Living without TV

[minimalistgeneration]

A choice that can be done by good minimalist is live without tv, the tv can be addictive, many times we come at home and turn on the tv automatically only for background noise to spend hours and hours to zap between channels. One of the first positive sides without tv is that we find ourselves with a free space in home and with less energetic waste. One of the fears is that you get bored without tv, but rather you gain free time to do many other things, rear a good book, go outside for a walk, to do a hobby , etc... http://www.minimalistgeneration.com/ :)

[Tussiemussies]

I agree I have stopped watching TV and really don't miss it much at all. Home seems more peaceful without it and I feel calmer...:)

[JaneV2.0]

I lived without television for several years in my youth, voluntarily. I bought a TV to watch CNN and the Watergate trials and I've never looked back. I've always been a reader, and the only change I can think of is that I read fewer novels after than before. I'm not missing anything.

[Gregg]

I also lived without TV for many years when I was young. No statement being made, I just didn't have the room to haul a console TV around in what was a pretty mobile lifestyle. We recently dropped cable, but still have the digital antenna and Netflix going. Hulu and Youtube fill in some additional bandwidth. We are far from living without, but at least it feels more manageable without having to sort through a couple hundred channels that we care nothing about.

[bae]

We haven't had broadcast TV for 13 years now. We will now-and-then binge-watch something on Netflix via streaming or DVD, but that tends to be a special event or for something of particular interest.

Freeing up much time for music, study, and other pursuits.

[Spartana]

I have lived without TV for long periods of time and really enjoyed myself and do have sooo much more free time as, for me, it can be highly addictive (although not as addictive as video games and the internet - both which I limit severely). However I do enjoy watching it in limited amounts so am working on finding a balance between none or too much. Not having cable helps, and on most days have my sister (we live together) lock the antenna in her bedroom when she goes to work (I'm retired) so that I can't watch and get sucked in during the daytime and early evenings when I'd rather be out doing other things anyways.

[smellincoffee]

I haven't had TV since it went all-digital back in...2008, 2009. Haven't missed it a lick. I still watch DVDs from time to time. The funny thing is that I was raised in a home without TV because my parents' preacher told them TVs were evil. Now they have a new preacher who lets them watch TV, so they have one...but I, who left their church and who is by their definition going to hell, will not tolerate living with one. I avoid restaurants that inflict them on people. The noise, the commercials, the fake drama, the pathetic excuse for news, the atrocious values promoted in the shows...I don't miss TV at all.

[Reyes]

I had to think back to how longs its been, I think 1995 or so. I don't miss having one, but I will admit that when I am in a hotel, and there are back-to-back Law & Order episodes, well order room service for me:-)

[Spartana]

As for the OP , being a mininimalist really has nothing to do with watching TV or not. TV can be just as mind expanding and interesting as it can be mind less and boring. Pretty much like any activity in life. It's also cheap or free entertainment - something this minimalist always looks for.

[Jilly]

I am pretty minimalist, at least I pretend to be :D, and I like television. I did not have one for the past twenty years or so, but I do watch at my daughter's house and sometimes at a friends. I mostly use it for DVDs from the library, but it is also free to just watch it. I like House (kind of creepy and disrespectful) and Big Bang Theory, although I can never remember when it is on and watch the repeats on some channel. I have one of those antennas, and I never know what channels will show up. Probably why I cannot remember when anything airs.

I bought a television shortly after I moved here and I can think of a couple of other things I would let go before the TV or the computer. Not my cat or chocolate, but some other stuff could go without undue stress. A couple of weeks ago I was able to watch Fiddler on the Roof several times. Great music, popcorn and a cat on my lap. Bliss.

[melanie]

I got rid of my TV years ago... it was replaced by the internet ;)

Seriously I dig my background noise. I almost always have something on in the background. I dont usually like silence unless I'm trying to study.

[Alan]

We have 7 TV's in the house and 1 in the motorhome. Strangely enough, we spend a good part of each day reading, spending time outdoors & participating in hobbies. Maybe we're not using them properly.

[JaneV2.0]

We have 7 TV's in the house and 1 in the motorhome. Strangely enough, we spend a good part of each day reading, spending time outdoors & participating in hobbies. Maybe we're not using them properly.

It's either/or. Apparently you didn't read the manual...:devil:

[ApatheticNoMore]

I wish I had the energy when I came home to do much more than feel like collapsing - but instead I usually vegetate for a bit :~) (it's really why people do t.v. probably - too tired too do anything that would take energy). And weekends are pretty stressful too, I try to get some down time, but it's very easy to feel stressed out and that I have to rush around like crazy doing errands and trying to squeeze in social activities.

[ljevtich]

Not having internet when I live in remote areas has allowed me to read more, work on my website, and focus on my work. The only tv I watch is shows that have been downloaded or from DVDs. Allows me more time to work on the important stuff.

[SteveinMN]

The only tv I watch is shows that have been downloaded or from DVDs. Allows me more time to work on the important stuff.
I don't mean to pick on you, Laura. But I've now read several posts in this thread which reinforce the idea that watching a show on a TV screen is a less-than-noble way to spend time -- but that watching TV shows off DVDs or keeping up with series which the viewer considers quality entertainment (but which I may consider an utter waste of time) ... well, that's okay, then.

There's no substantial difference between sitting on one's couch and watching entertainment in real time or watching the same series on one's computer when Netflix ships the DVD. "Living without TV" isn't so if all one is changing is the method of transmission.

Harrumph.

[EDIT] reworded some points

[Jilly]

:D

Even redfox's little house has a television. http://tinyhouseblog.com/apartment-living/deeks-seattle-apartment-visit/

[iris lily]

Now here's confession: we eat dinner in front of the tv. How uncivilzed is that! So I watch network tv between 6:30 and 7:30 many nights.

[catherine]

Now here's confession: we eat dinner in front of the tv. How uncivilzed is that! So I watch network tv between 6:30 and 7:30 many nights.

So do we! Usually timed with Jeopardy. (Now you KNOW I'm an old fogey. In fact, when I worked at NBC, I actually met Art Fleming, the original Alec Trebek.)

DH has instituted a "no TV" rule since June 1 (he tends to watch a lot more daytime TV than I do--mostly movies), but I've talked him into moderating it a little to "no TV before 9pm" I like to unwind at that point in the day, and that's time I wouldn't be productive at anything else anyway.

[creaker]

I don't mean to pick on you, Laura. But I've now read several posts in this thread which reinforce the idea that watching a show on a TV screen is a less-than-noble way to spend time -- but that watching TV shows off DVDs or keeping up with series which the viewer considers quality entertainment (but which I may consider an utter waste of time) ... well, that's okay, then.

There's no substantial difference between sitting on one's couch and watching entertainment in real time or watching the same series on one's computer when Netflix ships the DVD. "Living without TV" isn't so if all one is changing is the method of transmission.

Harrumph.

[EDIT] reworded some points

It's all about "quality" time - regardless of what you do or how you do it, if you're not doing something you enjoy or gets something you want accomplished (ideally it would be both, but, as an example, while cleaning my bathroom is very worthwhile and I enjoy the results, I'm never going to enjoy actually doing it) it's not's that worthwhile.

I think a lot of people have been able to effectively focus and limit to what they really want using Netflix or DVD's. But if one can do that using cable, then it's really no different.

[Gregg]

Now here's confession: we eat dinner in front of the tv. How uncivilzed is that! So I watch network tv between 6:30 and 7:30 many nights.

Pretty hedonistic for one with such Victorian sensibilities.

[SteveinMN]

I think a lot of people have been able to effectively focus and limit to what they really want using Netflix or DVD's. But if one can do that using cable, then it's really no different.
So maybe the real issue is the ability to apply personal discipline rather than the actual content delivered by the blinking box? :D

BTW, I see nothing wrong with using Netflix or iTunes or whatever as a timeshifting mechanism.

[artist]

Our home as been free of Television/Video based entertainment for years. We do own a tv but we don't use it for entertainment purposes Dh and I are marriage mentors in our church and we teach a few classes that require DVD accompaniment. For that we do have a television and DVD player that we take out of the storage closet and set up on class nights. It's purpose is to show the DVD lesson and that is all we use it for. When the class is over we put the tv and DVD player back in the closet. . We don't use the tv for any other purpose other than what is needed for teaching the class. We do not watch television shows, news, movies, sports or DVD movies for entertainment. It's just not something we find of value to our lives. We may see a grand total of two movies in theaters in a year's time if that. To be honest we find television news lacking and most programing mind numbing. We don't stream movies or have Netflix. We'd rather be reading or engaged in hobbies. Sports we listen to on the radio and our news we get from NPR or online newspapers.

[reader99]

As for the OP , being a mininimalist really has nothing to do with watching TV or not. TV can be just as mind expanding and interesting as it can be mind less and boring. Pretty much like any activity in life. It's also cheap or free entertainment - something this minimalist always looks for.

Thank you.

I grow weary of TV bashing on several forums I frequent. My reaction has become "WhatEVER, who cares already". I live alone and have no car, so some sound and motion from the TV is often welcome. OTOH, I'm rarely actually watching it. Usually I'm doing something and the TV is an extra input.

[reader99]

I don't mean to pick on you, Laura. But I've now read several posts in this thread which reinforce the idea that watching a show on a TV screen is a less-than-noble way to spend time -- but that watching TV shows off DVDs or keeping up with series which the viewer considers quality entertainment (but which I may consider an utter waste of time) ... well, that's okay, then.

There's no substantial difference between sitting on one's couch and watching entertainment in real time or watching the same series on one's computer when Netflix ships the DVD. "Living without TV" isn't so if all one is changing is the method of transmission.

Harrumph.

[EDIT] reworded some points

+1

[sillysally]

We gave up cable for Netflix a couple of years ago and have never looked back. The only time I miss it is when it comes to hockey--I'm a Blackhawks fan and they rarely show games on network TV.