Also see TV Zombies - a Practical Guide to Zombies and Your Television.
Why and How to Turn it Off
What's TV Turnoff Week?
TV Turnoff Week is a week-long strike from television, and it's all about taking our lives back by pulling the plug.
Why do we need to turn off the TV?
Here are a few reasons.
- WASTED LIFE - Americans watch an average of more than 4 hours of TV a day, or two full months of TV a year.
- FAMILY TIES - In the average American household, the TV is on for 7 hours and 40 minutes a day. 40% of Americans eat dinner while watching TV all or most of the time. What makes you feel closer to your family, WATCHING with them or TALKING with them?
-
FAT KIDS - The proportion of overweight children has
doubled since 1980. This is due in part to sedentary leisure
time activities—such as watching TV.
- THE MARKETING MACHINE - The REAL consumer of television isn't people like us. We're the products, and television companies are selling US to their advertisers. How much time do YOU want to spend being MANUFACTURED in your own home?
Here are some tips for how you can pass a week without TV—it's easier than you might think.
- MOVE YOUR TELEVISION - Take a look at your family room—is the TV the focal point of the room with all the furniture pointed at it? In other words, does it look like a shrine to the TV gods? Try rearranging the room along with your priorities.
- FORGET BACKGROUND NOISE - If you use the TV as background noise, try listening to a CD or the radio, or just daydream instead.
- REDEFINE "BORED" - Some people turn the TV on when they're bored. Others think of creative things to do with their time—writing in a journal, calling old friends, or redecorating are just a few things you can do next time you're "bored". Boredom goes away as quickly as it comes.
-
KILL THE CABLE - There's nothing on, whether you have 200
channels or just two. Cancel your cable. Consider all the time
and money you'll save:
- After only 5 years of paying $30/month for cable and watching your cable for 2 hours a day, you're out $3,600 and over 3 months of your life.
- After 20 years of paying $30/month for cable and watching 2 hours a day, you're lost $14,200 and a whole year of your life.
Does TV Turnoff Week work?
- TV Turnoff Week has been observed since 1995 and has had 24 million participants.
- According to follow-up surveys, 90% of participants altered their TV viewing habits.
-
80% Watch LESS TV, including 20% who watch NO TV.
Visit these web sites to learn more about TV Turnoff Week.
Also see TV Zombies - a Practical Guide to Zombies and Your Television.
Most statistics are from the TV Turnoff Network's TV Turnoff
Works and TV is Hazardous to your Heath
brochures.
This page is ©2001
Christian MacAuley. The web site is
JELLSPACE.NET.