I watch TV. I’m sure, no I’m positive, many people do too. I could look up a statistic on how many hours on average people spend watching TV, but I’m too lazy, I’m watching TV. I used to watch television more than I do now. Now, I just wither away my time on the computer, but I still spend some time watching television. It’s very complicated. I don’t watch television. Television watches me.
The FCC-mandated, digital television transition is beginning to edge up on us. “On February 17, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. Digital broadcasting will allow stations to offer improved picture and sound quality and additional channels.” Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t agree with this national change. Who are they to say that we have to do this? Oh ya, they’re the FCC. I don’t see how we need the extra channels or the extra sound and picture quality.
With the little amount of time I do spend watching television, I don’t find myself wishing for better quality. I have no need to see the sweat or blemishes on people’s faces. I don’t want to see every little detail. I’m going to end up learning things that I don’t want. As the quality increases our illusion will decrease. With the better quality we will begin to see past the magic, trap doors and misdirection. Who wants to see the large amount of lint on a politicians suit? The famous will become humanized and although this could be a good thing, it’s going to disappoint people and abolish the hero.
If we start to increase the sound quality now, how far will we go? It’s the same way as with improved picture quality. Will we begin to hear the imperfections in the TV shows, the cough of the cameraman, every little rustle on set?
In this case, ignorance is bliss. I don’t want to be able to hear the realities of television. I don’t really know what is going to happen. For all I know I won’t even notice the difference. I hope I don’t. I am fine with the television I have now. I don’t want the extra channels and better quality. It might make me watch more television. That’s a bad thing. It just seems unnecessary and overkill to FORCE us to take these extra amenities. Aren’t they saying people are watching too much TV and that is the reason for increased cases of obesity. Then why, I ask you are they making the television watching experience more pleasurable?
So, this is a call to action! Run! Quickly to your nearest baseball bat. Go quickly over to your television. Now you are going to swing as hard as you can at that…but wait, STOP! I don’t really think it’s necessary to not participate in the change and give up TV. I’m not even doing that. I would just suggest not watching AS much TV as you know you will, but “The Office,” on NBC, you have complete permission to watch.
