The TV Generation: Pros vs. Cons

Who doesn’t love a great television program?  Whether it is just keeping up with the news, or tuning in to the latest happenings on the Soaps, most of America, and the world, for that matter, get their entertainment by switching on the “boob tube,” (not that many of the modern televisions have the glass tubes of old).  At this moment, my Summertime afternoon babysitter  is maniacally laughing in my den, the babysitter’s name, of course, is Sponge Bob SqaurePants.  If you have children, by the way, and you claim to never use the TV as a sitter… you’re lying.

When did the “TV Generation” begin?  A recent study done by the Senior Journal looks at just that:

“Out of 1,200 people born between 1946 and 1964, (typically known as the “Baby Boomers”) surveyed, only 20% described themselves as Boomers, while 56% described themselves as belonging to The TV Generation.

The study also asked respondents to choose the most meaningful cultural and historic events of their formative years. Their top two cultural events were:”

● The birth of cable television…45%
● The creation of color television…40%

I know, this is all fascinating information, but what is really happening as a result of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generations getting more and more glued to electronic entertainment?  Fat kids with no imaginations, but no matter, if they had imaginations, they wouldn’t have the energy or stamina to do anything with them!

Pros and cons of the TV Generations

Con: Lack of imagination and free thought

The more we are told what to eat, not eat, think, not think, and what kind of toilet tissue to use, we can just about stop thinking altogether… Hmmm… Maybe that’s a pro.  Seriously, though, what about the sports and art programs that are being axed out of schools?  Perhaps part of the reason it is tolerable to so many is that they can no longer recognize the value and importance of them, due to the amount of mindless time spent in front of the TV.

Pro: The Entertainment Industry can produce content with minimal effort

This is pretty self-explanatory.  The literary content of older movies and television shows has been replaced with comic book fluff; thereby cutting costs for producers, it’s like first-run shows and movies are starting from the platform of bad cartoon movie sequels.  Forget a plot, or well developed characters; hire a couple of porn stars and send them in front of the cameras half naked!  Hollywood zips stuff out cheaper and faster… wait, if that is the case, why are the movie and cable prices going up?

Con: Actors and characters lives, both on and off screen, become more important than our lives and the people around us.

“I don’t care if you’re hungry; you should have eaten more at dinner time!  Now go to bed, Bones is starting in 3 minutes!”  Oh yes, that was a real conversation.  Family mealtimes, and bedtimes are starting to be scheduled around the television programming, rather than around the natural rhythm of the life cycle.

Pro: In the busy bustle of modern life, TV can bring families and communities together

As long as everyone wants to watch the same program.  A great example of TV bringing families together would be the 2010 Olympic Games; people were planning their lives around Olympic programming, however, it really did bring families together in front of the TV.  The Olympics also facilitated discussions about the Games everywhere in the community… yes, everywhere; I overheard an entire conversation about Olympic snowboarding competition held between two people in side-by-side toilet stalls.  Awkward.

Con: Reality TV

Yes.  Reality TV gets an entire con all to itself.  There is no ‘reality’ in Reality TV.  There has been an actual study about actual people becoming depressed and dissatisfied with their own lives because they aren’t as adventurous/sexy/glamorous/fill-in-the-blank as the lives of so-called reality personalities.  Okay, there wasn’t a study that I am aware of, but if there hasn’t been, there should be.  Reality bites… Seriously.

Pro: With the economy, the state of the housing market, the war that never ends, etc. TV provides respite

Whether reality, comedy, or even drama is on your screen, you can tune out what is looming outside.  The state of our economy, and other sources of comfort or stability are seriously compromised; what’s the harm in tuning it all out for a time?

I guess a good question, should we decide to go all philosophical here, would be:  ”Why do you watch?”  Or even:  ”Oh my God, can you even wait for House to start back up in the Fall?”  Well, one this is for sure and certain; TV is not going anywhere but out, and by out, I mean 3D, it is only going to continue to get better… or is it worse?  You decide!