Sunday, October 14, 2012
Television: The Plug-In Drug
Write a response to Marie Winn's article "Television: The Plug-in Drug." What do you think of some of her assertions? Do you find her writing to be accurate? Indicative of the influence of TV on mainstream America? Do you see your family within the lines of her writing, or is she out of touch? Be sure to pick a specific line or two from the text to respond to, rather than making a blanket response devoid of evidence of close reading.
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I find this article very interesting. I personally do not watch much TV. But when I do i don't go hours on end. I would rather sit down and watch a movie for an hour and a half then watch several different shows for three hours. I can tell you that for one her assertion that families congregate in the living room and all watch TV together does not apply to my family at all. I don't think that TV effects a child or person's social, communication or relationships to such a degree that they would completely disengage from their openness and being able to make eye contact. The whole research done on the part where it showed 78% of the respondents indicated no conversation taking place during viewing except at specified times such as commercials, makes sense because duhh..no one wants to talk during a movie at the movie theaters so that they don't miss anything that's happening, so why would they socialize during a show?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Amanda's last statement concerning the talking at a movie theatre and only talking during commercials, it's common curteousy not to talk!
DeleteI also agree that you shouldn't have to talk during the movie. I hate people that won't shutup at the movie theater.
DeleteI agree with Amanda and Tori. Most people would rather not talk during a movie or show. It sounds a little ridiculous when pointed out, but it is considered common curteousy nowadays.
DeleteI agree with amanda's statement that I would rather not spend my time watching a bunch of shows but watching movies instead
DeleteI agree with Amanda, i think most people don't watch much tv. I know that lots of kids who play a sport don't really have time to watch tv. But for some it is all they do.
DeleteI agree. I know I watched a lot of TV as a child and I'm not socially awkward. Atleast not from that. I also hate it when people talk during movies.
DeleteI do not think this article is very accurate. I feel that for everyone and every family, TV is different. I do not watch tv very often at all, I personally don't really enjoy a lot of television shows nor do I like waiting around for the good ones to come on. I find myself wishing I was doing something more productive when I am watching TV. I usually only watch it to unwind from the day and watch a half hour before bed, but even then I'd prefer a movie. As for my familiy, my younger sisters constantly have the television on, along with my dad. They could sit there for hours and just watch television. My mother and I are much too a.d.d for that. In some instances Marie Winnie is accurate however it is a very broad generalization.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on every family being different on watching TV. I personally get annoyed waiting for my favorit shows to come on so i noramlly just DVR them and do something else. I also agree that Marie Winnie had a broad generalization so she is accurate on some aspects of she article.
DeleteI personally dont just sit infront of the TV hours on end. If im home alone I will turn it on so it is not dead quiet in the house, so its just backround noise. I get annoyed watching TV for more then a couple hours though because my legs start to fall asleep and i find the shows on boring. I dont like having to wait for my favorit shows to come on either so ill read a book or draw till they are on. My siblings however could watch TV for hours on end along with my dad. But like Amanda said the part about 78% of the respondents indicated that no conversation take place during viewing except at specified times such as commercials, because no one wants to miss anything. Ifound her article to be right on some points.
ReplyDeleteI also do not watch much tv. It is not that I do not like tv overall, I just really do not have the time for it. even if I did I despise most tv shows that are currently airing. Kids shows have gotten stupider with no points or morals, and the same goes for adult television. maybe society is reflecting our tv shows and that is why we have little snooki like girls walking around...
DeleteI'm just like Megan, my legs will go numb and i cant just set around and watch TV for hours.
DeleteI'd have to agree that I turn on the television sometimes just to have background noise. I do this when I read or even when I am typing papers. It is just a habit.
DeleteI don't watch much tv either. Hardly ever. Unless its football. And I definitely agree that nobody socialized during tv in order to not miss out. But my family on the other hand, can't shut up that long, so there's always constant conversation when the tv is on. Unless the movie Troy is on... Talking through that movie.. Is just wrong.
DeleteMost people in today's society have a tv, so I do see her point that television is a part of everyday life and it has become a part of our daily"rituals" as she calls them. I honestly agree with most of the things she says. Television has been taken over today's society. Unfortunately she does one thing that does make me quite mad. She says in multiple areas of her essay things like "Studies show the importance of eye-to-eye contact". It is not the fact that she uses these but the fact that she never gives a source. She never says where these studies were done or who did them. So I guess what I am trying to say is that her essay overall is good, but it lacks much needed ethos.
ReplyDeleteI personally enjoy watching t.v. I find it very relaxing and it allows me to unwind for a little while. I think that t.v in some situations can bring families together. Maybe you don't talk all that much during the movie/show but some sort of bond forms. Laughing at funny moments together or all getting scared at the same parts brings you together.
ReplyDeleteI think that Marie Winnie was a little out of touch. When she stated that 78% of people don't talk while watching television I though of course not. You shouldn't have to.
I think that most people say that they don't watch t/v that much because they think it makes them look lazy. I'm up at 6:30 for school, go to cross country and run 5 miles then go to work till 8. If I want to watch a little t.v I should be able to without being called lazy.
I think you are justified about how you should be able to treat yourself to watching some tv. Good points there!
DeleteI agree with you. It is completley fine to just come home and turn on the TV. I have those days. All I want to do is enjoy some time where I don`t have to worry about anything.
DeleteI found this article quite interesting, coming from a certain point of view. I personally don't watch TV all that much, mostly because I find all the programs that are on now a days are just plainly useless. I can see where she says that watching so much television is bad for children, and I agree, but it is most certainly not as bad as she states it is. I believe that in certain environments, watching TV, and certain shows HELP children in social situations, because it gives them something to talk about with their peers. And saying most people don't talk during while they are watching a TV show together, I believe it depends on the family, and how much they like to discuss the things they are watching. But TV is a form of relaxation for most people now a days, who like us students, have long days with school, sports, work, homework, and such things. I think that it is alright for people who have full days and schedules to be able to relax for a while in front of the TV. It is also true, that television has become very much integrated into our society, and that most American families have a TV if not more than one.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I think that in some instances TV can help children. It gives them something to talk about with there friends and then that way they won't always feel out of the loop. I also agree with TV is a relaxation. It's nice to just chill out after a long day.
DeleteI also agree that television helps some children. I remember as a child that the shows i watched were a big part of how I made friends. We had cartoons that we watched and then talked about or occasionally tried to reenact on the playground
DeleteCaleb Blohm 1st hour
This article was enlightening, however lacked in some places. She seemed to repeat herself constantly about "studies say" and "most families". I feel as if she was careful to edit her paper in saying "most". She seems to want to imply that every single family does this. I found it annoying, actually, when she said that families don't talk at all when watching it too...why would you talk? You're watching a movie or a show and you don't want to miss any of it. There are some points that I agree with her on...when she mentions the 'stupid' families that don't pay their kids any attention and just watch TV. And then the one about Thanksgiving and holiday time when they're gathered round the TV. For my family, we still condone all the traditions of Thanksgiving...but when our Lions football comes on, the whole family goes to watch besides the little ones. Yes, TV destroys some families, but not all.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the article was lacking in some places. She does repeat herself a lot and it is very annoying.
DeleteI dont like how much she repeats her self its quite annoying and takes away from the quality of the article.
DeleteI agree with you completely Liana. It's really annoying. She takes the actions from one family and makes the assumption that all families are like that, which they clearly are not. She sees TV as being controlling, but it's honestly not. It's the person that decides whether it will be a controlling factor in his or her life. It's more of a "self-induced drug" than anything else.
DeleteMary Jo Koster
1st hour
I thought the article was pretty interesting. I don't watch that much T.V. on the T.V. I watch most of my television off my Ipod on Netflix. I do find her writing to be accurate though, my parents both watch a lot of T.V. so I really don't see them in between her guide lines. I like to watch movies more than T.V. It is more interesting and keeps me occupied.
ReplyDeleteYeah Netflix is sweet.
DeleteI agree with this. Movies can be a lot better and with Netflix it is easier to just relax and watch a good movie.
DeleteThis article, for me, sounded like a very condensending article. Is Marie Winn even a mother? For my family, we bairly watch tv at all. And when we do, it is usualy a soccer game. And when we watch a soccer game. We have a party. Im talking a mini kegger. My father will invite his soccer buddies and watch the game. The whole time we are conversing and haveing fun.
ReplyDeleteI on the other hand, will watch tv on the computor or on my phone. But that is when I am alone or procrastinaing. SO maybe television is bad for you. But I wouldn't call it a drug. But maybe something less dark. She does come up with very good examples of how the family life shouldn't be. She is extremly good at disecting comments made by others, and making them sound the way she want them to sound.
I agree with Torden, I wouldn't necessarily call t.v a drug either. I thought she did a good job of shaping other's words as well.
DeleteThe most accurate part of this article is probably that a lot of families own more than one TV. I disagree that families will spend all of their free time in separate rooms watching TV. My personal experience is that I rarely watch more than one or two shows in a row when I watch TV, and sometimes I don't feel like watching anything for a week or more. I agree with the point made that during a TV show, it is quiet. Everyone wants to see what is going to happen, and they don't particularly want to be disturbed and then miss something. The idea of watching TV for the sake of watching TV might be true for some families, but I find it to be rather boring. If there's nothing on that I want to watch, I'm not going to try to find the least boring show on. I'm going to try to find something else to do. The essay states some truths, but overall it seems to be somewhat exaggerated.
ReplyDeleteBrandon Aho
2nd hour
This essay definitely caused me to think a little more about my own TV watching. When she states that most families spend lots of their free time in different rooms, apart from one another, it definitely sounded a bit like my family. My dad and brother watch baseball in one room, my sister and I have another, my mom another yet, and it tends to remain that way. That tends to happen a lot less frequently for me since school has started. I don't have much time for TV watching, and I find it kind of obnoxious unless there's something specific I want to watch.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that unless I want to watch something specific...one show I might enjoy or a favorite movie coming on....it's really obnoxious. However I can't say my family has your problem with TVs. My mom kind of recognized that a long time ago and said there was only to be one TV in the whole house, and we still don't have wifi so that we'd separate with our laptops and ipods...one internet connected home desktop only.
DeleteOverall I thought that this was a very interesting article and from her point of view it made sense. I thought that she generalized too much. On one end there are those families who just sit in front of the TV for hours, but many families do not. My family hardly turns on the TV during week days and when we do it is just to relax or to watch that one show that we hate to miss. I disagree with her about how TV links to less communication and eye contact. It just depends on the family and the day. Sometimes we are super chatty and some days we just want to relax. Besides who wants to really talk during your favorite show, not me.
ReplyDelete2nd hour
I agree that all of the things that she says in the article, she really did generalize too much to seem like she was speaking more from opinion than from fact.
DeleteI agree with this. She didn't have much to back up what she was saying I didn't think.
DeleteThe article was sort of surreal for me because it made me think about how much TV i watch, which is a LOT if I’m not busy with other things. I like to have something to listen to when I draw, which I also do a lot, so I generally have the TV on if I don’t feel like music. I also used to watch TV when I work out because it’s just like... Working out is so boring otherwise. And music only pumps me up if I’m full of energy, so that doesn’t work some days and then other days I read my history book if I’m behind on the assigned chapters. Anyway, I probably watch more TV than I should, so I agree with the part of the essay where she says TV is pervasive.
ReplyDeleteOther than me, though, no one else in my family watches the TV that much, so it doesn’t really split us into different rooms - we all just kind of chill out in the family room.
But I am super chatty during TV watching if I’m watching TV with a friend [that doesn’t happen much, because why]. I make a lot of jokes about whatever we’re watching, unless whoever is with me is super into it and wants me to shut up.
Haha I agree with your comment about chatting during tv. I like to discuss what I'm watching too, or have to explain it to my dad when we're both watching. ;p
DeleteI found this article very interesting to read and see her point of view. However, her thoughts and opinions were to the extreme.
ReplyDeleteThere are many families who turn on the TV and watch it for hours and hours, and ignore everything else going on in life. But my family and many others do not. I only turn it on to watch a certain show once a week, and my dad and mom usually turn it on at night and watch the news or a game. Otherwise, we're to busy and have other more important things to do. I thought she was right, at least for my family, when she says that families spend their time apart, in different rooms. My dad and mom are in the living room, and I'm in my own room. Usually, it's because we are not watching the same shows. I don't think TV breaks apart the family, though. In some instances it can bring families together. When you are all watching a movie or a show together it unites the family.
1st hour
I agree with your statement about families being too busy to watch enough TV to break them apart. Families, especially as kids get older, have work and school and sports that take away from TV watching time. Although a busy schedule can be an obstacle for family togetherness, I feel that it's easier to find things to talk about with each other when you're talking about your busy day than when you're talking about what you saw on TV.
DeleteI agree with Molly, I also know families that watch so much Tv that they don't know what is going around in their life. There can definitely be times where Television can bring families together. That is a time where they can talk about our days, laugh , and have a conversation. I agree with what Grace said how everyone has busy schedules today that they only have time to chat when they are watching Tv.
DeleteI agree with most that the author generalizes a lot. My family is not like the "most families" that she talked about in her article. As kids, we didn't have cable, and were only allowed to watch a certain amount of TV. Now, I just don't have time to watch TV. I have so much going on that its tough to watch one full show. There are certain shows that I do watch every week...SNL, etc...but I usually only watch TV on the weekend or when I'm at a friend's house.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that TV is what splits us up into different rooms. Yes, sometimes I will want to watch something, so my brother watches something else on the TV upstairs or on the computer, but I think there are multiple other reasons why we aren't always hanging out in the same room.
I disagree with the authors idea that TV links to less communication and eye contact. Usually when my family watches TV together its Modern Family or some other funny show that we all laugh at, which I think increases communication.
I loooove Modern Family! We watch that at my house, too, and I think you're right that shows like that bring us together with laughter and all that.
DeleteI think that over all it was a very well written article. It brought up some very valid points that not many of us realize or stop to think about. In my house we have 4 TV's and they are almost never on at the same time. If they are on at the same time then its a very rare occasion. Usually we only use the main TV in the TV room. We have shows that we like to watch as a family and it brings us together most of the time but its not a regularly scheduled thing. We don't usually have the time to make a commitment to watch a show at one time of the evening because we all are busy with our own things. So as a compromise we record the shows and watch them together when we get a chance. Sometimes TV can be a good thing that brings families togethers then other times it can separate families completely. I have friends who's families live around their TV's and never watch them together at the same time they are just all in different rooms watching different things. I don't like that because it kind of pulls families apart and secludes the members of it to their own rooms. The author brings up many valid points. However its not perfect, no article ever is.
ReplyDelete~Tristan Urry
1st Hour
I completely agree with you. Families ARE torn apart. The only families that are not are the ones who are well aware of the dangers the family has with TV. Although it does tend to united the nation.
DeleteI think TV is a very interesting being, although I do not have time to watch it myself. Yes I say being because TV has a lot of parts to it. Since it conception in the early 20th century it has been growing with the audience. It has a wide variety of opinions and emotions that are influenced by society, like any other person. It has times to do business with political debates and state addresses, time to spread the news, and time to have fun with reality shows and cartoons. In Marie Winn's article "Television: The Plug-in Drug." she never connects this.
ReplyDeleteOn the article's fault it is a big piece to leave out as to why human beings find it so addicting. Since it is a being that people can always rely on for accurate news and good entertainment. For centuries people have watched TV and people will continue to do so for generations because it is a trustworthy being.
It does however tear families apart in the sense that it creates disunity. There are several televisions in my house and one belongs to one specific family member. This is a reason I try not to watch television, other than some of my favorite shows I can catch online (which are commercial-less).
Alicia Ryke
1st hour
I completely agree with you saying why humans find it so addicting is a big piece to leave out. I also agree with television being able to spread the news, along with a time to have fun. It is sad to me that something such as television has the ability to tear families apart.
DeleteI felt that this article was accurate in many of the things it said, but it is obvious that the entire article isn't applicable to all families. This may not have been the case when I was younger, but I know that now when my family watches TV, we all watch a favorite show or two together. There aren't many times that I watch TV other than that. A section that really caught my attention was the quote by the young boy who said that when he watches TV right before bed, it's not a show he really likes because there's nothing on that he would rather be watching. Marie Winn goes on to say "[...] when there is 'nothing much on that I really like,' they watch whatever else is on--because watching is the important thing." Watching just for the sake of watching is something that was common in my house when my brother and I were young. I don't watch much TV anymore, but I believe that this could easily be a problem for some children that could develop further and affect their TV habits later in life.
ReplyDeleteGrace Peterson
2nd hour
I think Marie's assertions are very accurate in describing modern times for the most part. I agree with her stating television is a way to "avoid conversations." I also agree with televison taking away from, (what could be,) quality family time. I do believe some families go a bit overboard with television, however I do believe it is somewhat of a "necessary evil." Television can be very educational, depending on the program of course. I feel trashy television programs distract from educational programs, such as National Geographic for example.
ReplyDeletePersonally, my family watches t.v. in moderation, and we definitely don't eat dinner seperately or in front of the television. I believe we spend quality time together, and do not use television as a distraction from conversation. Personallly, I am okay with this because I am not much of a television watcher myself. I enjoy spending time with my family, and I would much rather have that time being spent together, not seperately with a television set.
Laurie English
1st hour
I think that she makes some valid points. The main one being that multiple television separates the family instead of uniting them like was originally stated by television critics. I think she is wrong by saying most families watch tv by themselves and not with their family or friends.
ReplyDeleteI find this article somewhat accurate. I feel like most families dont watch that much television together but more seperatly at different times. In my opinion I would rather watch movies than watch a bunch of different shows. As for my family we do tend to watch a variety of different shows but more during the weekend instead of during the week because most of us are too busy for tv. In general I do think that tv does have an affect on our society especially with some of the reality tv shows that many people watch.
ReplyDeleteThe article said a lot of things that I agree with, and maybe some things I disagreed with. As a child I was more than capable of watching t.v. for hours on end. even now, while I don't necessarily watch t.v. at all hours, I am usually sitting at the computer or playing video games, which is essentially the same thing. As for the family all piling in to watch TV, I have heard that we have a different problem today. most of the time everyone watches their own show in there own room, because we all have six TVs in our houses. TV is only healthy in moderation, something Americans are not very good at.
ReplyDeleteThis article was very interesting and I would have to agree with some of the things that she says. I do not find myself watching hours of television each day. I watch most of my shows and movies on Netflix. I like different shows than the rest of my family members, so there are not many times when we are together watching a program. Now that there are ways to watch a specific show at a different time rather than live, I find families watch shows at times that are easier for each individual.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you say it is easier for individuals to find their own shows. Netflix makes that very easy to do.
DeleteFaith Lee
5th Hour
I thought this article was some what true. I personally don't watch much TV. There used to be a time where I watched a lot of TV but now with school stuff I don't. But when I sit down and begin watching TV on the weekends I don't get up. I spend most of my time watching movies rather than shows. I think every family watches TV differently. My family doesn't watch too much TV either, there is a thing in our house "no TV during family time". My cousins (younger children) from my experience watch TV for many hours. they seem to not know what is going around them. It is very hard to grab their attention while watching television. We tend to have more conversations when everyone is sitting around and watching a movie. We either ask questions, laugh, or cry together. One statement the I definitely agree with is that "the ordinary day life together diminishes". Back in the days when television was not even invented, everyone would spend their time together playing games outside. Now most of things we do involve staying inside-watching TV. I am pretty sure that majority of the population today people have TV's in there house. Tv isn't entirely bad since you can take your mind off of things and watch it when you are bored. I would rather sound time with my family than watch Tv at home all afternoon.
ReplyDeleteHarshjot Singh
5th hour
I think this article made a few good points but overall I disagree. While too much television is not good, there are sometimes when television actually can bring a family together better than most things. For example tv can provide some families with traditions. Some people might have a tradition of watching the Lions play on Thanksgiving or watch a Christmas Story during Christmas. While families might not have meaningful, deep conversations during these programs, they do not fight and bicker during them either normally. Besides tv is a vital part of American society as much information can be shared by the way of television. So while tv might not make people extremely close, I really do not think it seperates families and is not quite like Marie Winn suggests in her article.
ReplyDeleteTom Kordupel
1st Hour
I agree with your point saying that television can bring a family together instead of pulling them apart.
DeleteI think that some of the points are valid that were made in this article. I agree that a lot of people go and plop down on the couch just to avoid conversations with families and that leads into a whole entirely different conversation about family relationships. This leads to television taking away from family's quality time. Television can be useful and in some ways, I believe it is a way for families to sit down and be together. Many people are too busy to even watch t.v. together throughout their busy days. My family fits into the lines of her reading to the small extent of families switching spots where they actually watch t.v. My spot is always in the cave, my dad in the living room, and my mom in the family room. We all have our different spots but that doesn't mean we don't go and visit every now and then and in retrospect to that idea, I disagree with this article. T.V. is what you make of it, and you control the amount of time and frequency that you watch it. Everyone is different.
ReplyDelete-Ben keller(2nd)
I agree that TV can be used to avoid conversation and also be used for families to be together. The way in which it is used really depends on the family. The article can't sum up everyone in one view.
DeleteI thought the article made some interesting points. I myself don't watch much television at all. Although, I do watch many movies on netflix and dvd. I don't really have much extra time anymore to just sit and watch some pointless show. But, I do agree that sometimes it can bring families together. Especially sporting events including games as well as the Olympics. I always remember my family sitting down to watch Michigan State play football and basketball.
ReplyDeleteMovies in my opinion bring together friends and family more than television shows. I think they provide a much more memorable experience for everyone. Plus, you can watch them over and over again.
I agree that movies do bring families together more than television shows because I think they can bond more over them and connect more. I think they will be able to relate and like the same movies where teenagers may like reality shows more than their parents may on the television.
DeleteI think that the article made some good points but I also believe that watching television in some cases can bring a family together. Like for example, having a family movie night. Even at dinner time some nights we have the tv on in the background and watch the news. But I do think that families watch tv seperate more then together. I also disagree with her about how she thinks tv is connected to less communication and eye contact. Also I enjoy watching tv because it takes my mind off of things and keeps me distracted.
ReplyDeleteStephanie Sabo
2nd hour
I dont think TV can bring family together. I agree with her about how she thinks tv is connected to less communication and eye contact.
DeleteI find this article to be sort of stereotypical. IN her assertion that all families come together to watch TV in the living room, i don't think it is true. In some circumstances, families may come together for a movie but as for TV shows but I feel not everyone in the family will always want to watch the same thing so that may keep that from being realistic. My family may come together in the living room but we may all be doing different things; reading, computer, TV, ect. I see my family reflecting in her article in this way that we come together but we may not all by watching TV. For myself, I don't have enough time on my hands to be sitting in front of the TV screen constantly. As for my dad and brothers, they can do it like it's their job.
ReplyDeleteTo me this article is a little exaggerated because in the article it makes it sound like all families and kids do these days is sit down and watch t.v. Honestly there are very few moments in my day when i have time to watch t.v. Also I find the article to be a little stereotypical for example she talks about families sitting down together watching a movie or a show but I rarely watch t.v with my whole family and most of the time at least someone is on the computer or the phone and aren't really paying attention to what is even showing on the screen. Still I can relate to the essay somewhat i mean there are times when at least haft of my family sits down together and enjoys a movie. So that is my opinion of the essay.
ReplyDeleteI agree. A movie definately brings us together more because it's more invovled. As for tv shows we don't pay close attention.
DeleteMadison Khem
4th hour
I agree with many of the things Marie Winn says in her essay. I feel as though culture has definitely changed since the invention of the tv. Growing up my parents always used to talk about how when they were kids they played outside all day instead of sitting around watching tv. I feel like communication has become a problem too. The most disturbing change, I think, is from younger generations. I find that kids are growing up way too fast. I'm not sure if that is directly because of tv. But I wouldn't be surprised based on the shows I sometimes catch my little sister watching. When she talked about family time during the holidays being replaced by tv, that stuck out. I can't really think of a time when there's a family get together that isn't around a tv. Whether is the thanksgiving football game, or the Christmas movies, there's always something to be watched. I think when most of our free time is spent in front of a tv, we have less time to learn how to form relationships an interact with people.
ReplyDeleteI agree family during holidays are always surrounded watching tv. If it is the football game or anything of that sort. The tv always bring family's close to gather during gatherings.
DeleteThe part where Winn talked about the holiday gathering and the TV also stuck out to me. Coming from a large Italian family our gatherings are centered around food not TV, and I could only imagine how disappointed I would be if my whole family was huddled around the TV instead of around the dinner table.
DeleteRoxane
My parents talk all the time about how they used to play outside and invent imagination games rather than sit inside and let the brain turn to mush in front of the television set. I feel like the TV may have stolen some of my childhood
DeleteShe made some valid points but televison isn't all so bad. I don't find myself consumed by it but it does bring some families closer. Most people don't have time after a busy day to watch televison for hours. They watch it to relax and in some cases be with their families once all their busy schedules have a break to be together. Certain families rely on televison to connect with eachother such as sports and movies.
ReplyDeleteMadison Khem
4th hour
I agree, watching shows my parents like as well, bring us closer after a long work/school day.
DeleteI thought this article was interesting. I agree with some of it, but I certainly dont watch it for hours a day. I like a select few shows, like workaholics and Family Guy and dont watch much else, so i dont watch tv with family. Now that people can watch what they want at anytime i think people watch more tv because they can watch whatever they want.
ReplyDeletePersonally I found the article interesting to a certain degree. I found my self in different shoes. Although when I was younger I found my self in the living room with my parents watching the television. As time is progressing and times are changing I find my self watching little to no tv. I think that I'm on the computer instead of watching tv. The one situation that I found my self in, in her writing she talked about family time and holidays. Coming from personal experience ever thanksgiving my family is crowded around the tv watching the Lions play.
ReplyDeleteCole Conway
2nd Hour
I think that Marie WInn's article was very interesting to read. I
ReplyDeletethink the assertion she makes about the children watching too much TV is scary to hear about. The story she tells about a teacher that had a student who couldn't communicate very well was kind of scary to hear. I sure hope that very few parents approach the problem like that parent did and say that she would hate to see her child miss the show. My family does have a fair amount of TVs but I think that we find a good balance of activities with minimal TV time. I was disappointed to read about the specific case of the Chicago resident. I would be bummed out if my family didn't want to play board games with me anymore. I would way rather play Chutes and Ladders than watch TV.
Erik Johnson
2nd Hour
I definitely agree that Chutes and Ladders is better than TV: great game.
DeleteI think that the article is very subjective from person to person. It isn't logical to group everyone together and say that TV is going to be harmful for everyone who watches it. I happen to LOVE TV, and when I find a great show (Breaking Bad), I can get enticed in a brilliant alternate reality....which is why I can also see the harm that can come when people use it to constantly escape reality. Like most thing, moderation is key and the level of that moderation can vary for each person.
ReplyDeleteJonah Yoshonis
Marie Winn seems to have crafted quite a strong argument against the television, and in the 80s her argument may have been revolutionary and thought-provoking, but today it just comes across as outdated and bitter. The television was the first proponent of the technological revolution, but since then cell phones, internet, tablets, and countless other gadgets have continued to play an increasingly large role in everyday life. Because of the proliferation of technology, Winn's tirade on solely television makes her analysis of the "deterioration of society and the family" incomplete, and in my mind paints her as a cantankerous grandma waving her knitting needles in the air as she recounts the Golden Years to her kids for the thousandth time.
ReplyDeleteSo my point is, sure, TV can make you a brainless lump of flesh with no social skills, but so can your cell phone, FaceBook, Tumblr, Twitter, video games, etc. If a family is worried that they aren't close enough their TV is probably not the problem. Maybe it's the fact that conversations between a mother and child takes place in the form of a text message when they are literally 30 ft. away from one another. Now that's truly depressing.
Roxane 2nd
Marie Winn had a few good points, and I would have to say TV, in moderation is okay. If you watch TV all the time on the other hand, it obviously won't be good for you. I personally have a few shows I absolutely love, but I only watch that show in its season, and I don't always have a show going, so I actually hardly find myself watching TV. So to me, TV isn't bad, as long as it is watched in moderation.
ReplyDeleteMaddie Parker
1st Hour
I completely agree. The shows I watch are always with friends, and only during their seasons, so it's not like I'm just sitting in front of the TV all day watching shows I don't even find interesting. Most of my friends are the same way, and I think it's kind of rare to see this stereotype of TVs anymore.
DeleteIn all honesty, this article made me mad. Marie Winn has a ridiculous amount of assumptions, and that's all that she writes about. TV watching varies from family to family, so she can't make a typical stereotype that pertains to everyone. For example, every member in my family has his or her own TV in his or her own room. Even with this, I don't feel like our family is separated in the least. We have certain shows that we all like, and with having different TV's we can watch these when we please. This doesn't mean we don't make time for one another. We still talk on a daily basis about how our day went and what is currently going on in our lives. Having multiple TV's has nothing to do with that. Also, when she states that it's sad to see a family watching TV together and not conversing, I think that's a rather dumb argument. When a show or movie is on, you don't talk until the commercials. It's common courtesy. My family makes comments to each other during a show, but we don't have a full blown conversation. There would be no point in watching TV if all you're going to do is talk. Also, contrary to Marie's beliefs, I think a family watching TV together actually brings them together. So many parents and children have super busy schedules nowadays. Sometimes the best time to catch up and spend time together is watching a movie together. You're spending time with one another and enjoying one another's company, and that's all that really matters. Lastly, Marie talks about how TV is like a drug and controls people's lives. She gives the example of a mom not wanting her son to miss his favorite show, and that's the reason why they had not been talking. If TV causes separation within a family, that's their fault. Those people let that happen. Watching TV doesn't automatically make that happen. It's up to the family to decide the effects on which TV watching will have. Overall, I think Marie's article was honestly pointless. There's so many arguments that could be made against it. She just can't make assumptions, especially with a subject that varies so often.
ReplyDeleteMary Jo Koster
1st hour
I agree with Mary Jo and the fact that Winn did make assumptions. Winn made things seem more dramatic then they needed to be.
DeleteI found the article very interesting but I feel like it doesn't really apply to today's world. How often families in today's time watch television is different from family to family. There are some families that only talk when they are gathered around the TV, but there are families that don't watch TV at all. I know personally with my family, we don't have any time to watch TV during the week. With sports and other activities, we are constantly on the go. However, I do feel like Marie Winn had some valid points. Especially with the younger generation and how television has become a critical part of their education and everyday life.
ReplyDeleteEmily Blahnik
5th hour
I usually don't watch that much TV, and when I do, it's usually a certain show with friends or with my family. I agree with Winn in saying that for some families, TV tears them apart, but this is not really the case for ours. I think it completely depends on the family and on the parenting. Of course, as with everything in life, it's all about moderation. TV watching can bring friends and family together if used in the right way, while if done too often and with no limitations for a child, it can make them distant from friends and family, especially if they are alone most of the time. So yes, I do agree with Winn in some cases, but I think that it is certainly not the case for many families I know. Also, if there are problems in a family, these problems probably don't stem from the amount of TV kids are watching. The problem of watching too much TV probably stems off of the other, deeper problems in the family. Just some food for thought.
ReplyDeleteHadlee 1st hour
I would not call myself an advocate of television but really, TV is not the root of all evil and dysfunction in families as Winn seemingly describes. She uses a lot of absolutes and terribly generalized statements. She claims that television "destroys the special quality that distinguishes one family from another." OK, the TV may diminish some communication within a family but by no means does it derail the differences between families. In no way have the families of the world grown indistinguishable from each other. We maintain our uniqueness despite Winn's belief that we're all one in the same.
ReplyDeleteTV is just like anything else in our life: use with moderation. We shouldn't be afraid of the television but rather embrace the positives it can bring us. We shouldn't spend hours on end watching TV but at the same time, we shouldn't spend hours on end on the treadmill. TV can pull families together and it can push families apart. It's really what we make of it.
Leeann Latsch 2nd Hour
I agree with you. I think that TV is simply something that you do that requires no talking. It does not ruin any relationships with family members. It is like anything else in our lives
DeleteI suppose it's true in my house at least we watch a lot of TV. Well, it's not always being watched but the television is always on as background noise. I don't think it's a problem though. Maybe for some families, but in my house we only have two televisions and the shows we watch are how we spend time together when we can with each of our busy schedules. Marie's article is a very good one but I find it a bit stereotypical. There are families that get consumed by television but others can function perfectly fine with it in their lives. I very much disagree the general population is so affected by television they need therapy or it disintegrates family life.
ReplyDeleteI agree on the fact that Marie's article was stereotypical. It was very generalized on a certain group of people, the big TV watchers. Busy schedules in my house is also a big contributor to the lack of television we watch.
DeleteI also agree with Marie being a bit stereotypical, though on some point she hit the nail right on the head, that is just one group of people. Not all families are like the ones in this article.
DeleteMarie Winn had some valuable points in her article but none of them really applied to me personally. My family is rarely one to crowd around the TV all at the same time, unless for a football game. None of the members of my family watch a lot of TV either, were not like the families Winn talked of. I do strongly agree with Winn that television transforms culture. With television comes influence on our everyday lives. Televised commercials suggest what we should buy and what material items will make us happier, TV is a very strong influence on people. Even reality shows like Jersey Shore influence a percentage of the American population today. Some people see the lives others are living and want to do the same, to have the good time they see others having.
ReplyDeleteWhen Hinn quoted "keeping a family sane means mediating between the needs of both children and adults" I agreed. To keep a family happy you do need to except some of the newer things and keep to the old traditions. Sticking to family rituals is important, gives members of the family a feeling of belonging to home rather than living in it merely for the sake of convenience. I supported Winn's key points on the importance of family the majority of the article but, from personal experience I didn't agree with the effects of television on a family. The article all together though really got you thinking, maybe next time ill change my mind when I go to pick up the remote.
I found this article very interesting and it was fun to read but I don't neccessarily agree with this article very much. I don't watch tv very often. I would rather spend my time outside or doing something active or going out with my friends. Usually my family will all watch tv together before we go to bed. I do all though like to sit down and watch movies for quite some time.
ReplyDeleteI found the article very interesting. I do but dont watch television very often, but I disagreed with the article. I dont think it has affected people so much that they are in need of a therapy or such. For some people like my brother I think it's a small problem, because he is always watching tv, and he really needs to cut back.
ReplyDeleteTelevision can bring families together and push them apart. I think it is really what you and your family make of it, you can chose what it does to you and your life.
At some points in the article I found it to be very accurate but in others I found it to be quite a bit off. She writes the 78% of the respondents indicated that no conversation take place during viewing except at specified times such as commercials, because no one wants to miss anything. I agree with that, because I find that when I am watching tv with my family I can never carry an intelligent full conversation until the commercial is on.
I think that TV is something that most all families now watch together. I think that she was right in the sence that no conversation really takes place during the time that you are watching TV. However, I think that stat is a little bit weird because of the fact that if you are watching TV people have to be quiet in order to know what they are watching and to actually enjoy what they are watching. Sometimes people talk alot more when they are watching sporting events, but other than that, it would be very hard to carry on a conversation with someone while trying to concentrate on a movie or show. My conclusion is that I do not really talk to people when I am watching TV, and it is kind of weird if you do talk to people while watching TV. That would take some real talent.
ReplyDeleteWell I agree and disagree. I find that, though I watched a lot of TV as a child, I didn't have these problems. I can relate to people. Though it was always difficult because I was shy, and my friends usually left my school or moved away. Plus there are other complications that I don't wish to discuss on a public site. So I grew up always unsure about friendships and that made them very hard for me to make.
ReplyDeleteAt any rate I always watched TV, but my parents limited it and always made me finish homework before hand. My parents always wanted me to watch TV with them or with my brother, and my mother always wanted me out playing. Which I did often over summer. So I think her assertion that the role of TV dominate children's lives more than most anything else might be an overstatement, or not always true.
Though I disagree with her statement about family events being dominated by TV. Our family always sat and talked around the table or in the living room at family parties. We only had an issue with this on Sunday's when football games were on. Even then it was more like music in the background.
I find that my parents always taught me right and wrong. Not the TV. When I think about it, my parents taught me Biblical teaches and ingrained them to the point where they were reflexive. No theft, murder,(when I came to that age to understand) adultery, hate, violence, evil thoughts. And one must be slow to anger. I've still got trouble with the last one. The point is my morals are my families not the media's.
Though I do agree that TV has similar affects to a drug. You can sit there on your rump and veg out. I remember there were times where I got so incredibly infuriated, all I wanted to do was sit and not think about ANYTHING. So what did I do? I plopped down and watched TV. I didn't forget my problem. Like the author says most people do. I still confronted my brother. All I needed was a little cool down.
Point is I don't think her assertions are entirely accurate. At least to me and my family. Though an excess of anything or a lack of proper parenting can lead anyone down the wrong path.