Do the Math: TV Takes Time
Michelle Lawrence
No matter how old you get, the term “nerd” can and will be applied where people deem necessary. I was having a conversation with a co-worker recently and when I explained that the reason I’ve never seen the show Dirty Sexy Money was because I haven’t watched TV in over two years, I was promptly asked if I was some kind of nerd or something.
Albeit I took it as more of a compliment than an insult, I couldn’t help but wonder what made this guy think that he was so cool because he spends his spare time parked in front of the TV.
I know there are a lot of interesting and informative programs on and I get the allure of hundreds of channels and choices. But I remember how easy it is to get sucked in and how quickly time can pass when you’re flipping from channel to channel.
A common misconception I get from not watching TV is that people think I must not know what’s going on in the world.
I may not know who got voted out of where or who’s dating who on the latest greatest, highest rated show and I certainly don’t get up-to-the-minute play-by-plays of which celebrity did what, but frankly, I don’t care.
Even so, I still managed to be informed when Oscar de la Hoya won $55 million from his title fight against Floyd Mayweather, that Brittney Spears missed her child custody court appearance due to anxiety, and that fifty drunken santas went on a rampage in a New Zealand movie theater this past holiday season.
I’m also aware of the even greater onslaught of reality shows being aired because of the writers’ strike.
But more importantly I’m aware of things like the scientists from Wisconsin and Japan who made a huge breakthrough in stem cell research.
I know that this last May was the deadliest month for U.S. troops in Iraq since November of 2004.
I was aware that as of Jan. 1 of this new year, Arizona House Bill 2779 will crack down tough on employers who hire non-eligible immigrants.
And even through all the political hoopla, I know that Obama and McCain are looking like the frontrunners in the presidential election.at least for now.
How did I find any of these things out if I didn’t spend my time sitting it front of the TV?
I read. Yeah, I know it’s not very glamorous, but I say forget all the visual distractions and advertisements and cut to the chase.
It really saves time, which is the reason why I don’t watch TV. Just watching one hour a day adds up to fifteen days out of a year.
Two hours of TV a day, an entire month!
That’s a lot of time, something it seems people complain to have less and less of.
I can’t bring myself to justify dedicating a whole month out of the year to vegging in front of the tube when there are so many other things I could be doing.
And well, if that makes me a nerd, I’m more than okay with that because at least I’m a nerd who has given herself the gift of time.
