I saw a post from somebody on another forum that said they were observing this, and just recording all the shows on their TiVo to watch next week. Uh, what's the point of that?

I knew some people who were die hard against TV. Like it was a dictate from God type of thing. However, I would over hear them from time to time talking about TV shows and I would have to ask, "Ok, now how do you know about these shows when you don't watch TV?"

"We don't have TV," came the reply. "We have a monitor (which only allows for viewing of video tapes and does not pick up a TV signal)." And I came to learn that they would have friends with TV record certain TV shows for them and they would watch those TV shows on video tape.

"So what's the difference if I watch such and such a show when it comes on Wednesday or you have somebody tape it for you and you watch the same show later on?" I just had to ask.

The answer to this day still boggles my mind: because when they watch the same programs on tape, they are controlling what and when they want to watch something, but if it comes on TV, they have no control when it comes on and when they choose to watch it.

Sounds to me, Groucho, your TIVO friends are using the same kind of circular logic.

So if TV is evil and that's your thing, or even if it's not evil and you think it's a waste of time, then fine. But I hate people who act like you're doing wrong because you watch TV and they are watching the same crap (and usually worse crap I would never watch) on their so-called "monitor."

A double standard is better than none at all!

I thought the whole point of turning the TV off for the week was to have people fill the time they usually watch TV with some other activity. If someone were to time shift all of their normally watched programs to next week, as Groucho's Tivo friend is doing, I would think that they are in fact in line with the spirit of the week. I don't think anyone is expected to give up TV forever because of this week. It' s just a way to make people realize how much time they spend watching TV and a way to show them what else they could be doing if the TV is not on.

That being said, I will not be participating.

So the TiVo people will be spending twice as much time the next week catching up on their missed shows, and getting that much less activity doing other things, so how is that in the spirit of the week? That's really not in the spirit of anything, if you ask me, but maybe trying to look good for somebody else.

They will still have experienced that week without TV. If they chose to watch twice as much TV that next week, well then it obviously didn't have much of an impact on them. They may decide that after that week without TV they don't want to watch those shows or any other shows ever again. Who knows what they do next week? The point is just to see how you're life is different without TV for a week.

If they wanted things the way you are describing they would call it" Turn the TV Off and Never Watch any of the Shows That Air That Time Ever Again Week". I also don't think it has anything to do with looking good for someone else. If you aren't interested you won't participate, and if you are you will. I don't see who you would be looking good for/trying to impress.

Yeah I listen to music (or books) in my car, but I'm sort of a captive audience in that scenario. Sitting down in front of the tv is a commitment of your time and attention, so I think it is wise to consider whether you will feel that it was worth it afterwards.

sopranos
24
nba playoffs

...no way!

No, I'm too much in the mood for TV lately. I cancelled my Tivo/Directv for a few months, but restarted them the week before finals last term. Yes, I used the TV as a babysitter that week--tons of essays due, and my kids were fighting. I finally said go watch TV, I have work to do. That's all over, but we're keeping the Tivo for a while at least. Frankly, we did do a lot of different stuff when we had no satellite, and I wrote a lot more of my own fiction, but I get home from school pretty burned out lately and I want to watch some freakin tv rather than read.

WTF?! No TV?! That means I have to talk to my wife?!
MMWWAAAHHAAAHHAAAHHAAAHAAHAAAAAAA.
Is cruzness gonna have to choke a bi@$&?

Can't they schedule this for a week in August?

As long as 24 is on I'll be doing my time shifting old school with a little sumptin' they call the VCR.

No way in hell will I be missing Angel and South Park.

So, when does this start? I didn't see anything about it on the news this morning.

If 24 wasn't on then maybe. But alas...

Last week my wife suggested that we do this. Yesterday afternoon I pointed out to her that she had the TV on, so I guess we didn't make it very far into the week!

Funny, its like I unconsciously knew ahead of time hehe. I got X-Files Season 1-7 and currently on Season 6, finished Sopranos Season 1-3 and have Season 4. Just received Chappelle's Show, Alias Season 2, Smallville and thinking about picking up the entire Buffy set since its so cheap.

Keeping myself busy with dvd boxsets for the past couple of months and barely turning on my cable at all, I realized roughly half of the time I use to watch regular tv was wasted on commercials or just killing time. Now maybe if I get a Tivo it might actually save me time AND money

If I were to turn off my tv, then how would I tune out my wife?

Hell no!

Negative.