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Is TV good?

Is TV good?

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sh76
Civis Americanus Sum

New York

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20 Nov 09
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It's almost a given in most circles that TV is, at best, a neutral diversion from life and at worse a mind numbing insidious weapon that dumbs people down and fattens them up.

Recently, I've seen two print sources defending TV and even hailing it as a potential savior.

The first was in this month's Foreign Policy magazine

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/10/19/revolution_in_a_box

The second was in Super Freakonomics, which, I'm sure, is rwingett's second favorite book, right after Atlas Shrugged.

Both argued that TV has a miraculous ability to proliferate self-respect, maintain population control and inspire democratic secular government participation.

So, on the whole, should we be encouraging the expansion of TV in the poorer parts of the World or are we just hurting people's health, education and work ethic by doing so?

rwingett
Ming the Merciless

Royal Oak, MI

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Originally posted by sh76
It's almost a given in most circles that TV is, at best, a neutral diversion from life and at worse a mind numbing insidious weapon that dumbs people down and fattens them up.

Recently, I've seen two print sources defending TV and even hailing it as a potential savior.

The first was in this month's Foreign Policy magazine

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/a ...[text shortened]... of the World or are we just hurting people's health, education and work ethic by doing so?
Huh? Why do you sully my good name with these spurious accusations? I had never heard of 'Super Freakonomics' till now, and I'm sure you're well aware of my distaste for Ayn Rand. But I don't think TV is as bad as people make it out to be. Sure there's tons of crap on TV to choose from (like FOX News), but nobody is forcing you to watch it. You're always free to tune into PBS, or something.

F

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Originally posted by sh76
It's almost a given in most circles that TV is, at best, a neutral diversion from life and at worse a mind numbing insidious weapon that dumbs people down and fattens them up.

Recently, I've seen two print sources defending TV and even hailing it as a potential savior.

The first was in this month's Foreign Policy magazine

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/a ...[text shortened]... of the World or are we just hurting people's health, education and work ethic by doing so?
I moved house in April. I never did get round to plugging the TV in here. It is in the space under the stairs in a cardboard box. One of the best things to happen to my family in 2009.

zeeblebot

silicon valley

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Originally posted by sh76
It's almost a given in most circles that TV is, at best, a neutral diversion from life and at worse a mind numbing insidious weapon that dumbs people down and fattens them up.

Recently, I've seen two print sources defending TV and even hailing it as a potential savior.

The first was in this month's Foreign Policy magazine

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/a ...[text shortened]... of the World or are we just hurting people's health, education and work ethic by doing so?
keeps the proles fat, dumb, and happy.

shavixmir
Lord

Sewers of Holland

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Originally posted by sh76
It's almost a given in most circles that TV is, at best, a neutral diversion from life and at worse a mind numbing insidious weapon that dumbs people down and fattens them up.

Recently, I've seen two print sources defending TV and even hailing it as a potential savior.

The first was in this month's Foreign Policy magazine

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/a ...[text shortened]... of the World or are we just hurting people's health, education and work ethic by doing so?
Anybody who's favourite book is Atlas shrugged (or Mein Kampf, come to think of it) is a moron.

However, TV is neutral. Same as radio.
You can do great things with it, you can kill millions with it.

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