Anyway... I was teaching something about learning and I made the comment and encouragement for people to turn off the TV and to read more. One guy seemed offended and stated that he has learned more from TV than he could by reading a book. That comment has stuck with me since then. I still hold to my stance on this.
I may have mentioned this before but I don't have cable TV. I have an antenna; I only get the 4 or 5 basic channels and that's it! I do miss some cable shows like Animal Planet, AMC (so that I can watch Mad Men) and being able to watch Project Runway. But I can watch all of them on the Internet or buy/rent the DVDs. I did have cable TV many years ago and I found that I spent a great amount of time channel surfing. It seemed overwhelming with hundreds of channels to chose from. And I can see how much time could be wasted just watching stupid shit! There are shows I like to watch, but I turn the TV off and pick up a book.
I love to read! But about twenty years ago I hadn't picked up a book since I was in college.
I made the decision to start reading again have not regretted it. I love mostly historical fiction but have read a good range of books. Currently I am reading Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I love the story and also love the concepts that he discusses. I don't like instructional books, but still have read a few.What venue do y'all learn more from; TV or reading?
7 comments:
I feel that reading (dead tree reading) offers more opportunities for reflection and growth. I can put the book down, think about it and then pick it up again. But then, I've never been lightning quick at anything, so it is just what works for me.
PS Please assure me that you are NOT a wearing a red snuggie in that photo. You are too young and vital for that!
reading a REAL BOOK (not an electronic device) or a NEWSPAPER; I never watch tv.
my co-workers are always amazed at what I know, even though I don't watch tv. it's READING, baybee; we read before tv was invented!
and I don't read trash, like "romance novels". history, (auto)biography, baseball, trains, knitting are some of my interests.
I don't watch TV at all, period. my partner watches everything and the TV is on 24/7 more or less.
I try to keep up on my reading, but the iphone is distracting me, alas
I did not read les mis, but I heard it read to me on a road trip. It took Fontaine 2 hours to die !
I attempt a balance, but I read far more than I watch TV. Especially considering what little TV that I do watch that isn't HGTV or DIY is non-educational (such as cartoons and sci-fi).
Most of the reading I do is in electronic form. I rarely pick up a dead tree book any longer. Those I do are usually reference materials for my art. Everything else I do is digital.
I love to read and I love TV....and I love my iPhone too!
That being said, I really don't watch THAT much TV, but I miss my 'reading time'. I used to spend lots of time on the train commuting to and from work, which gave me lots of time to read. Now that I drive to and from work, my reading is reserved for the (far too infrequent) 'quiet moments' at home.
Hopefully, some day I'll find some more time to read (dead tree reading), as I really do enjoy it much more than mindless TV.
Will: I think Jim is the only person in the world who looks sexy in a Snuggie.
We haven't had a working TV in the house for many years and the kids and I don't miss it! We are all voracious readers. I haven't read as much in recent years due to the upheavals in my life, but I know I will have more time to read again real soon!
Learn more from TV or reading? Definitely reading, but not books. I mean reading the internet. It's like having a library at your fingertips.
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