How much TV?

[Blake]

Since the lines blur, lets define TV as "Non interactive broadcast entertainment which rots the mind (according to most parents)".

[CrONoS]

around half an hour a day

one southpark or one simpsons after my supper(listened on my computer)

[Japher]

I 'watch' about two hours a day, meaning that it is on. I generally pay attention, but nose will also be in a book until I get too drunk to pay attention, then I just focus on the TV.

Personally, I don't feel that TV rots the mind, not all of it at least. I enjoy FoodTV, HGTV, National Geographic, The Travel Channel, TLC, and PBS, all of which have insightful and artsy shows that teach me and culture me on things I would never have the ability to experience myself.

TV can be mind numbing parenteral replacements, but it can also be an educational tool. I was raised on 'no TV before 8pm' unless it was News or Jeopardy. My older sister's kids watch the channels I do and abhor Nick, Disney, and Toon channels to death, and they are pretty smart kids.

[Zopperoni]

I tuned in for the final 7 km of today's stage in the Tour de France... first bit of TV I've watched since May.

[Blake]

I was raised on 'no TV before 8pm'

I was sent to bed at 8pm .

I KNEW my parents had it all backwards!

The worst kind of TV in terms of mind rot is senseless drivel intermingled with advertisements for harmful products. Although the evening "(bad) News (you're going to die)" (intermingled with advertising sh*t you don't need and will help kill you) is really just as bad. Although the degree to which the media focuses on bad news seems to depend somewhat on the country.

Compared to those, the Discovery channel (sex and the savanna ) is entirely positive.
Unfortunately in my experience in New Zealand the educational TV has been nearly entirely phased out of public broadcast, in favor of mindless drivel. I can't be bothered paying for satellite so I just don't watch any TV at all (zero hours since December 2006).

[Winston]

None.

[Blaupanzer]

TV runs in background while I read or use the computer almost every evening. A few shows (e.g., The Closer, Numbers, NCIS) I actually watch, but most become noise. A lot of home improvement shows run in background -- Mrs likes those as background while she reads/uses computer. Absolutely NO reality TV contest-style shows permitted not involving designers or cooks. those shows are genuinely mind-rotting.

[SlowwHand]

Four hours or more

If I listen to music with headphones, it's still on and I may watch it without hearing it, so I count that, too.

[Blaupanzer]

Sloww, the dialogue is much better that way.

[SlowwHand]

I wasn't going to say it, but thank God someone understands.

[Jon Miller]

I occasionally use my computer. I have a TV and cable, but don't have them connected (since being controlled by broadcast times and comercials is so annoying).

JM

[Barnabas]

I use the tv as a radio, I dont watch it but I listen to it, I put a music channel when I want to hear music, and cnn or other news channels when I want news

[Blaupanzer]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
I occasionally use my computer. I have a TV and cable, but don't have them connected (since being controlled by broadcast times and comercials is so annoying).

JM

Why pay for stuff you don't hook up?

[Jon Miller]

I play video games on the TV (or did a year ago), and use cable internet (which in this apartment is linked with the cable)

JM

[Rufus T. Firefly]

An hour a day, on average. I could probably get by without a set in the house at all (and have in the past), but I need access to news networks for my job.