I like television, who doesn't? Anyone who moans about it should maybe ask why they have the all singing, all dancing latest flat screen hanging on their wall, or in the corner; and the sat dish on the house. The greatest element of a TV is the off switch; we have a choice don't we, to switch off or turn over if any programme is not to our liking.
But..... It's not like it used to be. Yep I'm old enough to remember 3 channels , yes three! Also how exciting it was when Channel 4 was launched.
When I was wee, we watched Saturday morning telly, a bit of telly before the t time news, (willow the wisp my favourite) and school holidays was ...wait for it ... Why Don't you? Then you went out... yes... outside... to play with your mates or worse still on your own in the garden. Imagine that?
Not having a whole Sky package dedicated to music or children. I don't know I managed.
Also, when we had visitors the television got switched off. I still insist on this, but the number of houses I go to where it is left on is incredible; no wonder the art of conversation is in decline. No wonder with the constant drone of drivel in the background children need help from speech and language therapists (not in all cases though).
We only had one television, so Saturday nights " the family" all sat TOGETHER and watched family friendly programmes. There was no telly in your bedroom, so you couldn't disappear and sulk. Parents knew exactly what the children were watching. Not like today, I know of kids as young as 3, who have a telly in their room and watch it before going to bed. Mmmm what happened to bed time stories; what happened to wind down time; that special time with mum or dad. No wonder so many kids are hard wired. That's my view and some may not like it.
What happened to the watershed? It's still 9 o'clock isn't it? Well why do I see adverts for adult programmes before this; why do I hear inappropriate language in supposedly family friendly TV, Harry Hill is one example. My son loves music, but I can't let him watch music videos, in my opinion there's just too much adult content, nudity, sexual innuendo, never mind the lyrics!!
So... as I said at the start, I have a choice, and that is to switch off and monitor all that he watches in his telly time, and I do.
But... also, television has provided us with some classics over the years, drama, crime, genuine reporting of great news events, wonderful educational programmes and documentaries that bring to life a world that a book could not.
I like TV, I don't watch it much, but its like a friend in the corner, you can call upon to brighten up your day.
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