4 ms·

My house is the same way, but I think you have to realize that we're in the vast minority though. Whenever I'm visiting with family in the US, their TV is usual

My house is the same way, but I think you have to realize that we're in the vast minority though. Whenever I'm visiting with family in the US, their TV is usually on. It's constantly on. The kids run around with devices with very little oversight or limits. It's absolutely terrible, but's also super common. Sigh.

Frank2312 9y ago
My sister does that. She just keeps the TV on at all times. Watching a show on Netflix on her tablet? TV on. Takes a shower and is in the bathroom for 30-45 minutes? TV on. Leaves the house and someone is there, though not watching TV? Let's TV on. I have to shut it down myself. I have absolutely no idea how she picked up that habit. No one in the (immediate) family does it.
- mixmastamyk 9y ago
  Some people like background noise, not a fan myself.
  - Nition 9y ago
    If pure background noise is the goal, a radio would waste a lot less electricity.
    - TomMarius 9y ago
      You're of course true, but nowadays the consumption of a TV isn't that tragic.
    - Markoff 9y ago
      not so many people have dedicated radio these days compared to TV and listening radio through mobile and BT speaker is kinda PITA
- jcbrand 9y ago
  My impression is that people generally leave the television or radio on the entire day because they struggle with silence and being alone with their thoughts. The same is true with social media and internet addictions, although there's also the dopamine kick to contend with, which makes them a bit different. Practicing meditation, general mindfulness and taking long (more than a week) holidays without internet or even electricity helps me a lot to avoid getting addicted to distractions.
rayiner 9y ago
What makes it "absolutely terrible?"
- hycaria 9y ago
  Considering your other comment on this thread, it's good news if you don't consider it "absolutely terrible", your life would be quite unbearable otherwise. I hate these environments too. I have yet to meet someone who is glued to some screen or watches tons of TV and would still attract me enough (in a purely intellectual way) to make me want to know them more, and try and pursue a relationship with them/have engaging conversations. Doing the same task most of the time doesn't bring the best out of people (realistically, if you look at your phone during family dinners, when do you give yourself enough time to do something else without distraction ? can anything meaningful happen when you're sucked out of your own life constantly ?). Yes, you can read on your phone, yet people will more likely show you cat gifs and not interesting articles.
duderific 9y ago
It's such a slippery slope. My brother in law's twin boys (now 7) started with their own iPads at age 4. You cannot pry them out of their hands. They go everywhere with them. I often see kids as young as 2 or 3 with iPhones in their hands while being pushed in their stroller on a walk, or at a restaurant at dinner. We allow our 3 year old boy a small amount of screen time each day, as he spends the whole day (9-6) at day care and it helps him unwind a bit to watch Sesame Street, and gives us a chance to prepare dinner uninterrupted. But it's always under our control, we do not hand him the remote or device. Nor do we use it when we go out to eat.

Frank2312 9y ago

My sister does that. She just keeps the TV on at all times. Watching a show on Netflix on her tablet? TV on. Takes a shower and is in the bathroom for 30-45 minutes? TV on. Leaves the house and someone is there, though not watching TV? Let's TV on. I have to shut it down myself. I have absolutely no idea how she picked up that habit. No one in the (immediate) family does it.

mixmastamyk 9y ago
Some people like background noise, not a fan myself.
- Nition 9y ago
  If pure background noise is the goal, a radio would waste a lot less electricity.
  - TomMarius 9y ago
    You're of course true, but nowadays the consumption of a TV isn't that tragic.
  - Markoff 9y ago
    not so many people have dedicated radio these days compared to TV and listening radio through mobile and BT speaker is kinda PITA
jcbrand 9y ago
My impression is that people generally leave the television or radio on the entire day because they struggle with silence and being alone with their thoughts. The same is true with social media and internet addictions, although there's also the dopamine kick to contend with, which makes them a bit different. Practicing meditation, general mindfulness and taking long (more than a week) holidays without internet or even electricity helps me a lot to avoid getting addicted to distractions.

rayiner 9y ago

What makes it "absolutely terrible?"

hycaria 9y ago
Considering your other comment on this thread, it's good news if you don't consider it "absolutely terrible", your life would be quite unbearable otherwise. I hate these environments too. I have yet to meet someone who is glued to some screen or watches tons of TV and would still attract me enough (in a purely intellectual way) to make me want to know them more, and try and pursue a relationship with them/have engaging conversations. Doing the same task most of the time doesn't bring the best out of people (realistically, if you look at your phone during family dinners, when do you give yourself enough time to do something else without distraction ? can anything meaningful happen when you're sucked out of your own life constantly ?). Yes, you can read on your phone, yet people will more likely show you cat gifs and not interesting articles.

duderific 9y ago

It's such a slippery slope. My brother in law's twin boys (now 7) started with their own iPads at age 4. You cannot pry them out of their hands. They go everywhere with them. I often see kids as young as 2 or 3 with iPhones in their hands while being pushed in their stroller on a walk, or at a restaurant at dinner. We allow our 3 year old boy a small amount of screen time each day, as he spends the whole day (9-6) at day care and it helps him unwind a bit to watch Sesame Street, and gives us a chance to prepare dinner uninterrupted. But it's always under our control, we do not hand him the remote or device. Nor do we use it when we go out to eat.