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I just recently signed up for their free trial because I wanted to watch Air, and figured over the holidays, maybe I'd watch something else (I'm not a TV/Movie

I just recently signed up for their free trial because I wanted to watch Air, and figured over the holidays, maybe I'd watch something else (I'm not a TV/Movie person). Air was great! I haven't seen a single other thing I'd want to watch. Started a few things, but nothing grabbed my interest. I know most people don't try life without TV, and I used to LOVE TV and movies. But honestly, give yourself a month without, and you just may find that you are filling your time with more interesting things. I actually still wish I had more things to do, but just as a few, pick up an instrument (I play guitar), try art (I paint, would like to sculpt), write, read, exercise, make new friends. Even try spending more time cooking, or meditating. I almost think that staring at a blank wall with your own thoughts can be better than most of what is on TV. Also, remove the physical TV, and layout your house around socializing rather than watching.

type0 3y ago
> I almost think that staring at a blank wall with your own thoughts can be better than most of what is on TV. Maybe it is, but honestly more people need to just go for a walk to clear their minds
- pedalpete 3y ago
  Yeah, that's probably a more actionable recommendation. :)
- shiroiuma 3y ago
  Walking is far healthier too. It's the easiest way to get good exercise and improve your body function.
pests 3y ago
Old man yells at clouds.
- pedalpete 3y ago
  To be fair, the cloud started it. :)
  - pests 3y ago
    Ha. I was only saying that in jest, hope I didn't come off too strongly. I have a IRL best friend who is very against all forms of TV and media while I watch quite a bit of it. We argue strongly about this, so I've trodden this path ha. Sometimes I'm not in the mood or mindset to read. 99% of my YouTube is makers / documentaries / war footage / local history and maps / etc. For mainstream stuff, just biopics or stories loosely based on real life or old war content (recently: Gotti, Edge of the World, Bruno Manser, Founder, Hacksaw Ridge, the Lebron/Lakers TV show, Detroit war production, some others) and I'm a huge sci-fi fan so I'll watch most scifi fiction as well. To him, its all just mindless consumption. I 100% agree though about being social and desiging around people rather than a screen, but I don't judge others too much. To each their own.
    - pedalpete 3y ago
      Nah, all good! But thanks for responding. I think there is good stuff out there, and I don't put your youtube watching in the same class as lots of the subscription content. Honestly, I think some of what youtube creators make is more valuable than what studios are spending millions on. I was just surprised that after signing up for Prime, I thought I'd get a good few nights of viewing, but I seriously struggle to find anything worthwhile. I still love Ken Burns docos, I really enjoyed Air, but I think most people are sucked into TV, and almost don't consider other options. I think your friend is right that for most people it is mindless consumption. I think most people treat food as mindless consumption as well, and look where that has left the general population. I think you've got the right approach of being selective of what you watch.
webworker 3y ago
I gave my old tv away and bought a used 1080p projector, and have an AppleTV hooked up to it. When I turn the projector off, it all goes away/clears the room. The center point of my living room then became the coffee table, and I rearranged seating around that. It feels so modern, and I love it. As for content itself, ads and subscribing to multiple services aren’t necessary. You can get almost any title you’re looking for through your local library or inter-library loan. Curation is usually better than what you see on Netflix or any other streaming service.

type0 3y ago

> I almost think that staring at a blank wall with your own thoughts can be better than most of what is on TV. Maybe it is, but honestly more people need to just go for a walk to clear their minds

pedalpete 3y ago
Yeah, that's probably a more actionable recommendation. :)
shiroiuma 3y ago
Walking is far healthier too. It's the easiest way to get good exercise and improve your body function.

pests 3y ago

Old man yells at clouds.

pedalpete 3y ago
To be fair, the cloud started it. :)
- pests 3y ago
  Ha. I was only saying that in jest, hope I didn't come off too strongly. I have a IRL best friend who is very against all forms of TV and media while I watch quite a bit of it. We argue strongly about this, so I've trodden this path ha. Sometimes I'm not in the mood or mindset to read. 99% of my YouTube is makers / documentaries / war footage / local history and maps / etc. For mainstream stuff, just biopics or stories loosely based on real life or old war content (recently: Gotti, Edge of the World, Bruno Manser, Founder, Hacksaw Ridge, the Lebron/Lakers TV show, Detroit war production, some others) and I'm a huge sci-fi fan so I'll watch most scifi fiction as well. To him, its all just mindless consumption. I 100% agree though about being social and desiging around people rather than a screen, but I don't judge others too much. To each their own.
  - pedalpete 3y ago
    Nah, all good! But thanks for responding. I think there is good stuff out there, and I don't put your youtube watching in the same class as lots of the subscription content. Honestly, I think some of what youtube creators make is more valuable than what studios are spending millions on. I was just surprised that after signing up for Prime, I thought I'd get a good few nights of viewing, but I seriously struggle to find anything worthwhile. I still love Ken Burns docos, I really enjoyed Air, but I think most people are sucked into TV, and almost don't consider other options. I think your friend is right that for most people it is mindless consumption. I think most people treat food as mindless consumption as well, and look where that has left the general population. I think you've got the right approach of being selective of what you watch.

webworker 3y ago

I gave my old tv away and bought a used 1080p projector, and have an AppleTV hooked up to it. When I turn the projector off, it all goes away/clears the room. The center point of my living room then became the coffee table, and I rearranged seating around that. It feels so modern, and I love it. As for content itself, ads and subscribing to multiple services aren’t necessary. You can get almost any title you’re looking for through your local library or inter-library loan. Curation is usually better than what you see on Netflix or any other streaming service.