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

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).

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.