off your TV for one week. Cold turkey. And if you do last the full 168 hours, you might just find that the joy of reading or conversing or whatever you do to occupy your mind is far more satisfying than the old electronic I.V. drip ever was, and that the sounds of your own real-life existence are far more engaging than the chatter of make-believe people.
Then see if you can keep yourself from going back.
(19) Anonymous, February 15, 2018 12:34 PM
I do not watch TV on Shabbat
This has not always been easy to accomplish, but I am happy to report that I have been reading a lot more. The decision to get rid of one's TV set is a personal one. However, I can understand why people from all religious and secular backgrounds would consider taking such a step. In my home, we have TV free zones. I especially enjoy listening to the radio while I cook!
(18) Tom, May 14, 2012 1:09 AM
I got rid of TV in 2009
Everything you wrote about TV's harmful effects is correct. After years of considering getting rid of TV in my home, I finally did it in 2009 after a particularly sad event. The benefits of no TV have been many. Much more time for study, conversation, and thinking.
(17) Anonymous, October 23, 2002 12:00 AM
two cents about tv
I believe that most people would like to think that watching tv is not wrong - just doing "nothing" for a while. I hold that tv-watching is not just the absence of the positive, but actually an increase of the negative. The negative effects of tv-watching are far reaching and multi-faceted. (And I say this about tv as the medium - before you even get to content.) One cannot imagine the difference until one has separated themselves from the binding chains (yes, chains! Have you ever tried making plans with someone on "Dawson night"?) of tv for at least one whole month.
(16) Rita Levin, June 26, 2002 12:00 AM
TV is not bad
Just like everything in life too much TV is bad. Most people, however, confused too much tv with bad tv. We have TV at home and we watch it almost every night. An yes, we turn it off and sometimes don't watch it at all. We communicate and do other activities. When we watch TV we play a game where we find mistakes or unrealities in what we are watching. I find that very educational, as well as entertaining. So please stop telling people to stop watching tv. Tell them instead to be responsible for everything they do.
(15) Betty Senseman, May 31, 2002 12:00 AM
Excellant article!
This was an excellant article. Everyone should read this. Thank you. Betty
(14) Anonymous, May 30, 2002 12:00 AM
Neil Postman, et al
There is a lot of interesting information about the deleterious effects of television available in books and on the Internet. I recommend the work of Neil Postman. His books opened my eyes. I would also recommend the work of Jerry Mander, and the information about TV Turn-Off Week at http://www.adbusters.org -- although Adbusters is not an organization I support wholeheartedly. Nevertheless, they do have some good informational starting points.
In regard to the previous comment as to the relevance of this topic to Judaism: I suggest that this topic is relevant to everyone, regardless of religious affiliation. So this topic IS relevant to Jews.
I sometimes suggest to non-observant Jews that they refrain from watching television on Shabbat. It is usually a very difficult thing for them to do.
(13) Anonymous, May 30, 2002 12:00 AM
Wow, here's a thought....
Instead of zoning out in front of the idiot box, read enlightening articles at Aish.com!
I wholeheartedly agree with the author. I have seriously restricted my television viewing, have taken up reading, and am finding that my creativity is blossoming and I am feeling more at peace these days. I also feel more confident and secure, as I am not bombarded with images of anorexic, artifically enhanced actresses any longer!
(12) Leslie Boven, May 30, 2002 12:00 AM
Drug of Isolation
My grandparents both grew without television boxes. The generations before them never saw a boob tubes in their whole lives. Were all their lives less boring than ours? How could they be when they actually had to participate in life itself? Television offers us no interaction at all but rather boxes us in isolated worlds that harm our mental state more than we are aware. As humans we are social creatures that require each other, the warmth of the sun, nature, animals, self-sustenance, bonfire, and laughter among other things. Boxed away from our natural environment, the affect of television even causes us enough irritation that a person watching it may snap “leave me alone” to an important family member who happened to walk in the room. Television is a drug worse far worse than heroin because almost every family has addicts to it. There was an episode in Star Trek: TNG about a video game that was brought aboard the Enterprise. Before long, practically everybody in the whole ship was playing the video game instead of exploring the secrets of universe. As I watched the episode, I realized I was doing the same when I could be participating in life, love, nature, and spiritual growth. I don’t re-watch old Star Trek episodes anymore.
(11) Samuel, May 30, 2002 12:00 AM
It is truth
I am glad that the author chose to discuss the topic on its own merit and did not use religious text, because this is a universal problem that all people deal with. TV is a pitiful excuse for living, and though for many it is fine, for many more it is a trap. Thank you for addressing this. akthegqboy this has nothing to do with judaism being against all western culture, if you will scroll to the top of the page, you might read "wisdom for living" and that is what this is about. It is your business that you have problems with judaism, but you don't need to attack anything uttered from a jewish source. For me this article was helpful, and I am glad that it was written.
(10) , May 29, 2002 12:00 AM
ridiculous
This is in my opinion bordering on the ridiculous. Now all of the sudden it is not "Jewish" to watch television. For someone like myself who is on the fringes of Judaism and is really struggling to find even a remote reason for remaining part of the Jewish religion, this isn't helping at all. It seems to me that Judaism is all about constantly fining fault with Western culture. There is nothing in my mind wrong with watching television on a regular basis. Each person has their own definition of what a quality program is. Not to mention the fact that there is absolutely nothing wrong with indulging in mindless entertainment. Why does every thing we do have to have some sort of deep, serious spiritual and or intellectual component to it? Don't people have fun anymore? These messages about getting rid of your television and moving to Israel etc. really seem out of touch with the mindset and goals of the American Jewish Community. I would think that if one wants to inspire people towards Judaism, they would use ideas that speak to the mainstream and not just to satisfy the desires of a very small minority of out of touch so-called group of "rabbinic authorities"
(9) chaim baker, May 29, 2002 12:00 AM
Only A Jewish Issue?
Your article makes alot of sense. Not once in it did you mention G-d, Torah, Jewish, Rabbinical or anything like this. Yet, poster akthegqboy thinks this is a "Jewish" issue. While TV does play a role in certain Jewish or halachic questions, this has nothing to do with the point made by the writer. TV is bad, period. Just because the rabbis said so too doesn't make it rediculous! We gave it up 3 years ago. I also grew up on it. Only after giving it up can you realize what a waste of time it is. The first week or two was downright difficult. After that, it was a breeze. It's quite amazing how little time I have to do the things I need to now and I find myself wondering how much more I missed doing when I was watching 2 or more hours a night!
(8) Anonymous, May 28, 2002 12:00 AM
TV = Nothing
A very nice article.
Although I catch myself watching programs (at times, even the news) that don't stimulate the mind very much, television can be put to good use. As with anything in life there are pluses and minuses. However, there seems to be more downsides to TV than good that can stem from it. In my opinion however, only if we use this item to show educational and/or torah related videos and the like can it really be put to good use. But in that case -- forget the TV and just get a moniter and VCR or DVD player!
(7) Anonymous, May 28, 2002 12:00 AM
Good Advise
Dear Sir:
Thank you for your advice
I hope that many young families will read it and followed it
My husband and I decided when we married (25 years ago) to do not have TV, my children grew up without it and they were not "weird" in their public schools. It is more their friends love to come to our house and play and play a lot because was "nothing else to do".
Today our son is 22 and finishing Engineer career and my daughter is starting her architecture university career this September. What happen with them, well, just a well round kids top or their classes and well balance.
You may said well that is their mother " always bias" oh yes, I am bias, but asking teachers and employees and friends of them you can have the reality of your children life.
Keep the good work and do not give up
It is worth
Thank you
Shalom
Militza Villarroel
(6) David Wolpaw, May 28, 2002 12:00 AM
Middle ground
I agree with much of what you've said, but I don't think removing the TV entirely is the answer. Granted, 99% of television is garbage, but at any given time there are a few quality programs on TV. Why can't we restrict our and our children's TV viewing to these shows? The writer even admits to keeping a small TV around for special events.
Besides, what's so bad about kicking back for a half-hour at the end of the day and shifting your mind into neutral to watch a favorite show?! As long as you don't let it take over your life, as most Americans do, it's not evil. It can, in fact, be a great way to unwind.
(5) Sheryl, May 28, 2002 12:00 AM
BRAVO!!
Well said!!! AND, the hypnotic trance is SO efficient for lulling us into treacherous waters, just like the sirens lured unsuspecting seamen. Anesthesia... The frog on the lillypad who boils to death, ever so slowly. It is SO obvious. It teaches that bad is good and good is bad. The sleepwalkers...
(4) Anonymous, May 27, 2002 12:00 AM
wheew! thats a tough assignment. no tv for a week!
(3) Anonymous, May 27, 2002 12:00 AM
Importance of turning off the TV and turning on life.
BS"D
Well written article on important matter of choosing between TV and other more active and worthwhile pursuits.
One point: The author categorizes "sex" with violence, greed, and a list of undesirable messages drummed into our heads by TV. "Sex" does not belong here. Judaism views sex between married people as an essential part of life.
I'm sure that the author meant that there's too much sex on TV, but it came across as a negative when in Judaism, it's definitely a positive.
(2) PaulaAndra Aigner, May 27, 2002 12:00 AM
This speaks of the positive results of a tv free house.
We got rid of our tv in 1997, after just watching tapes on it since 1995. It has made an enormous difference in our household. People comment on the peace in our home. I have a lot of time to hear from God without any competition. I don't miss all of the, popular, unnecessary things that compete with real life. I get to form my own opinions without struggling with ALL of the competing ones that are sent out around the clock. One doesn't realise, until it is gone, how much static and disunity occupies our environment when the tv is on.
Our son's creativity has increased a great deal, and even though he is just in the first year of Senior High school, his school scores are already in the first year of College. He is also equally at home talking to any age group that he may encounter. He has been forced to use his mind, and to spend time listening to God, and his own thoughts. He's much more articulate than most 15 year olds. He is learning to come up with answers that most kids don't learn to deal with until college or young adulthood.(I used to teach in the classroom, and to work with youth.)
(1) Dovid Travers, May 26, 2002 12:00 AM
TV is a waste of time.
TV is a waste of time, no matter how informative or entertaining. By it's very nature it is a passive act. Compare that with any alternative which requires active participation. This is the difficulty, but ultimately the reward of desisting from bcoming a slave to the "Boob Tube".
A simple test of how valuable the material that appears on TV really is, is to miss your favourite program. once you have got over the fact that you missed it, evaluate what you are actually missing now - zilch! Compare that with a Torah shiur or another worthwhile pursuit. See the difference?
A lot of the trouble with having a TV or doing without one is peer pressure. In society today most people who do not possess or even watch TV are considered odd, not normal. Well the truth be told, they are different, they are proactive actually advancing their minds or their bodies. I guarantee that amongst the non-watchers the prevalence of obesity is a fraction of general public, their interests are a lot wider and they will generally be a lot more aware of world events beyond the superficial gloss that TV news provides.
Good article, well done!