Television

So I was reading that 95.9 of households have television

So I was reading that 95.9 percent of American households have televisions… 📺

I guess when I sent back my Neilsen TV survey showing that I watched no television in the past week I was a bit of an odd ball – I don’t even own a television. And to think that I don’t even have internet at home so no streaming video, although I do download YouTube videos using that youtube-dl script and some extra scripts I wrote myself to automate the download of lists of videos I want to watch on the exercise bike.

I don’t like television because I think it’s primarily about promoting state propaganda and fear by the public. It glamorizes violence rather than promoting thoughtful discussion. Even NPR lately has gotten a lot into state propaganda so I listen to that less and less too. Instead of living a life of fear, I prefer to observe nature and read books.

I am a bit conflicted about the use of social media to read news, because some of that is pretty rotten too but at least I can block the hate and violence filled content I dislike. The same can be said about my YouTube watching but at least with my scripts downloading the videos at the library I don’t have to watch the ads and I can choose to watch channels that educate me – put together by real off grid folk, real farmers stepping through the manure and real trappers and hunters cutting up real animals. The stuff I watch is reality, and I’m getting exercise as I only watch YouTube when I’m on the exercise bike.

I have lived in the same rundown apartment for more than 12 years, and Spectrum is still trying to get me to sign up for television and internet with fancy colorful advertising.

I have lived in the same rundown apartment for more than 12 years, and Spectrum is still trying to get me to sign up for television and internet with fancy colorful advertising. Give me a break! You would think after a decade plus they’d figure I’m not interested in all that technology stuff. I’m quite happy walking down the public library or park when I have a need for internet not serviced by my very basic $40 a month smartphone.

Taconics in the Distance