Quote Originally Posted by minimalistgeneration View Post
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... Another positive side is the mental freedom from an object that makes us suffer the information in a passive way to a wealth of information and advertising that come into our homes and encourage us to buy products that don't even need and ongoing fake reality in which we are conform. http://www.minimalistgeneration.com
As a fellow minimalist I share much of your feelings - and I agree that TV, as well as the internet, gaming, and other "sitting-on-your-butt-in-front-of-a-screen" activities can be a time suck that is addictive. However I think that there are ways to limit usage rather than doing away with it. For instance I don't have home internet (way way WAY more addictive to me than TV) yet I can use the free library computers or use my laptop at free wi-fi spots. That limits my time online yet doesn't leave me out in Luddite-ville with no way to connect. I found using an antenna rather than cable also limits my desire to watch TV. I'll watch an hour or less, turn it off and go outside to play. Now my biggest "screen" addiction would be games (I have stayed up days playing non-stop before) so I completely ban them from my life except occasionally with friends who have an X-Box or similair at their home but will never have gaming capabilities at my own home.