TV-TURNOFF WEEK DURING TROUBLED TIMES

[Ricky]

TV-TURNOFF WEEK DURING TROUBLED TIMES

by Frank Vespe
For many people these days - in the face of the Iraq war and under the threat of terrorism -- watching television seems almost mandatory; “I have to know what’s going on,” they explain as they watch hour after hour of news coverage.
Perhaps.
But I’m often reminded of a friend who, in frustration over his wife’s TV news addiction, bought one of our “Break Free of TV” shirts, replaced “TV” with “CNN,” and gave it to her. I’m not sure if she mended her ways - but he got his point across.
In fact, much of the seemingly critical news isn’t new at all. Television is a primarily visual medium; fires and bombings (“eye candy”) make better footage than in-depth political discourse. Because television is essentially limited in the complexity of the story it can tell, most of the hours of television coverage are endlessly repetitive, the same scenes and stories over and over again.
Yet of course, it is in the best interests of the television industry to create a sense of urgency, to promote the idea that one cannot miss a moment of news coverage. Thus, scrolls across the bottom of the screen, special reports, and the like continually make us expect startling new information - only to be disappointed to hear the same recycled story again. Is it really in our best interests - as citizens, or as parents - to watch it all?
This issue takes on particular importance for TV-Turnoff Week organizers as the event approaches.
In fact, I believe that these troubled times actually make turning off the TV more important, rather than less - both for our children’s sake and for our own.
First, it is particularly critical for parents to help their children through these times. Experts suggest that children, especially young ones, should hear and see as little as possible of the war news. When they do see things, help them understand what is happening and clear up their misconceptions while at the same time reassuring them that they are safe. It’s also vital to be a good role model during this time, experts say; turn off the television and spend time with children, showing them by your actions that you will continue to be there for them.
Second, if we feel a greater need to understand the world around us - certainly a healthy urge - it behooves us to seek out information not just from one source, like television, but from a variety of sources. Newspapers, radio stations, and the internet provide a far broader variety of perspectives than does television. Through call-in shows and through letter sections and message boards, these media also allow for interactivity - participation in the conversation. Moreover, the written media allow us to consume the information at a pace that suits us - rather than force-feeding us - and to stop and think about it as we digest it. Watching hours of television feeds us repetitive hours of facts and pictures but without the context we need to understand them.
Finally, these difficult times make it more important for us to engage actively in our communities and the world around us - to participate in community decisions, to volunteer for local nonprofits, or simply to spend time with neighbors we might not know. George Gerbner has identified what he calls “mean world syndrome”; in a nutshell, frequent television viewers often see the world as more violent and out of control than it really is. This syndrome is exacerbated by today’s world events and the constant television coverage of bombings, firefights, etc.
Robert Putnam, Harvard professor and author of “Bowling Alone,” has observed that each hour of watching television is associated with less engagement in the community around us, while each hour of reading the newspaper is associated with more. It is likely that the more comprehensive, in-depth understanding of issues that one obtains from reading the newspaper - versus the more superficial and sensational stories generated by television - are more likely to prompt people to take positive action.
Not long ago, a parent told me that her daughter had been deeply troubled and frightened by world events and was verging on depression; the world seemed too big, scary, and out of control for her. To combat this, the girl’s parents limited her television time. To help her understand the Middle East better, they became involved in a pen pal program that hooks up American children with Israeli children. By breaking free of TV and by taking positive steps to help her engage in the world, these parents reported that their daughter was doing much better.
The temptation, during times of national crisis, is to leave the television on constantly so we’re always “in the know.” But our best course of action can be to turn off the TV, seek news from a variety of sources, and get involved. That’s why the message of TV-Turnoff Week - that we can turn off TV and turn on life - is even more important and timely at a time like this.


Questions.

1. In your daily life, do you think you are addictive to TV?

2. People in USA are encouraging to children and adults to watch much less TV in order to promote healthier life. Could you describe pros and cons on Watching TV?

3. If you are watching TV mindlessly and want to watch less, what could be beneficial tips to control TV?

4. Nowadays, there are many media sources-TV, Internet, book, radio, and etc. Do you really think that it’s possible to obtain information and keep up with face of world without TV?

5. Which is the most valuable in the TV personally? Answer the title of program. (Vitamin in KBS, MBD 9 News or etc)

영어 이야기 클럽에서 펌.

[내멋대로]

먼가 굉장히 빡빡하당...ㅠ,,ㅠ

[윤상병]

와~~이번에는 갈수 있겠네요~^^

[Ricky]

줄간격 넓게 해 드릴까요?

[유례없는 농띠]

저는 가족 모임때문에 참석 못할 것 같아요. 스터디 안 나온다고 전화돌려서 닥달한 바로 그 주에 빠지다니. . . 할 말이 없습니다. 특히 태희언니 한테는 . . . . 언니 미안~~~~ㅠ ㅠ

[jason]

죄송합니다. 저두 몸살에 걸려서 토요일날 전혀 움직이지 못했네요..