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8/10/08

My New TV Technique

So the other day I posted something about No-TV people and it set me off thinking about it over the weekend. It made me realize I watch a dangerous amount of tv.

But I know there's no way I have it in me to be a real deal No-TV person. I love good movies. I'm a total news junkie (and need my election coverage in the Fall). I like American Idol. And Intervention. And The Misadventures of Flap Jack. And Dog Whisperer. And America's Test Kitchen. And ABC World News... ;-)

I guess what disturbs me about my TV watching style is how much time I burn watching nothing. Sometimes it's just a worthless show on E! or a crap movie (did I really need to watch Mr. Woodcock?)-- and sometimes I watch literally nothing. I'll just flip through the menu searching for something to flag to watch down the road. Storing up crap to watch for later.

But when there's nothing to watch. I watch nothing good. And do nothing good.

So here's what I did today, I used parental controls to block all channels that should never be watched. Right now all I have running are like my top ten channels. Everything else doesn't come up. Kicking it old school sorta. I do like watching TVs. And I do like watching movies. So I'm not going to be a freaky No-TV person-- but I think I can work to become a No-Terrible-TV person.

It's day one and I just flipped through my list of ten channels. And there was nothing to watch. And noticed that the stuff I might have clicked on pre-lock-- I was appreciative to not have the option. So I shut off the tv and I went to do nothing somewhere else. (Like surf around at nothing).

Yeah, I do have the PIN # so I can get past stuff if need be. Right now it serves as a strongly worded reminder. But if I find myself cheating-- I can also have the PIN reset to something I don't know... or something. That's Plan B if need be.

But for now it's a start.

ok bye!
tOdd

20 Comments:

Anonymous Adamant said...

I give this three days and then you take the block off you can't fool us

8/10/2008 8:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

dude, one word: dvr. record high-quality progs and watch whenever. it completely changed the way I watch tv.

8/10/2008 8:04 PM  
Anonymous CJ said...

agree with anon there are better ways to control this then acting like a 5 year old who needs tv mommy

8/10/2008 8:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think it's good. Give it a shot.

8/10/2008 8:54 PM  
Anonymous doc ock said...

stoopid idiot stop being a freak about your tv!!! its not so baddddd!!!!

8/10/2008 9:03 PM  
Anonymous Jinxbymeacoke said...

I have to admit I'm LOVING the summer blog

8/10/2008 9:19 PM  
Blogger Tee said...

DVR is definitely the way to go. It has freed up lots of time for me to do schoolwork and actually socialize with people who are'nt behind an lcd.

I have to say I don't consider watching movies(dvd's) the same as watching television.

8/10/2008 10:16 PM  
Anonymous Acid Freak said...

I only watch one channel

8/10/2008 10:32 PM  
Anonymous markev said...

Our cable was out for two weeks a year ago and we got more done in that time than we had ever! We made a solemn vow to remember that important lesson when the cable came back on. Within one hour of the cable being back on, we were zoned out in front of it. Helpless.

Tivo was what finally got us there. We dont watch live TV ever unless it is big event news. We also consciously stopped eating in front of the TV which was a slippery slope!

Good luck:)

8/11/2008 3:10 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Isn't this like an alcoholic saying he's going to cut back to 12 oz. of liquor instead of the usual 24? He's still an alcoholic. He's just less drunk than usual. And, of course, it never lasts. And it invariably gets worse because the drunk soon congratulates himself and says, I deserve a little more this week because I gave up so much the last month.

It all sounds like you think you're accomplishing something without sacrifice. HINT: You never accomplish ANYTHING unless you are willing to sacrifice. Of course, telling an American he must sacrifice a portion of his prosperity sends him into a desparate panic.

My prediction: The blocks will be removed and you will be back to watching the mindless drek within six months. Why? Because even a tiny sacrifice of a few channels has you anxious. It's evident in your wording--how you approached the subject. And soon you will think you "deserve" to be rewarded for your (supposed) sacrifice and you will reward yourself with the very thing that has you gave up.

You are a TV-holic. Be proud of that because its clear from your little blog entry that you will always be one. The pretense of "cutting back" fools no one.

8/11/2008 5:51 AM  
Blogger Regan said...

I live in NYC, and one summer it was between cable and eating...so I reluctantly chose eating. Because you need cable for even BASIC tv....I had 13 channels of static. NOTHING was on.

For the first week I went thru MASSIVE withdrawal. I caught myself staring at the blank tv while I ate. I cursed my food. I instinctively turned my tv on without thinking several times a day. I didn't know WHAT to do with myself.

And then around the 10th day, a strange thing happened. I stopped missing it. Suddenly I found myself going to bed when I was tired. Of popping out of bed when I was awake. I began reading more and filling my day with activities. I rented a movie every once in awhile...but that was ME CHOOSING. I felt empowered.

I felt ALIVE.

Then one day my neighbor down the hall knocked on my door and said..."Pssst. You want FREE cable?"

He then placed a "pod" under my bed and my body was taken over by the tv people again.

It was painless. Don't be afraid. JOUN US!

8/11/2008 8:45 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just quit fighting it. You are an urban hamster. There really is nothing for you to do except sit in your cage and be a learned helpless pet for the fortune 500 companies. Just sit there and pretend you have a good life and do all those things you see on TV. That's as close as your gonna get.

8/11/2008 9:34 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with Jinxbymeacoke. Odd Todd's Summer Blog is on fire! Is it my imagination or have the updates been more frequent than ever?

As for this topic, dvr and tivo is a great option, downloading is even better. I pay for cable to sooth my conscience, but I've become my own tv program director. Grab Intervention by the season. Watch Idol, if you must, 10 minutes after it airs, with no ads. Find new shows that you'll like, based on what others who are into your shows are seeding. It's glorious, and long overdue for regular distribution. On demand is the way to go.

8/11/2008 9:35 AM  
Anonymous gunlover said...

I only watch foot fetish pornography

8/11/2008 9:45 AM  
Anonymous phxgrrl said...

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 10 CHANNELS, TODD?

8/11/2008 10:18 AM  
Blogger LibrariAnon said...

I loooooove Flapjack!

8/11/2008 11:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Personal
Identification
Number....Number. You fail todd.

8/11/2008 2:17 PM  
Anonymous ALON said...

I can see tOdd all mad in a few months having to get a new TV because he forgot the PIN!! Dude, write it down somewhere, and remember where that somewhere is!!! :-)

8/11/2008 2:37 PM  
Blogger Regan said...

I'd definitely not miss the sci-fi channel and their cheesy CGI monster movies. Ever since CGI became all the rage, they've been cranking out these movies just because they can digitally turn any ordinary animal or bug into a huge monster.

I think they are running out of creatures to digitize tho.

8/12/2008 1:25 AM  
Blogger zedek said...

tOdd,

I'll come over and reprogram the remote (or whatever) and then leave and you'll never get to view those channels again (because I won't tell you the password).

And then I'll eat all your peanut butter when you are not looking.

Love,
~Z

8/13/2008 11:19 PM  

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