would you/could you give up your television?

[serenity]

I watch very little tv myself however my OH LOVES to watch tv at every oportunity and so do my children. As a result we have 3 tv's in the house which all DRIVE ME MAD

I know it sounds silly and I understand if you think me barmy as I love cinema and theatre but hate TV if it was my decision I would get rid of the lot

[Mrs Dobby]

When I bought my first house I couldnt afford a telly, nor the licence, so I lived there alone for 2 years with no telly at all!

Actually it was great, no telly meant lots of reading and music, plus a lot of Yoga, and with buying the house I also couldnt afford a car, so I got a decent pushbike and cycled 6 miles each way to work every day! Never been fitter, nor as relaxed, as for telly, I really didnt miss it!

Whether I could now give up telly is another thing, if I had my 'puter and internet access, possibly, but I dont watch a massive amount of telly anyhows!

[Hazel at the Hill]

....if it was my decision I would get rid of the lot

It sounds like you watch as little tv as me, serenity - and it is up to me in my house, so why don't I get rid of the tv in the lounge & the one in the bedroom?

Because every now and again there is something I do want to watch eg GYO with CK, GW (although I must be the only person in the whole WORLD who isn't in love with Monty Don), and the news, and I do have a soft spot for Inspector Frost, and Top Gear!

So, I'll keep my tv, even though it's on - say - every other day, as I'm in the great position that it's totally my choice if it on or not!

One thing I could not live without, though, is my radio 4!

[serenity]

the tv which annoys me the most is the one in the kitchen/ dining room. I LOVE to cook and have been known to get up at 6 am to make myself a lovely pot of fresh soup to take to work with me This is also a time when no one else is awake and so peaceful and no tv. Later in the day, 4 ish there is always someone around in this room who wants the tv on. I despair

[johnty greentoes]

Ì think Telly can be ace - if you can find the stuff you want to watch. I love loads of stuff (tonight Grand Designs Sunday Time Team, Top Gear and anything by Attenborough and tons of current affairs). Of course finding what you want is becoming ever more difficult with the plethora of channels that there are out there.

However the great white saviour is total braodband digital which will enable us to really have TV on demand and we won't have to sit down when it tells us to sit down.

So I will campaign to keep TV so long as it gives us the chance to rule it, and not the other way around.

[smallblueplanet]

As long as I had the radio and the internet (and I don't mean for streaming video's!) then yes I could do so. But I'd miss the football.

We used to go on an archaeological dig for 4/6 weeks in the summer holidays - no tv or radio, but lots of company and conversation!

[Mrs Dobby]

We go camping usually for our hols, Mr D has a small hand held telly, which we take with us, but its only ever used for seeing the wether reports, and other than that isnt used at all, dont think we feel as tho we miss it at all! Usually sat in front of the tent with a barbecue and the view of the Llyn peninsula and Snowdonia from Shell Island is all we need (plus a few tinnies or nice glass of wine of course!)

[johnty greentoes]

the tv which annoys me the most is the one in the kitchen/ dining room. I LOVE to cook and have been known to get up at 6 am to make myself a lovely pot of fresh soup to take to work with me This is also a time when no one else is awake and so peaceful and no tv. Later in the day, 4 ish there is always someone around in this room who wants the tv on. I despair

Totally with you on this one.

There should be some TV free zones in a house. I'm fortunate enough to only have 1 TV in the lounge (well there is a 2nd for the X-Box/Wii but I won't get all your blood pressure soaring! I do like to play Tiger Woods Golf while cooking).

[smallblueplanet]

...However the great white saviour is total braodband digital which will enable us to really have TV on demand and we won't have to sit down when it tells us to sit down.....

I thought part of the tv phenomena was that it allowed a common social interaction, a shared commonality ie what did you watch last night? Garden's world? Oh yeah I saw that great wasn't it! Did you see the bit where....

[Hazel at the Hill]

..... I despair

When my brother shared a house....everytime he walked into a room where there was a TV on, but no one there (v annoying indeed) he would turn the tv off - and put the remote somewhere not convenient e.g. on the mantlepiece rather than on the arm of the chair.

Not sure if he thought it worked that well though, but drove him less mad!

Tricky when the OH is not on your side - any chance of you instigating a 'you can watch what you want, but it's only for an hour a night' or something....?

[Hazel at the Hill]

Tricky when the OH is not on your side - any chance of you instigating a 'you can watch what you want, but it's only for an hour a night' or something....?

I meant that for the nippers, not OH !!!

[Hazel at the Hill]

I do like to play Tiger Woods Golf while cooking).

Surely the only thing to be done whilst cooking, is to dance about and sing into a wooden spoon...preferably 70s disco, 80's rock or Shakira!

All the above accompanied by a good glass (or so) of wine!

[Wolfie]

There's only a couple of programmes I'd miss and that's 'Countryfile' and 'Life on Mars' (70's era, my era ) but as for the rest, I can leave it out. OH and kids do love the telly and it is so annoying when I go into the (deserted) house and the TV is playing away to itself I'd rather read in the quiet than watch something just for the sake of it.

[johnty greentoes]

Surely the only thing to be done whilst cooking, is to dance about and sing into a wooden spoon...preferably 70s disco, 80's rock or Shakira!

All the above accompanied by a good glass (or so) of wine!

You have obviously got ecclectic tastes. 70s Disco, 80s Rock and Radio 4. I bet the wine isn't from ASDA either. I'm building up a picture...

[sewer rat]

Apart from the football, don't think I'd miss the TV too much.
OH watches from 8pm til 11pm every night, and Iona watches Cbeebies bedtime hour from 6 - 7pm.
Me - too busy, working, decorating making phone calls, on the Vine etc - except tomorrow night - my beloved Rangers are playing in the UEFA cup and it's on live up here !