Aladdin Sane

I watch very little TV. Less than ever, I think. I have one show I watch regularly (Invasion), so that amounts to one hour per week.

On the other hand, ask me about the internet. Like Nikki, I am addicted to the internet. I'm sure I spend up to 35 hours per week on line. I need a good shrink.

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Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

pig

for maximum juvenile fun, get some and go sit on a bench at the local mall. spray it over your shoulder on the people behind / adjacent to you, and then refuse to acknowledge their gasps of revulsion. Sure, the last time I did it I was 12. Seemed to pass time then...

I might suggest putting the headphones on, but leaving one ear half-way uncovered. you hear the stuff around you, but people assume you're unavailable. throw in a few "huh? i couldn't hear you...what?"s you can usually control your involvement in unintended conversation. flip side is you can't join in the conversation too much, even if you get a great lead on the emotional state of someone's sister's friend's neice, or else they'll know you're selectively disengaging.

that said, my experience is that some forbearance with other people's little bits of useless conversation can be useful as well...otherwise you tend to alienate yourself completely from the group - which can be difficult when you need to get something done, etc. live by the don't-talk-to-me sword, die by the don't-talk-to-me sword. Kind of funny - cultural anthropologist who just wants to be left alone. Ah, the vagaries of grad. school

so, in the end, would you say that your issue is more a desire to be less distracted in the time that you have to spend in the computer lab, related to the frustration of finishing your degree, or a distaste for television, or a desire to retire to Walden Pond and start on a treatise of social revolution?

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You don't love me, you just love my piggy style

abaya

Well it's not so much that I want to be left alone, just left alone by people who have nothing very stimulating or original to say. Humor is good, too... but not when it's borrowed from someone else (e.g. taken from a TV show last night). Maybe I'm just too picky.. then again, I really am an introvert. I just happened to like studying different cultures, which means I have to deal with people, too... but that doesn't make me LIKE them all the time. Small doses...

As for your second question... it's not so much that I hate television, but I hate that it is such a colossal waste of time and brain cells for most people. When I watch it I get sucked in for hours and start wanting to buy things that I never thought I'd need.. and I don't like that influence on my life.

But yes, I am a transcendentalist at heart, so Walden Pond would be just fine for me. Social revolution, yes!! Kill your television. Read more.

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And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran

Prince

I used to watch TV a lot, but then...
...Dr. Romano got squished by a helicopter. End of interest in ER.
...I discovered MMORPGs. End of free time.

Once The Sopranos starts again in March, I'll pay more attention again.

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Who is John Galt?

flamingdog

I do think it's the snotty attitude some people have over not watching TV that makes people react to them like they're aliens. It's basically shorthand for 'I think I'm cleverer than you'. On the other hand, the concept of devoting time to watching TV in order to have something to talk about at work seems like a really sad idea to me. I'd rather spend my time on things for me, and fuck the water-cooler conversation.

I tend to think that TV advertising is all-pervasive... as in, it's not just the commercial breaks that are preaching to you. To me, it seems like the shows point out all the 'problems' you have, inventing a couple for good measure, then the ads show you the solutions. You don't have to look too far beneath the surface to see it going on.

And I find this quote illustrative:

DJ Happy

I like the way people who say they don't watch TV then follow up the comment with a list of the shows they enjoy.