The Good Ol' Days

When TV first came into being, there were hardly any channels and those that did exist where there to provide either news or education. Now a days, the Discovery Channel airs reality tv, Animal Planet has cop shows. What used to be a tool for knowledge and information has been twisted into a creature subservient to the masses. Television has devolved into a mindless way in which to pass time. Half of the program time is actually spent watching commercials while the other half is spent becoming consumed in the lives of imaginary characters.

At this point, I must admit that while I do not watch much tv (there's hardly ever time), I am an avid follower of certain shows. Although for the most part I watch them on Netflix and remain a season or so behind "real time", I must admit that I too am concerned with the well-being, happiness, and livelihood of these imaginary people. And though I'd like to think that is normal for one to feel empathy for others, it is frightening the extent to which some people care about these imagined lives. There are some who invest more time into living vicariously through characters on the screen than creating their own lives.

This concerns me greatly.

It makes me nostalgic for a time when elementary schoolers watched Dora, Rollie Pollie Ollie, Out of the Box. Not "shot em up" cop shows or adult dramas.

Because I grew up with tv, I should know that it's a lifestyle. Some people just become hooked. But I also grew up with decent tv. I remember when Discovery Channel taught me about whales, and Africa, and showed me the tip of an iceburg. Now I'm lucky to see a natural landscape without someone swearing. I remember when Animal Planet took me far away on safaris, deep into the depths of the ocean, with Jeff Corwin and Steve Irwin. Now I only see Jeff Corwin in Clartin commercials and the last I heard about Steve Irwin was he died.

Television has sunk into the depths of materialism to fulfill American viewers desires. I long for the good ol' days - maybe even farther back than Jeff Corwin - back to Andy Griffith and Gilligan's Island. When TV was harmless - either innocent fun or education and news.