Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I decided TV was so boring that I gave up. I had cable etc and I had it cancelled (more money for websites :laugh:).

I was talking to some friends at work today and they were going on about 'Big Brother' and other programs and I realised I had not missed anything.

OK I download DVDs etc but I watch them when I want, and if I feel a need to chill out on watching something I can choose what to look at.

I realised today that TV watching is dead to me, I say that with realisation, not regret. OK if I'm stuck in hospital or something I may want to watch it again, but otherwise I have no interest.

How do people feel?

I'm interested in the age perspective as well. To explain, I have no need to 'fit in' with the 'water cooler' discussion group environment. I realise that is socially very important for others, and totally understand.

But ...that  raises the other question. Do you watch TV to fit in with friends?.

Just thoughts

Cindy

I think I watch TV to feel a connection with the characters and their story.  Also I see it as a way to escape the emptiness I feel in my own life.  Probably because I am socially awkward and have a hard time connecting to people IRL.  I'm hoping that starting to be more true to myself will help me feel more open to seeking real relationships with real people but worried that it will also end up making me afraid of people not liking the real me.  For now, I really enjoy watching TV and I can see the appeal to the "water cooler" discussion feeling and watching a certain TV show just so you aren't left out of conversations.  Sorry if I turned your light-hearted TV thread into something deeper.

I find most shows boring on UK channels. However, i watch a lot of US shows on my laptop, they are far better. Most people i talk to online watch stuff i watch. Offline, well, i am not usually in those situations >.<

I haven't owned a television in over five years. I was there for the glory days, rabbit ears, vertical roll, B&W. I watched it go from three channels to over a hundred. Then I got away from it. As far as I can tell, they're up to around five hundred channels of sheer garbage now. I don't miss it. Hugs, Devlyn

I don't watch actual TV but I do watch shows that have been on TV. I watch a lot of dramas that can be found on the net from places like Netflix. I also watch the odd show on BBC iplayer. But as far as the dull, mind numbing television is concerned? No chance.

Quote from: CaseyB on August 09, 2013, 05:10:57 AM
I think I watch TV to feel a connection with the characters and their story.  Also I see it as a way to escape the emptiness I feel in my own life.  Probably because I am socially awkward and have a hard time connecting to people IRL.  I'm hoping that starting to be more true to myself will help me feel more open to seeking real relationships with real people but worried that it will also end up making me afraid of people not liking the real me.  For now, I really enjoy watching TV and I can see the appeal to the "water cooler" discussion feeling and watching a certain TV show just so you aren't left out of conversations.  Sorry if I turned your light-hearted TV thread into something deeper.

I totally like it!

We have a family tv in the living room, but I only watch it if my family watch it when we're altogether etc or watching a film. Other than that I just listen to music really rather than tv. When I go to university I won't be taking a television as I don't feel the need to. I have a tv in my room, but it had no channels connected and I use it just to play on my ps2 (much better than the ps3 or Xbox 360 ;) ) I don't feel the need to watch something to fit in with friends. If I see an advert for a new series coming up I might watch it, but I'd much rather sit with the tv off listening to music any day.

TV serves two purposes in my life. First, certain shows bring my family together so we can enjoy each other's company. Second, I use it to keep my mind occupied while I exercise to distract it from my aching muscles.

When I move out on my own, I am seriously considering not getting cable. It's very expensive, and most of the money goes to support channels I'd never watch. Maybe I'd sign up with Netflix or Hulu or some service that lets me stream video on demand.

Netflix = 8 bucks, and Cable = 65 bucks.

Simple math.

They say cable cutting is not big, but then that is because of all the sheeple that simply don't realize how little cable is really worth.

Sure Netflix will not have the latest worthy, but if you have good dsl service, well you can always download those couple of shows you missed.

They say the downloads of Game of Thrones actually benefited the program.

I'm simply not paying 65 bucks a month to watch what they tell me I will watch when they tell me. Nope, I watch what I want when I want.

And considering sports means zero to me, cable is worth nothing too.

For tv I watch 2 shows, Anthony Bourdain's current show and elementary.

Netflix Canada is horrible their "new" shows seem to be older then I am, Giligan's Island was ok to watch when I was 6 not so much so when I am 45. Also when I saw their line up and cancelled I not only didn't get my free month but I also didn't get the month I had to pay for in order to get the free month. $9 for 10 min.

Even most movies I don't watch any more, they just aren't any good or worse irritating.

I really think online services like Netflix are the future of television. Look at how well House of Cards did (if you haven't watched it, it is highly recommended!). It proved that customers enjoy being able to watch an entire season of a show at their leisure rather than have to wait to tune in once a week.

Netflix can only get better from here.

While we own a TV and movies, the only other thing it's hooked up to is net flicks. I've not had access to cable TV since 1999.

In some ways I feel a little out of touch with things as far as pop culture. But to be honest I don't really miss it. If I hear about an interesting show I'll sometimes check it out on net flix or buy the first season if I can find it cheep. Outside of that? I don't watch much TV. Even if I liked it, I can't afford cable or satellite.

I prefer reading or playing video games (MMOs) any day over TV.

It's ok Cindy, you haven't missed a darn thing!

Here in good ol' Blighty, between 60%-80% of TV content on any given day is repeats. And not just repeats... but repeats of repeats. (And then there's repeats of repeats +1). :P

I only pay for cable because my teenage kids enjoy it. And sadly, Netflix UK doesn't yet have enough decent content to be worth my while.

There are only about 3 shows I watch every week, and there is nothing that I couldn't watch on iPlayer, 4OD or YouTube for free. So if it weren't for my kids, I wouldn't have any TV subscriptions at all.

I haven't had cable for years. The only thing I missed was watching cable news shows during the 2012 election because I geek out over the absurd pageantry of politics.

I prefer the radio.

I do watch TV, but I also watch shows from Project Free TV.  I have 28 channels via cable.  But not much has changed. 

Cable = 500 channels = absolutely nothing worth watching.

I stopped watching TV when I went off to college because I didn't have the money to buy one and cable was way expensive. 6 years later and I haven't looked back. I school I watched quite a few movies and a couple of TV shows and cartoons with my friends via netflix and torrents, but I don't even do that anymore hardly. I'm an artist and a writer, and there's just no getting work done with a TV on anyways.

Podcasts for me all the way.

Quote from: SaveMeJeebus on August 09, 2013, 05:17:57 AM
I find most shows boring on UK channels. However, i watch a lot of US shows on my laptop, they are far better. Most people i talk to online watch stuff i watch. Offline, well, i am not usually in those situations >.<

Quote from: Lesley_Roberta on August 09, 2013, 09:34:07 AM
Netflix = 8 bucks, and Cable = 65 bucks.

Simple math.

They say cable cutting is not big, but then that is because of all the sheeple that simply don't realize how little cable is really worth.

Sure Netflix will not have the latest worthy, but if you have good dsl service, well you can always download those couple of shows you missed.

They say the downloads of Game of Thrones actually benefited the program.

I'm simply not paying 65 bucks a month to watch what they tell me I will watch when they tell me. Nope, I watch what I want when I want.

And considering sports means zero to me, cable is worth nothing too.

Quote from: suzifrommd on August 09, 2013, 09:21:52 AM
TV serves two purposes in my life. First, certain shows bring my family together so we can enjoy each other's company. Second, I use it to keep my mind occupied while I exercise to distract it from my aching muscles.

When I move out on my own, I am seriously considering not getting cable. It's very expensive, and most of the money goes to support channels I'd never watch. Maybe I'd sign up with Netflix or Hulu or some service that lets me stream video on demand.

Wow OK from top to bottom -

I simply can't watch on my computer for a bunch of reasons

very little you watch when put on the computer has closed captioning & I am hearing disabled 35db loss and due to my rude neighbors I can rarely wear my hearing aids at home

on the computer if you watch ANYTHING it autostrings into something you probably did not want to watch and HATE that (I don't like machines that think they are smarter than me)

  next

Netflix for $8? mine is $19! I get streaming & blueray 1 disk at a time where did you get YOUR deal?


next

no way I am getting Hulu - I don't pay to watch commercials that I cannot fast forward through!



lastly I need my TV and my Dish I did it for 2 years since it was at my apartment (I prefer DirectTV) I currently have 50 shows being recorded on my DVR (only the New shows no repeats) and I don't do it to discuss with anyone this is purely for me for entertainment OR information some are news shows

I have 0 live friends I need this in my life - just like I need these forums - books only go so far.

what else am I going to do? RPG my life away? either way it is a fantasy!

I don't watch tv anymore either.  I haven't watched tv regularly in years.  Besides putting on CNN as background noise for when I go to bed, my tv is rarely used.  I will occasionally watch a story on CNN or the BBC World News Channel, but that's about it.   Still, I do watch things on youtube and online.  I have some dvds, but I rarely watch them.  Just the other day I was wondering why I don't watch movies or TV like other people.  I guess I should indulge from time to time.  My entertainment hobbies are more focused around books, music, games and online in general.

I don't own a TV, haven't for years and don't miss it. I do enjoy the shocked look from people when they ask my opinion on a commercial and I tell them I haven't seen it. I simply have too much going on in my life to watch TV.

One of the rules in our home is that there is no TV set. I remember when we had it, it was such a thief of time... Of course, Animal Planet and National Geographic were cool to watch, but there were LOTS of ads anyway and it could go on an on and then the day was almost over... So yeah, no TV. Internet is bad enough, but Internet and TV... shivers

Basically I don't watch TV. The last thing I watched with any regularity was the news...and once I realized it's just a source of anxiety for me, and that the weather forecasts are 60% wrong, I just stopped.

Movies and shows on DVD 's? Naaah, I find it hard to focus and be entertained at the same time. My daydreams are better and more 'fulfilling' than anything I've seen on TV in the past 30 years.

8 bucks in Canada, no dvds (why would I even want them?).

For those saying Netflix sucks (in any nation) get a service like Unblockus, mine costs me 5 bucks, and with it, I watch anything from anywhere. Thus the Canadian content limits are meaningless. Eventually the fools limiting our access based on region will finally realize none of us give a ->-bleeped-<- about their rules. Sorry but I couldn't care less if the show is not licensed for Canada. Not my problem.

But regarding the TV, to me it's really just a great big viewing screen. I use it for games, I use it for video content. Ya know, it's not bad for porn either :) (almost life size).

The thing with Netflix, is it is accessible on anything that can get online, so that means my desktop, laptop, the wife's laptop, the son's desktop, my two tablets. That makes for some very handy access. And the TV can talk to any of that.

Meanwhile cable, they want 65 bucks and will get in a snit if you have the nerve to expect the signal to arrive in more than one location. Yeah get real.

I admit, a lot of what I watch on Netflix, is old stuff. I miss that old stuff though. But half the shows I have watched, well I missed them when they were on too and a lot of stuff has been great and is now gone off the usual sources.
Netflix has some dreadful films, I often think the horror category is worse than reality TV some days hehe.
But still, I always find something to look at, so I suppose it just depends on how easy to please the viewer is.

I like having something on while I make a model at my desk and the show is airing on a laptop or my tablet beside me.
But if I want great films, well those usually require more effort. Still since the arrival of Blueray, I have only bought LotR and Pandora.
I might need it for anime in the future though. I have a massive film stash in dvd emulated as disc images on the desktop though.

Quote from: Lesley_Roberta on August 09, 2013, 06:13:42 PM
8 bucks in Canada, no dvds (why would I even want them?).

because HUGE amounts of stuff is only available on disk, just does not come instant I love my disks.  ;D

Quote
But regarding the TV, to me it's really just a great big viewing screen. I use it for games, I use it for video content. Ya know, it's not bad for porn either :) (almost life size).

had a 37" LCD it broke, just ordered a 40" LED it is on it's way today.

as far as porn - never watch.

Once upon a time there was a service called Zip.ca. Ok it is likely still out there too.

But around hmm must have been like 2005ish, they arrived and they was awesome. The thing was, they did indeed have sooooo much stuff on dvd and they had incredible turn around time. The price per month was such, that if you got enough stuff sent and got it back soon enough, the effective price per disk was like a dollar. Not bad really. And a buddy showed me how easy it was to just rip the disk, store the disk and watch at your own leisure. Better to get the disk in the mail, rip and 30 minutes later back in the mail.

Now of course eeeeeeeveryone was doing it, and they all steadfastly insisted oh no we are not doing that... yeah whatever man. But eventually Zip.ca realized crap we is getting murdered in postage costs and our prices are way too low. In time the gravy train left the station.

But it was possible to get a disk, rip and put on a blank worth 20 cents and well it was what it was. There is a finite number of good movies out there though. A finite number of documentaries of animes of whatever. And eventually it has to be stored too :) And so many films, they really are only worth watching once, and it seems increasingly so too thanks to their being so entirely special effects driven and no real substance. I can watch Doctor Zhivago over and over, but, just about anything made in the last 20 years, well rarely do I find something actually worth buying, but, it is easy enough to just buy those very rare good films.

Hollycrud makes a lot of noise about their crap, but, crap it is indeed in most cases.
I haven't actually wanted a film to add to my collection in several years now.
So if Netflix is slow in getting anything new, it is often no loss.

 

I can't stand to watch live TV - I find myself getting aggravated and turning it back off because of never-ending blocks of ads. It seems like now there are more ads than tv show when i try to watch. The producers have finally killed the golden goose with their greed.

We do record a few selected shows and i'll sit for an hour in the evening and watch those, skipping the commercials. I am amazed at how long some of those blocks of ads are and how long it takes to fast forward past them.

We are about to move and I currently have a lot of channels. I looked very hard at pulling the plug on cable altogether, but I wound up buying a basic package instead. We may later just have it cancelled altogether and keep the internet service.

I'd much rather surf the net now than watch tv.

Just watched Chasing Mavericks on Netflix, a film of stunning visuals a good story and proof positive, TV and cable is for people with no sense or more money than sense.

I didn't need cable to see this great movie.

Oh and what are these things called commercials? I here a lot of talk about them. Not sure I recall them.

Quote from: Lesley_Roberta on August 09, 2013, 08:28:12 PM
Hollycrud makes a lot of noise about their crap, but, crap it is indeed in most cases.
I haven't actually wanted a film to add to my collection in several years now.
So if Netflix is slow in getting anything new, it is often no loss.

I just got every Star Trek Movie on Blue Ray - I thought that was worth it - only $9 (I do surveys so I had  a coupon)

Quote from: Eva Marie on August 09, 2013, 08:58:42 PM
I can't stand to watch live TV - I find myself getting aggravated and turning it back off because of never-ending blocks of ads. It seems like now there are more ads than tv show when i try to watch. The producers have finally killed the golden goose with their greed.

We do record a few selected shows and i'll sit for an hour in the evening and watch those, skipping the commercials. I am amazed at how long some of those blocks of ads are and how long it takes to fast forward past them.

We are about to move and I currently have a lot of channels. I looked very hard at pulling the plug on cable altogether, but I wound up buying a basic package instead. We may later just have it cancelled altogether and keep the internet service.

I'd much rather surf the net now than watch tv.

150 channels is enough for me with a DVR so I don't have to watch commercials

I don't watch much television anymore.  I liked to watch House when it was in production.

I still watch The O'Reilly Factor on FNC.

I haven't had cable in a couple of years now.  I don't really miss it.  The last few years of it was mostly just sci-fi shows being used as minor entertainment while I was on the computer.   I know I could watch a lot of shows I used to watch on my computer (like NCIS), but just haven't cared enough to do so.
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I do tend to get left out of the social talk at work about programs and commercials though.  They just kinda shake their head at the strange one that doesn't have cable...or a digital TV that can accept antenna signals.  My old CRT does well enough for my needs.  (even if it does seem to be getting heavier every year  ;)  )
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No netflix.  Just not interested in TV enough anymore to bother with it.
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I do have a good collection of DVDs for when I do use the TV.  Anime and movies.  Usually I only use it when I have company.  Though I do agree that once you get a main core of good movies on DVD, it's difficult to find anything you really want to add to the collection.  I have a 2nd hand store nearby that sells DVDs for really cheap though ($1.50), so sometimes I'll pick odd things up on a whim...it's no more expensive than using a RedBox to rent them, so why not?  :)

Sometimes I have too much choice.

500 dvds of anime, 400 films, hundreds of war documentaries, countless science documentaries.

But in the end, I am most often just in need of sound, something I have already seen, and can relate to as I do something like the usual make a model choice.

I like watching aka listening to SG1. And with 10 years of stuff it takes a while to listen to it all once through.
Then there is my Bond Collection.

Most anime fans are mixed view on sub vs dub, but, if the show is truly good, sometimes it is ok to listen to it knowing you can really see in your mind what is on the screen, although the screen is really there if my eyes are not busy doing something.

So much TV programming though, it's empty of substance transitory crap only good for wasting time, and even I don't have so much time I am ok just throwing it away on garbage TV. I have no desire to watch people get arrested on shows like Cops. I don't care if you have a problem with your money or you junk or your kids. I don't want to watch shows pretending to be about survival when it is just a popularity challenge. I am not interested in watching a batch of talent trying to be the one that wins the prize. I don't care who gets picked to be the groom/bride. I am not interested in your business notion being offered to bored rich people.

And I sure don't feel like watching the news.

My wife and daughter are addicted to TV. I watch an occasional show on animals or science if it happens to be on TV and they are watching.

Quote from: Kay on August 10, 2013, 01:09:08 AM
I haven't had cable in a couple of years now.  I don't really miss it.  The last few years of it was mostly just sci-fi shows being used as minor entertainment while I was on the computer.   I know I could watch a lot of shows I used to watch on my computer (like NCIS), but just haven't cared enough to do so.
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I do tend to get left out of the social talk at work about programs and commercials though.  They just kinda shake their head at the strange one that doesn't have cable...or a digital TV that can accept antenna signals. My old CRT does well enough for my needs. (even if it does seem to be getting heavier every year  ;)  )
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No netflix.  Just not interested in TV enough anymore to bother with it.
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I do have a good collection of DVDs for when I do use the TV.  Anime and movies.  Usually I only use it when I have company.  Though I do agree that once you get a main core of good movies on DVD, it's difficult to find anything you really want to add to the collection.  I have a 2nd hand store nearby that sells DVDs for really cheap though ($1.50), so sometimes I'll pick odd things up on a whim...it's no more expensive than using a RedBox to rent them, so why not?  :)

ahhhhhh!  I could not live with that any more, I helped a girlfriend set up a converter box for hers it was awful! the only advantage to them is you can drop them off a 14 floor building and they still work. I broke my LCD just by bumping it with a vacuum cleaner and had to buy a new TV. but at least I get to see Blue Ray quality 1080P  ;D 40" AND it is lighter when I move.

Quote from: Lesley_Roberta on August 10, 2013, 06:55:36 AM
Sometimes I have too much choice.

500 dvds of anime....

I like watching aka listening to SG1. And with 10 years of stuff it takes a while to listen to it all once through.

I'd say 500 dvds is a good start.  ;)
SG1 (and Atlantis) were always my favorites for background noise too.  :)

I went without a TV for years. Finally got one for video games at one point and never used it for anything else. I've owned a computer since high school so between that and video games I never really wanted/missed one.

I finally broke down and bought a nice one a couple years back because I started having more people over and we wanted to watch DVD's and television series once in a while together.

Every month when I get the cable bill, I swear I'm going to shut off cable service - it's ridiculously expensive considering how little I use it. Literally, only when family/friends sit down with me to watch a DVD or television shows.

So yeah, we're going to cancel service pretty soon and stick to DVD's. Everything else, I can get off the internet with Netflix or whatever and just hook the DMI cable to my TV (it's really just a huge monitor anyway most of the time, haha).
With all the sites on the net offering shows and movies, our house has no need to pay for cable.

As for the TV itself, it's nice to play Xbox with friends or watch a DVD on - that's it. I won't be buying another. I don't stair at the wall enough to make it worth the investment. Not that I don't stare at a computer screen for hours each day... I'm just saying!

Wow, I feel out of place.  Let's see – I'm 51 so that takes care of the age request.

My wife and I have two TV's (one up stairs and one down stairs) and the full Direct TV (satellite) package with somewhere around 500 channels.  Both TVs have DVRs, computers or are wireless capable, stereos, and separate DVD players on them.  All of that and I really only watch 8 shows per week (no commercials) although she tends to watch much more. 

Down stairs, she watches that one while ironing.  We use it together with my old lap top so we can do on-line dance lessons together, in our own home.  Look at the move, pause, work it out, dance a little then go on to the next. You tube is great on the big screen. I do the "Insanity" work out in front of that TV.  We both love to listen to the "Sonic Tap", which is 80 some channels of music.
 
I guess that while they are TV's, they are also huge monitors and music boxes that we interface with for more than watching television shows.

QuoteDo you watch TV to fit in with friends?

Flat no.  Never have, actually.

That said, I will watch a few sporting events, as well as stuff on Netflix/Crunchyroll that grabs and keeps my interest, plus I'll stream The Daily Show and The Colbert Report (not necessarily in their entirety, but usually most of it).  But it'll be on my terms.

I actually haven't owned a TV for about a year and a half.  I have an Amazon Prime membership and can stream so much from that, and anything that is "network" TV i can usually stream off of their website.  I don't even own a television anymore, instead of buying a new one, I upgraded my computer monitor, and that I get much more use out of since I'm a freelance photographer and image editor.  At the day job i actually take pride in the fact that I don't own a TV, basically I look at it this way, the time that I would have spent watching TV i can spend building my business, or getting outside into the real world.

Good call. I haven't watched TV in almost 5 years now. Only exception is when I visit my mom and she turns it on.

Hardly watch it 2/3 hours a week at most.I only have Freeview but there is so little of interest to me,it has to educate,amuse or entertain me and  it is exactly the opposite.I enjoy wildlife/nature and history,art and cookery programmes and good thrillers but there hasn't been much to make me want to watch it recently.

I haven't had a tv since 1999. It does make it hard to follow conversations at times, as I don't follow most popular shows. I have for the past few years kept up with the Simpsons and Family Guy online and I read enough blogs and stuff that I don't feel like the lack of television has been a major stumbling block socially.

I really really want to get a tv for playing console video games, but I'm scared I'd use it to watch television. I got rid of it in the first place because it was eating up all my free time.

You can use a computer monitor to play console games, at least with the newer ones you can.

I have a TV & watch TV programs but i've recently been freed from the TV schedule, when I had broadband fitted they offered a Tivo box & over the course of the 18 month contract i'll pay an extra £10 so I thought why not?

I don't see TV as a problem but having to keep an eye on the clock & be home for your latest episode is a pain, now I can play Xbox all night & when I go offline I unwind with an hour or two of my fave shows such as Star Trek, SG1, NCIS etc...
TV can take over your life & Tivo has handed my life back to me on a silver platter

There's no good programming on nowadays, anyway.  When I do watch TV, I usually watch DVD boxsets of Star Trek, or I watch movies.

Quote from: LordKAT on August 31, 2013, 08:29:37 PM
You can use a computer monitor to play console games, at least with the newer ones you can.

I didn't realize this. I don't like the guns and killing games, but I regret wholeheartedly missing out on Final Fantasy and Zelda sequels.

I might be canceling my internet and getting a smartphone soon anyhow though. Pretty sure I can get tetris or something on a phone and be satisfied.

Quote from: Felix on September 05, 2013, 12:49:54 AM
I didn't realize this. I don't like the guns and killing games, but I regret wholeheartedly missing out on Final Fantasy and Zelda sequels.

I might be canceling my internet and getting a smartphone soon anyhow though. Pretty sure I can get tetris or something on a phone and be satisfied.

You would need a monitor with HDMI input, TVs and Monitors these days are getting more and more alike.  You can hook a PC up to your TV or a blueray player/console up to a monitor because everything is HDMI now.  If you don't already have a monitor with HDMI, TVs of the same size are quite a bit cheaper than monitors and you can use it as both, the only thing is using it as a monitor can sometimes require some fiddling with settings on the PC and on the TV.

Interesting how many dont watch TV here. Nice to hear. I rarely do. My friend who I live with in cohousing does watch a lot, so occasionally I join in, there are about 3 or 4 shows, most of them monthly that I actually enjoy - mostly political satire. I do however like to watch DVDs or recordings at times, so I really like some documentaries, some movies and a few serials actually (No new Dr Who episode will go unwatched), but most of what is on TV otherwise these days, especially private/commercial TV stations is just junk...

Wow.. I agree, this thread has been really fascinating to read through. I thought I was in the minority with never turning on my TV (I basically use it as an over sized alarm clock Lol!).

I do watch a ton of TV series though, but I suppose I am of a 'younger' generation in that I figure out exactly what I want to see and then download it. I am always confounded when people talk about having to catch some tv show at a certain date or time, or how some network is no longer showing their favorite series.. TV with a set programming schedule is sooo last millennia  :D

I have been unplugged from cable tv for well over a year. It started when I bought an apple tv and then a few coworkers kept urging me to jailbreak it. Eventually I gave in and then installed the app XBMC. It's a sort of operating system on its own for video and audio apps.

It's funny when my coworker are talking about tv commercials or tv shows, I just don't know and honestly I don't really even care. If the show comes to Netflix streaming, then I will watch it. If it never does, then no biggie.

To me TV watching at night is something I do to put light and sound in the bedroom so that I can fall asleep. I put on movies and tv shows I have probably watched over and over so that I don't have to concentrate on the story. It makes noise and then I fall asleep :) I use my XBMC app to watch new releases of movies. I still go to the movies to watch movies I am pretty sure I will like. Some movies I am glad have turned out to be real stinkers and I wouldn't have paid money to watch in a theater, rent a DVD, etc.

And I don't even want to think about going to the movies. These days it unbelievably sucks. So many people spend the entire movie on their phones disrupting the movie experience for everyone else. I've actually had to ask people to turn off their cell phones in the theaters before. So I try and find movies in IMAX since the tickets cost so much more that the texting tweeners can't afford it.

If Hollywood wants to keep the gravy train running, they need to stop listening to their lawyers and start listening to the people. The content they produce is just not worth the price they are asking for it. Some of the small fry on youtube channels and podcasts exceed the quality of any hollywood produced show for content and quality. As for cable channels, there are tons of people who re-broadcast live TV on the Internet, that I can watch through the NAVI-X app.literally any tv station anywhere in the world that someone pays for, is available online, and you know what? I still don't watch it.

I think abandoning "TV" would be kind of like abandoning the Internet or the telephone. It is just one type of media device. The thing to change is, I think, is how you use it. My late mother had a habit of turning the TV on early in the day and just leaving it on all day-- through the news, soap operas, game shows and endless dreadful commercials. To me this would be agonizing. When I first moved away from home I went several years without a TV in my apartment. It was fine for me, though. I read books. I listened to music. I went out a lot. I was in my 20s.

I've always been a fan of movies and better Hollywood productions for TV. I think today much of the best writing is being done for TV. So many movies now are just massively budgeted, but weakly scripted duplications of each other.

With the advent of the VCR back in the 80s I basically liberated myself from bad TV. I just started taping whatever was good, fast forwarding through the commercials and watching when and if I was ready. Today we have electronic recording that makes this even easier. The vast majority of what's listed in the TV schedule are things I never see. Still, I find I record, on average an hour or two per day of high quality programming, which works out just fine for me.

~ Lyric ~