Seeking The Old Paths
April 18, 2007
Life Without TV

Posted in Profundity Abounds

***This post is an answer to something in the comments section of yesterday's post, What Will We Do With It?  Please read that first, in order to understand this response. ***

<<<<Just a question for you women without sounding silly or naieve. I'd like to get an idea of your day without tv. I know this sounds ridiculous. But I come from a family of non-Christians and was raised on radio and tv. I guess I'd like to know what your day is filled with doing? When your husbands come home from work, how do they relax? What do you do together when they come home at night? A couple more questions come to mind. The internet has alot of the same things as TV does, how do you filter all of that? We have a presidential election coming up. How do you research the candidates? The computer? The Library? Do you even involve yourself with voting?>>>>

Let me begin by assuring you that you do not sound silly or naive. You sound like a person who has lived so long one way that you cannot imagine life another way. You sound like a person who has been indoctrinated by 'the world' to hate silence. You are expressing the typical Western mindset of our day. I too, was raised in an ungodly home with all forms of media blaring morning, noon and night. I remember summer vacation from public school being a blur of HBO and MTV. I also remember wondering how I would ever live without them. You, my dear, are not alone.
 
Next, I do not believe you really want to know about my day ~ it is filled to capacity with homeschooling seven children, running a farm, cooking from scratch, etc., and I am at a point where I now wonder how people have time to watch television. I am on the other side of the spectrum from where you are now (and where I once was). I believe that what you are truly wondering about is what in the world YOUR day would be like without television/radio/etc. So I will attempt to answer from that perspective.

The first two questions are quick and easy to answer:

Internet is a tool that we have weighed and found to be enough of a benefit to our family that we allow it here. Not by default, "because everyone has one", but because we believe it to deliver a net gain (and not all technology does). Our computer is a servant for us to use, we are not at it's mercy.

  • Our computer is double-filtered with Norton and BSafe filtering software, therefore, opportunities for evil uses of our computer have been greatly diminished.
  • All adults in our family know how to examine the history files of internet use, and further, Bsafe keeps a back-up record of the same.
  • Time limits, strictly adhered to, are a help if amount of time spent online is a concern.  Accountability is also a helpful tool. .
  • We have our home page set to Blank, instead of AOL, MSN, or any other "news" sites. 
  • Our children do not go online alone. Ever. Period. We are sitting with them at the computer screen at any time they are online.
  • We do not allow the internet to be a "boredom buster". We don't go there just because there isn't anything else to do.

Regarding elections...I always vote. I have never missed an election, and our children go to the polls with us each year. In our home, you may not complain about anything that you do nothing about. Since I love to fuss about politics, I have to vote to retain my room to "discuss" such matters. That said, I do not trust politicians. I believe that even the "good" ones put a spin on their image, and therefore what they say about themselves and their positions cannot be taken at face value. "When we see a political figure on TV, we are not seeing the person as he necessarily is; we are seeing, rather, the image someone has decided we should see" (from How Should We Then Live?  by Francis Schaeffer). So, I go to a slightly more objective source to research candidates: their voting record. Here is a site where one can look up voting records, but there are many others.

Without television or radio, you will be bored. Flat out, you will experience monotony-filled days of emptiness. You will long for Egypt the media like your very life depends on going back to it. I believe this emptiness would be a great gift to you. "Out of the boredom, the suffering, the barrenness, and the silence would grow a vine called focus. Our thoughts would begin to modulate more in the direction of a few central themes. We would stop thinking about where we left the hairspray, what time the Superbowl starts, or whether we have enough Parmesan cheese for spaghetti. We would start thinking more and more about Truth, about life and death, about existence, and about God", (from The Overload Syndrome by Richard Swenson, M.D.) The media causes a dilution of anything of importance because of so much extraneous information, and distraction via an unrelenting flood of interruptions to our thoughts. My belief is that without the constant bombardment from the media, we can finally get a moment in edgewise to think a coherent thought, to listen, then hear from our Father, and to have a time margin to allow us to respond in obedience. Again, Richard Swenson said, "Essential to spiritual thinking is the ability to focus".

You mentioned, <<<<We have gone down to basic cable channels. I am happy we did, but I have teetered with the thought of getting rid of it altogether. It's no wonder I'm so sad sometimes. The news channels are filled with disgusting portrayals of war, shootings and other issues of this world and majority of prime time is very sexual, has gossip and everything that God doesn't want for our minds. >>>>. May I humbly exhort you, that if this is something Father is laying on your heart, that you obey Him? Understanding follows obedience. Do what He is telling you first, then you will understand why. "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" James 4:17.  Trust Him.

Have you ever been stuck home without electricity ~ maybe because of a snowstorm?  What did you do then? Without the media, folks do what they did in the days before TV. They read, studied God's Word, worked, talked with their loved ones (how much of that goes on with the TV on?), women did handwork sewing, visited with family or neighbors, and went to bed early and slept soundly without soundbites running over and over in their heads. There are plenty of things you will find to do once you get past the initial delirium tremens! You may even feel as if you have gotten your life back. Allow the Lord to fill this time of yours as He deems best.

One more thing regarding what to do with your time without TV, and what your husband could do to relax. There is a reason that, when discovering that we have seven children, folks ask us, "Don't you have a TV?"












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Comments

April 18, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by jennikl9


This was a wonderful and convicting post. I loved it. This has been something on my heart lately. I also have toyed with the idea of getting rid of or severely limiting our tv time. I am one of the worst offenders in our house, so it would be a struggle for me. When you commented on the snow storm and no electricity it reminded me of how much fun we had the 3 days last winter that we had no electricity. I am going to pray about this and try to figure out how to change our household. Thanks again.

Jenni


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April 18, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by gokings13


You are a gifted writer. Something I am sure is a result of not melting your brain with the tv!!! :-)

What would be your recommendation for a family who is 'media soaked'?
We only watch cartoons (and very few of those) and sports. Hockey, football, baseball, racing. We watch tv with remote in hand because the commercials are so raunchy!! We *rarely* watch the news, as it is all a bunch of whooe in my opinion!!
How would you wean / eliminate so much media if it is something you have had all your life WITHOUT causing a major rebellious spirit in the home?
I am anxious for your opinion!
Laura


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April 18, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Keeblur


I read yesterday's post and was feeling the same things as the commenter you answered, only I didn't know exactly how to word it. I'm so glad she did and even more glad that you've answered. I don't want my children to always feel they have to have the radio, television, computer, etc. on. How can you hear the birds singing, the cat purring, God speaking if you are constantly bombarded with noise?
I, too, will be in prayer on this subject. We only watch two tv shows (both tonight) and listen to one of five things on our XM (Fox News, 40s, old time radio, baseball, or hockey). I'm really starting to wonder though if its worth it. I guess I have some things to think and pray about.
Thank you again,
Vicki


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April 18, 2007 - Ah, yes!

Posted by Jonash2004


Silence is so golden! We don't have tv. Occasionally we watch a dvd or vhs, but weeks will go by without. I can't imagine scheduling my life around tv programs!

People talk, but they aren't talking about anything worth talking about anymore! Relationships, I'm sure, could be built off of agreement over the same American Idol star, but what is the basis of such a thing?? Couples could talk nightly over what happened last night on tv, and what will happen tonight, with an occasional "would you remember to get milk on the way home tomorrow" thrown in.

I am so thankful that my husband and I have the oppurtunity to talk, talk, and finally run out of things to say because I've told him everything I can think of! :)

It's easy to resent someone for watching Tv/playing on the computer. It's a lot tougher to be annoyed when your man is busy - mowing the lawn, ect. (Possible, but tougher, what can I say, I'm jealous of our time together!!)

I don't think I could stand to share much of our family with the tv!

Ashley


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April 18, 2007 - I love the idea of no TV...

Posted by annre


I am working on this myself...maybe one day hubby will agree with me. In the mean time, our days are nice and quiet without TV...except once in a while where we watch a DVD relating to our homeschooling.


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April 18, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous


Excellent, excellent!!!

One of the things I love and adore about not having TV is that our children and my husband and I know how to make our own entertainment........ my children seldom get "bored".... they use their imagination to play, etc.

Some of our favorite evening "relaxing" activities......
1. listening to music -- sometimes we put in western, or jazz, or polka and dance, waltz, etc. Very fun!

2. play games! Uno, monopoly, cherades!

3. Read alouds -- my favorite is to curl up on the couch and read aloud to the family.... we all love this!!

4. visit with other couples, families, etc. Inviting others to fellowship.......

5. In spring and summer - watch the sunset! It's free and ever so lovely! We love to go for walks in the evening!

6. Daddy loves to play hide and seek and floor games with the little ones......

The list goes on and on........

Gloria


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April 18, 2007 - Turn off TV week

Posted by amogk


it just so happens that this month has the 2007 TV Turn Off Challenge. I first heard about it when my older kids were in PS and the school we attended was BIG into it. if you go to www.tvturnoff.org they have countless resources for helping those who truly do not know where to start.....we always had great fun & for a few years when I was a single mom me & my 2 oldest did not have a tv....partly by choice partly by economics....but my children were never in the dark re: current events........and were able to draw their own conclusions to world events without the 'spin' networks/new agencies try to promote.
We do have tv now.....although I can say other than an occasional "special report" I have not watched any news in years....i realized that watching the news in the evening while preparing dinner or just before bedtime was the #1 cause of a depression that i went through....even went so far as to go on anti depressents....but i quit watching daily news & lo and behold......depression gone.....
Oh, got off my main point...sorry.....i'm in a me-me-me mood (lol)
Any Hew;;;;TV turn off week for 2007 is April 23-29....lets all give it a go shall we?


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April 19, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Lynne


Why not try TV but without cable? You will find there is so little to watch on the few channels that you don't turn on the TV much anymore.
There are so many fun things to do when the TV is off. We have a "family game night" where TV is off and we play games together the whole evening. We play ping pong, foosball, board games, etc. We usually have music on in the background. It's usually also a fun pizza night, so there are not lots of pots and pans to wash. Our kids (and their friends) really enjoy it.


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April 21, 2007 - Life Without TV

Posted by makalea


I was so amused to find this post today. Today I have been cooking all day - from scratch. As I was cooking and the house was for a rare moment quiet, as our five children were napping, I remembered my life when I was first married and the television was never off. I was "lonely" without it, sometimes even scared without the companionship of it. Now I can't imagine how I ever found the time. My husband plays his guitar or with the children to relax. He fills is extra time with us. How blessed I am that the Lord put it on our hearts to give up the television.
April


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April 23, 2007 - Awesome!!

Posted by Hisirishgem


We just came back from a trip to S. Dakota as it was my dh's youngest brother who was getting married.

I was discussing this post and my questions to my mil, who is much older than my own mother. They have only basic channels and she's never cooked, but she does live with my fil a simple lifestyle apart from the two things I've mentioned.

I couldn't wait to get home. We drove 25 hours straight back to get home. However, there was no reception for cell phones, no tv., no radio, and basic stores were at least an hour away. We stayed at someones ranch full of free roaming 250 cows and 7000 acres of land. While it was busy, God has really convicted me of many things. I have started talking with my husband about the things I feel convicted with and THIS issue is certainely one of them. I would like to get rid of tv right away so that when we DO have children, they cannot miss what they don't have. I think an imagination is important, I believe reading is important, helping each other out, cooking from scratch, which I have been doing for the last 8 months. I also believe that we should be teaching basic skills like mending, knitting, and such to be able to give independence to our children and teach them to make things of their own. I am learning slowly but surely and enjoyed your post answering my question. I appreciate it and you've given me something to contemplate right now. I'm a bit tired right now so I will come back shortly, but I had to tell you that I've been looking forward to coming back home to see whats taken place here. I had NO idea you'd answer my question in post form. What a blessing. Thank You!

Rebekah


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April 24, 2007 - I wish we could.....

Posted by panshrmu


we have (well, me) limited TV off from 10am-5pm...trust me, that's an improvement. Me, I could get rid of the TV, but DH can't. He has grown up on it and doesn't have a problem with it. Just because he is a pastor doesn't mean he doesn't like tv (some people think that, dh's culture is different than mine).......i discovered my boys can't play well with toys *until recently* due to TV and the attitudes......ouch!!!!
This topic is something that our families need to handle in prayer. To me, I grew up with hardly ever watching TV, it was a BIG thing for mom and dad to say watch tv!!!! dh lived on it. I'd just as soon get rid of it all together, but dh would die withouth ESPN I think.....anyway, I love reading this blog as it gets me thinking!!!
Deana


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April 26, 2007 - Thank YOU!

Posted by Hisirishgem


Ah, I had rest to catch up with the traveling we did.

Doug and I have been talking together and I think we've come up with a compromise. He hasn't had much time to watch tv throughout the schoolyear and he will be graduating in two weeks. He's asked that we keep the cable on so he could finish his favorite show and then this summer, we may get rid of the cable. Yay! I've already started reading more. Over the years I started getting lazy about reading and I've felt a nudge to start reading books again.

I could use some prayer during this time. Again, I didn't grow up in a Christian home and was brought up with all kinds of tv, music, and other items. My mother thinks we should keep at least basic cable in order to keep up with things and to RELAX. So already we're getting negative remarks. But I'm finding more peace with this decision and am looking forward to less stress, and more time with not only God, but also being able to find other things to keep busy as you've said, I love to bake, I love to knit, and I'd like to learn how to sew and make quilts. Eventually we will be starting the adoption process for children and I'm praying for God to just give us all we need to teach the the way they should go and be examples.

As I've said, I just came across your blog and I'm so comforted here. HSB has been such a teaching environment for me and I thank all you women who've inspired me, gave me a focus and helped create an environment pleasing to the Lord physically and spiritually.

Thank You!

Rebekah

Edited by Hisirishgem on April 26, 2007 at 7:21 PM


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