4 ms·

Don't be ridiculous. Mad Men, Justified, Breaking Bad, 30 Rock, Community, Boardwalk Empire, Treme, etc. etc. there's tons of really good stuff on TV these days

by ebbv 15y ago

Don't be ridiculous. Mad Men, Justified, Breaking Bad, 30 Rock, Community, Boardwalk Empire, Treme, etc. etc. there's tons of really good stuff on TV these days.

VMG 15y ago
I agree, but there still is a qualitative difference between an active an a passive activity.
- ebbv 15y ago
  Sitting on your butt and controlling a toy truck just barely qualifies as active. I'd say if you're watching something on DVR and fast forwarding the commercials you're 50% there.
  - elemenohpee 15y ago
    I can't tell if you're being serious or not... He designed and built the system. It's not a question of how many calories he burned, but the difference between creation and consumption.
    - smackfu 15y ago
      OTOH, he's mostly doing consumption now, after the initial creation.
      - elemenohpee 15y ago
        Now he's creating a hole. He has to plan and make decisions at every step of the way, his will guides the progress of the activity, in contrast to TV which is a passive. I'm not making a value judgement based on the relative merits of the two activities, but the distinction still exists.
ImprovedSilence 15y ago
Meh, there's better stuff in real life.
- ebbv 15y ago
  So you never watch any movies, read any books, play any games or listen to any music or anything because "there's better stuff in real life." right? What a ridiculous attitude.
  - ImprovedSilence 15y ago
    As elemenohpee pointed out above, it's really a difference between creation and consumption. Always be doing. If I need to just relax, instead of coding non-stop, instead of watching TV and melting my brain, I"ll just play guitar, or sketch, or grab the camera and go for a walk around town and see if there's anything interesting to photograph. (although I'll admit, it's much easier to do in a somewhat urban environment, that's walkable, and people are about, suburbia kills, man) Playing guitar is especially nice, cuz I can mindlessly do it for hours, and let my brain wander around while I"m just strummin out random chords. On top of all that, who has time for TV? After work there's always something goin on, Tuesdays it's the running club, Wednesday the pub 2 blocks down has $1.50 pints, Thursday is bowling league (actually more fun than you'd imagine, especially when you becomes friends with all the randos in the league.) Weeks are for travel (SKI TRIP) You gotta fill your life up to the brim, not spend it inside with the curtains drawn, and boobtube glowin! Why live vicariously though a screen, when you can do it for real. I hate watching other people have fun and build relationships, when I'm not. That's exactly what I see, and what I'm not doing, when I watch TV. TV shows are fine every now and then, but I'm not a regular to any one show. My GF can't stay up through an entire movie (narcolepsy city), so maybe we'll watch an episode or two of Glee on Sunday night, but that's about it. I love books, and always try to read for a bit just before bed. I think that stimulates the imagination a bit more than tv though. Now I'm not saying TV is evil, and you shouldn't watch it, I'm just putting my alternative point of view out there. To each his own. edit: I didn't downvote you, I don't believe in doing that on disagreements, I think you bring an interesting case.

by ebbv 15y ago

Don't be ridiculous. Mad Men, Justified, Breaking Bad, 30 Rock, Community, Boardwalk Empire, Treme, etc. etc. there's tons of really good stuff on TV these days.

VMG 15y ago

I agree, but there still is a qualitative difference between an active an a passive activity.

ebbv 15y ago
Sitting on your butt and controlling a toy truck just barely qualifies as active. I'd say if you're watching something on DVR and fast forwarding the commercials you're 50% there.
- elemenohpee 15y ago
  I can't tell if you're being serious or not... He designed and built the system. It's not a question of how many calories he burned, but the difference between creation and consumption.
  - smackfu 15y ago
    OTOH, he's mostly doing consumption now, after the initial creation.
    - elemenohpee 15y ago
      Now he's creating a hole. He has to plan and make decisions at every step of the way, his will guides the progress of the activity, in contrast to TV which is a passive. I'm not making a value judgement based on the relative merits of the two activities, but the distinction still exists.

ImprovedSilence 15y ago

Meh, there's better stuff in real life.

ebbv 15y ago
So you never watch any movies, read any books, play any games or listen to any music or anything because "there's better stuff in real life." right? What a ridiculous attitude.
- ImprovedSilence 15y ago
  As elemenohpee pointed out above, it's really a difference between creation and consumption. Always be doing. If I need to just relax, instead of coding non-stop, instead of watching TV and melting my brain, I"ll just play guitar, or sketch, or grab the camera and go for a walk around town and see if there's anything interesting to photograph. (although I'll admit, it's much easier to do in a somewhat urban environment, that's walkable, and people are about, suburbia kills, man) Playing guitar is especially nice, cuz I can mindlessly do it for hours, and let my brain wander around while I"m just strummin out random chords. On top of all that, who has time for TV? After work there's always something goin on, Tuesdays it's the running club, Wednesday the pub 2 blocks down has $1.50 pints, Thursday is bowling league (actually more fun than you'd imagine, especially when you becomes friends with all the randos in the league.) Weeks are for travel (SKI TRIP) You gotta fill your life up to the brim, not spend it inside with the curtains drawn, and boobtube glowin! Why live vicariously though a screen, when you can do it for real. I hate watching other people have fun and build relationships, when I'm not. That's exactly what I see, and what I'm not doing, when I watch TV. TV shows are fine every now and then, but I'm not a regular to any one show. My GF can't stay up through an entire movie (narcolepsy city), so maybe we'll watch an episode or two of Glee on Sunday night, but that's about it. I love books, and always try to read for a bit just before bed. I think that stimulates the imagination a bit more than tv though. Now I'm not saying TV is evil, and you shouldn't watch it, I'm just putting my alternative point of view out there. To each his own. edit: I didn't downvote you, I don't believe in doing that on disagreements, I think you bring an interesting case.