Television Vs. Interfacing

Everybody has a television. Almost everybody watches television. Its hard to get away from television. In every doctors office, in all of the malls, in the grocery stores. Some people even have them in their cars. There are certain days of the week that people have to get home in time for their favorite shows. Every where we go and everything we do we are tuned in and turned on. With all of the influence that television has on our daily lives, isn’t there a point that the television should be turned off?

I understand that when your favorite sports event is on or even when the President is delivery a speech, that watching is going to happen. There are things that can be learned from watching television. From Animal Planet to CNN, you can watch and learn all day long. There isn’t many things that you cant do with a television. Take an at home study course or loose your self in mindless entertainment after a long day at work, but there is a point when it should be off. I’m not just referring to the Green option of turning it off.

In my opinion there are two major times that the television should be off. One would be when you are trying to have a conversation with someone. I don’t care if the person is on the phone or in the room. How are you going to talk to that person and remember what they said and or even answer a question when asked if you are entranced by the one eyed monster? I have had conversations with the television on and ended up either not hearing a word the other person said or I got mad at the person I was talking to because they couldn’t hear me. I have since stopped talking to people with the television on. I cant expect people to listen to me if I am not listening to them. However some people think that it is ok because they really only have to hear half of what a person is saying.

The other time is when you and someone else are trying to be intimate. I know that nobody likes being rejected, that’s just common knowledge. But can you imagine being rejected for the television. I could understand another girl/guy, but an inanimate object? What a better way to say “I love you” then saying with out saying “I cant be intimate with you with out the television on.” I am sure that there are people out there that don’t mind if there other half is watching television during the act, but I also know a lot of people who do mind. I cant understand what it is all about. Is it just a crutch? Is it a performance enhancer? (Let me tell you…..its not!) I don’t understand. If you are trying to cover up noise…turn on the radio.

I just think that if you are trying to have any kind relationship with anybody you need to turn off to tune in. Is there an addiction to the one eyed monster that we just cant get past? Is there a anything important enough to make us turn it off? Is there a time that is so easy to see that is the right time to turn off the television? I wish that there was an etiquette class that showed us how to turn off the television and listen to what other people have to tell us. Oh wait. There is. It’s called common sense.