• Failure of.. (reading/tv/blu-ray)

    From Ogg@21:4/106.21 to Nightfox on Wed Feb 1 18:25:00 2023
    Hello Nightfox!

    I heard that people used to say similar things about books
    (that they're mind-rotting etc.) before TV came aorund.

    Reading and literacy have always been regarded as valued skills
    and ability. I wonder if what you heard (ie. mind-rotting) was
    from a select small group.

    Sounds like a lot of "sky is falling" kind of over-
    worrying. I don't think we are beholden to TV.

    But I bet that many people consider tv is "easier" than reading
    or not worth the effort. I had a young family in my book shop
    one time and one of their kids runs up to their dad "Look what
    I found!" ..and asked for permission to buy it. The dad said,
    "You don't need that. We saw the movie."




    --- OpenXP 5.0.57
    * Origin: Ogg's WestCoast Point (21:4/106.21)
  • From Nightfox@21:1/137 to Ogg on Wed Feb 1 17:14:12 2023
    Re: Failure of.. (reading/tv/blu-ray)
    By: Ogg to Nightfox on Wed Feb 01 2023 06:25 pm

    Sounds like a lot of "sky is falling" kind of over-
    worrying. I don't think we are beholden to TV.

    But I bet that many people consider tv is "easier" than reading

    Still, I don't really think TV is addicting like a drug, and I don't think there are significant adverse affects due only to TV. People can spend too much time doing a particular thing, and that's not unique to watching TV.

    Nightfox
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
    * Origin: Digital Distortion: digdist.synchro.net (21:1/137)
  • From Ogg@21:3/110.10 to Nightfox on Wed Feb 1 20:43:00 2023
    Hello Nightfox!

    Still, I don't really think TV is addicting like a drug,
    and I don't think there are significant adverse affects due
    only to TV. People can spend too much time doing a
    particular thing, and that's not unique to watching TV.

    In my experience tv can be addicting. My mom would insist NOT
    missing the Young and the Restless everday and precisely on
    time. If she arrived home after work at 4:30p, the first thing
    she would do is turn on the tv to watch that. She'd only leave
    the room or take off her coat if there was a commercial. My
    dad was similar but initally addicted to the news; he'd watch
    the hourly news from one feed, and then turn the dish (we had a
    C-band system at one point) and watch the SAME news from
    another feed - for HOURS! Eventually, he joined my mom with
    the Y&R. :/


    --- OpenXP 5.0.57
    * Origin: fsxnet/2 (21:3/110.10)
  • From Nightfox@21:1/137 to Ogg on Wed Feb 1 18:44:47 2023
    Re: Failure of.. (reading/tv/blu-ray)
    By: Ogg to Nightfox on Wed Feb 01 2023 08:43 pm

    In my experience tv can be addicting. My mom would insist NOT
    missing the Young and the Restless every day and precisely on
    time. If she arrived home after work at 4:30p, the first thing
    she would do is turn on the tv to watch that. She'd only leave
    the room or take off her coat if there was a commercial. My

    People often do things like that for almost anything they like to do. So I'm not sure it's because TV is addicting; probably that it's just a show she really liked to watch. And historically, TV shows have been only aired at a certain time and day, so unless you have a way to record it, you'll miss it if you aren't around to watch it at that time (which gives it a bit of scarcity).
    There are still a lot of TV shows these days that are aired that way, but many people either have a way to record it or can watch it with on-demand streaming services, so they can watch it any time they want and don't need to make sure they're at the TV at a particular time.

    Similarly, some people are big fans of certain bands and like to go to as many of their concerts as possible. Or, someone might be really into martial arts and attend a lot of martial arts competitions and events. Or perhaps someone might be a devout member of a church and like to make sure they attend church service regularly. Not everything like that is because of addiction.

    Nightfox
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
    * Origin: Digital Distortion: digdist.synchro.net (21:1/137)
  • From Ogg@21:4/106.21 to Nightfox on Wed Feb 1 22:17:00 2023
    Hello Nightfox!

    People often do things like that for almost anything they
    like to do. So I'm not sure it's because TV is addicting;
    probably that it's just a show she really liked to watch..

    We had no means to record OTA at the time. But eventually I
    found a way with an HDD recorder. Anyway.. the viewing of Y&R
    was just one example. And this was every day, so yes.. that
    constitutes addiction for the sake of other things that might
    otherwise be more important.

    ...but many people either have a way to record it or can
    watch it with on-demand streaming services, so they can
    watch it any time they want and don't need to make sure
    they're at the TV at a particular time.

    Exactly. So that enables the addiction! :D


    Similarly, some people are big fans of certain bands and
    like to go to as many of their concerts as possible. Or,
    someone might be really into martial arts and attend a lot
    of martial arts competitions and events. Or perhaps
    someone might be a devout member of a church and like to
    make sure they attend church service regularly. Not
    everything like that is because of addiction.

    Bands, MA events, and church are different. Those wouldn't be
    daily activities.

    --- OpenXP 5.0.57
    * Origin: Ogg's WestCoast Point (21:4/106.21)
  • From Nightfox@21:1/137 to Ogg on Wed Feb 1 20:03:58 2023
    Re: Failure of.. (reading/tv/blu-ray)
    By: Ogg to Nightfox on Wed Feb 01 2023 10:17 pm

    constitutes addiction for the sake of other things that might
    otherwise be more important.

    If they're prioritising it over other things that are more important, that could be considered an addiction.

    ...but many people either have a way to record it or can
    watch it with on-demand streaming services, so they can
    watch it any time they want and don't need to make sure
    they're at the TV at a particular time.

    Exactly. So that enables the addiction! :D

    I was thinking earlier tonight that DVRs and on-demand streaming could actually make it easier to put off watching TV for more important things, because the content will be there for you to watch it any time. There would be no need to prioritize it over things that are more important.

    Bands, MA events, and church are different. Those wouldn't be
    daily activities.

    Most TV shows aren't daily activities either. The Young and the Reestless may be an exception (I think it is on every day?), but most TV shows only have one episode released each week. And these days, many TV shows only have around 10-15 episodes per season (compared to 20+ years ago, when TV shows commonly had around 25 episodes per season).

    Nightfox
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
    * Origin: Digital Distortion: digdist.synchro.net (21:1/137)
  • From Commodore Clifford@21:3/171 to Ogg on Thu Feb 2 00:29:52 2023
    On 01 Feb 23 20:43:00 Ogg wrote...

    Hello Nightfox!

    Still, I don't really think TV is addicting like a drug, and I
    don't think there are significant adverse affects due only to TV.
    People can spend too much time doing a particular thing, and
    that's not unique to watching TV.

    In my experience tv can be addicting. My mom would insist NOT
    missing the Young and the Restless everday and precisely on time.
    If she arrived home after work at 4:30p, the first thing she would
    do is turn on the tv to watch that. She'd only leave the room or
    take off her coat if there was a commercial. My dad was similar
    but initally addicted to the news; he'd watch the hourly news from
    one feed, and then turn the dish (we had a C-band system at one
    point) and watch the SAME news from another feed - for HOURS! Eventually, he joined my mom with the Y&R. :/

    --- OpenXP 5.0.57 * Origin: fsxnet/2 (21:3/110.10)

    To which Commodore Clifford replies...

    I'm inclined to agree that it can be addicting... just like social media.

    For awhile, before I cut it off entirely, I'd be constantly checking FB
    just like "the kids" check their Tweeter feeds now.

    TV can be the same way... especially with binge watching stuff on demand
    and such. I've even noticed that in the Atari BBS community, one of the
    most active topics of conversation revolves around who's watching what at
    any given time and the suggestion to have others watch it.

    I'm really convinced it's a thing. I remember for many many years, I
    didn't really have any TV to speak of. I'd watch the odd movie here and
    there on my laptop. Had a lot more free time back then. As I got the
    TV, then the couch, things progressed into more TV watching and less
    doing other hobbies. NetFlix.......? Even more time.

    Now, only God knows how many services I'm subscribed to. So I need to go
    to church next weekend and get the list from Him so I can start removing
    some.

    --- RATSoft/FIDO v09.14.95 [JetMail 1.01]
    * Origin: STar Fleet HQ - Real Atari! - bbs.sfhqbbs.org:5983 (21:3/171)
  • From Arelor@21:2/138 to Nightfox on Thu Feb 2 04:34:05 2023
    Re: Failure of.. (reading/tv/blu-ray)
    By: Nightfox to Ogg on Wed Feb 01 2023 05:14 pm

    Still, I don't really think TV is addicting like a drug, and I don't think t

    You really need to watch society from outside in order to realize how culturaly dependent we are on TV.

    You walk into office and most of the talk which is not related to work itself has to do with things produced by TV. If they ask you your opinion about whatever new show they are broadcasting, and you tell them you have no idea what they are talking about because you don t watch TV, they either a) tell you you are lying b) tell you "yeah, I never watch TV either" (false). In either case you are left a bit of a pariah because you are not part of the same cultural unit the most of the country is integrated in.

    Taking TV overdoses regularly is one of those cultural things that set you appart when skipped. It is like being a Spaniard and not partaking in Big-Bottles (drunktard parties), or not using Whatsapp. Failing to do these impair your ability to socialize because not acting like "regular people" does marks you as an outsider, and human societies are very good at othering anybody that does not conform to the mold.


    --
    gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
    * Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (21:2/138)
  • From Ogg@21:4/106.21 to Nightfox on Thu Feb 2 08:25:00 2023
    Hello Nightfox!

    ...but many people either have a way to record it or can
    watch it with on-demand streaming services, so they can
    watch it any time..

    Exactly. So that enables the addiction! :D

    I was thinking earlier tonight that DVRs and on-demand
    streaming could actually make it easier to put off watching
    TV for more important things, because the content will be
    there for you to watch it any time. There would be no need
    to prioritize it over things that are more important.

    And then you end up with a pile of programming that you could
    be tempted to binge watch. :D

    ...but most TV shows only have one episode released each
    week. And these days, many TV shows only have around 10-15
    episodes per season (compared to 20+ years ago, when TV
    shows commonly had around 25 episodes per season).

    So, then you record them all, and binge watch them over an
    evening or weekend and sacrifice family and friends and other
    things. :(



    --- OpenXP 5.0.57
    * Origin: Ogg's WestCoast Point (21:4/106.21)
  • From Nightfox@21:1/137 to Arelor on Thu Feb 2 09:08:52 2023
    Re: Failure of.. (reading/tv/blu-ray)
    By: Arelor to Nightfox on Thu Feb 02 2023 04:34 am

    You really need to watch society from outside in order to realize how culturaly dependent we are on TV.

    You walk into office and most of the talk which is not related to work itself has to do with things produced by TV. If they ask you your opinion

    Oh, there are a lot of times when people bring up a TV show or something and ask if I've seen it, and much of the time I haven't because I don't subscribe to many streaming services at all. I don't really think it's a big issue though. People have things they like to watch on TV, much in the same way some people have certain types of books (or authors) they like to read, music they like to listen to, etc..

    TV is also a way to keep up to date on the news, like the newspaper, or the various sources we have online.

    Nightfox
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
    * Origin: Digital Distortion: digdist.synchro.net (21:1/137)
  • From Nightfox@21:1/137 to Ogg on Thu Feb 2 09:12:07 2023
    Re: Failure of.. (reading/tv/blu-ray)
    By: Ogg to Nightfox on Thu Feb 02 2023 08:25 am

    I was thinking earlier tonight that DVRs and on-demand
    streaming could actually make it easier to put off watching

    And then you end up with a pile of programming that you could
    be tempted to binge watch. :D

    It may depend on the person. Personally, I feel like I can only take so much watching TV, and I'll probably feel like doing something else after maybe 2-3 hours. TV is a non-interactive form of entertainment, and sometimes I feel like I want to do something that involves keeping my mind more active, rather than just passively watching things.

    ...but most TV shows only have one episode released each
    week. And these days, many TV shows only have around 10-15
    episodes per season (compared to 20+ years ago, when TV
    shows commonly had around 25 episodes per season).

    So, then you record them all, and binge watch them over an
    evening or weekend and sacrifice family and friends and other
    things. :(

    The simple answer is, prioritize friends and family over TV, especially when that TV content will still be there for you to watch later.

    Nightfox
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
    * Origin: Digital Distortion: digdist.synchro.net (21:1/137)
  • From Ogg@21:4/106.21 to Arelor on Thu Feb 2 20:40:00 2023
    Hello Arelor!

    ** On Thursday 02.02.23 - 04:34, Arelor wrote to Nightfox:

    You walk into office and most of the talk which is not
    related to work itself has to do with things produced by
    TV. If they ask you your opinion about whatever new show
    they are broadcasting, and you tell them you have no idea
    what they are talking about because you don t watch TV,
    [...]

    Wrong answer! The best answer is "No comment." :D


    [...] In either case you are left a bit of a pariah because
    you are not part of the same cultural unit the most of the
    country is integrated in.

    Wouldn't bother me what they think of me. I'd rather not be
    part of that clique if TV is their only source of
    "conversation" anyway.


    [...] Failing to do these impair your ability to socialize
    because not acting like "regular people" does marks you as
    an outsider, and human societies are very good at othering
    anybody that does not conform to the mold.


    Ever read "The Outsider" by Colin Wilson?

    "Wilson lived this book as much as wrote it. As an impoverished
    23-year-old, the Englishman slept in a tent in a London park so
    that he could be free of material demands to dedicate himself
    fully to his study. When The Outsider appeared in 1956, it
    became a sensation among both critics and beats, who formed the
    vanguard of the dawning Aquarian Age.

    "In Wilson's epic exploration of mystics, visionaries, literary
    pioneers, political troublemakers, and rule breakers of all
    sorts, he evoked a new kind of heroism, which changed how we
    view ourselves and our purpose in life.

    Nothing wrong with being an outsider.

    --- OpenXP 5.0.57
    * Origin: Ogg's WestCoast Point (21:4/106.21)
  • From Arelor@21:2/138 to Nightfox on Fri Feb 3 04:06:27 2023
    Re: Failure of.. (reading/tv/blu-ray)
    By: Nightfox to Arelor on Thu Feb 02 2023 09:08 am

    TV is also a way to keep up to date on the news, like the newspaper, or the

    He who does not read the newspaper is uninformed. He who reads the newspaper is misinformed.

    It is always funny to watch people complain when they read something they are familiar with in the newspaper and get angry because the information is all wrong. THen they turn the page and assume the next article is 100% factually correct.

    --
    gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
    * Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (21:2/138)
  • From Arelor@21:2/138 to Ogg on Fri Feb 3 04:15:42 2023
    Re: Failure of.. (reading/tv/blu-ray)
    By: Ogg to Arelor on Thu Feb 02 2023 08:40 pm

    Wouldn't bother me what they think of me. I'd rather not be
    part of that clique if TV is their only source of
    "conversation" anyway.


    It is not a matter of being bothered by what they think of you, as much as a matter of having a harder time building networks of friends to support you because you are a cultural misfit.

    I have been told in a very serious manner I must be an emotional-cripple because I don't want to partake in Big-Bottles. If you don't immerse yourself in the culture of the place you are located you are bound to be left cast aside by virtue of not thinking like everybody does. Like it or hate it, for a long time the TV has been the only opinion generator people considered
    and thus people keeps only the canned opinions the TV gives to them. If
    you exist outside the box you are a weird entity.


    --
    gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
    * Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (21:2/138)
  • From Ogg@21:4/106.21 to Arelor on Mon Feb 6 23:07:00 2023
    Hello Arelor!

    ** On Friday 03.02.23 - 04:15, Arelor wrote to Ogg:

    It is not a matter of being bothered by what they think of
    you, as much as a matter of having a harder time building
    networks of friends to support you because you are a
    cultural misfit.

    Let them have their Botell¢n and get drunk. The next day
    wouldn't matter what they thought of you.

    I have been told in a very serious manner I must be an
    emotional-cripple because I don't want to partake in Big-
    Bottles.

    "emotional cripple" is hilarious. And that is from the people
    who participate in big-bottles? If they need a bottle for
    enjoyment, I would think they are the cripple.

    If you don't immerse yourself in the culture of
    the place you are located you are bound to be left cast
    aside by virtue of not thinking like everybody does. Like
    it or hate it, for a long time the TV has been the only
    opinion generator people considered and thus people keeps
    only the canned opinions the TV gives to them. If you exist
    outside the box you are a weird entity.

    Sounds like TV plays a big role in grooming attitudes in your
    country. That sounds sad.

    --- OpenXP 5.0.57
    * Origin: Ogg's WestCoast Point (21:4/106.21)
  • From Arelor@21:2/138 to Ogg on Tue Feb 7 07:17:03 2023
    Re: Failure of.. (reading/tv/blu-ray)
    By: Ogg to Arelor on Mon Feb 06 2023 11:07 pm

    I have been told in a very serious manner I must be an
    emotional-cripple because I don't want to partake in Big-
    Bottles.

    "emotional cripple" is hilarious. And that is from the people
    who participate in big-bottles? If they need a bottle for
    enjoyment, I would think they are the cripple.


    Lol, well, fun fact is some days after I posted this, somebody showed me a video from an Argentinan warning other South Americans against our habits.

    I don't have the video here, but some pieces I remember:

    "This place will turn you into an alcoholic."

    "There is no way of socializing here other than drinking and eating. If you try to go out with friends to do something else, then at some point somebody will drag the group to a bar."

    "Just after finishing job, my workmates told me to go out for some fun. They took me to a bar. Here they always give you snacks for free with your drinks, so what a lot of people does is to walk into a bar, drink and eat, then walk into the next bar in the street and drink and eat some more [...] by the time I realized I had been drinking and eating since 3 pm and it was nearly 11 [...] despite my efforts not to drink that much I was feeling like shit the next day."


    --
    gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
    * Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (21:2/138)
  • From Ogg@21:4/106.21 to Arelor on Thu Feb 9 08:36:00 2023
    Hello Arelor!

    ** On Tuesday 07.02.23 - 07:17, Arelor wrote to Ogg:

    Lol, well, fun fact is some days after I posted this,
    somebody showed me a video from an Argentinan warning other
    South Americans against our habits.

    I suppose it's not really much different among youth anywhere
    else actually. Tail-gate parties (primarily in the parking lot
    at some sports arena, or just at someone's home) would be
    common here too.

    "There is no way of socializing here other than drinking
    and eating. If you try to go out with friends to do
    something else, then at some point somebody will drag the
    group to a bar."

    Yeah.. it's called a pub-crawl here. Very common at university
    towns.
    --
    ../|ug

    --- OpenXP 5.0.57
    * Origin: Ogg's WestCoast Point (21:4/106.21)
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to Ogg on Thu Feb 9 07:03:00 2023
    Ogg wrote to Arelor <=-

    Yeah.. it's called a pub-crawl here. Very common at university
    towns.

    When I started working my first "real" job in San Francisco, my bus (an electric trolley, actually) picked me up from the Ferry building, right
    on the bay. I'd have a friend meet me, we'd take the train to the next
    stop, get off, have a drink, then get back on.

    5 or 6 stops later, we'd end up at my apartment on the other end of
    town, along the ocean.

    The beauty of San Francisco back then was that you could get anywhere on
    public transit, 24/7, and an monthly unlimited bus pass was $28.00.




    ... Simply a matter of work
    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    * Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)