BS: TV is irritating

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: Dazbo
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 05:32 AM

What bugs me (and I must be getting like my mother) is the need in news/documentaries etc to have background music on through everything. Can't we just listen to some one talking?

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: kendall
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 05:52 AM

Right on Dazbo!
I like the history channel, and the Discovery channel, BUT, they always have to have that witless droning and pounding so loud it drives me away.

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 09:42 AM

"Unfortunately these programmes are not the ones that get the ratings; the programmes with the best ratings are invariably soaps and other "entertainment" programmes and not "informative" programmes."

Dave- everyone has different tastes. While you may look down your nose at certain programs (just as I do), it doesn't mean that television is void of good material to watch - some of it just purely for entertainment value.

It does work that way with magazines and books too. As Liz pointed out, there are plenty of magazines that I would not want to read (I find nothing wrong with Playboy however). There are some trashy books as well. Based on the premise of the thread and your own declaration, it would then be okay to say "Libraries are irritating".

You pick and choose. If you don't want to watch TV, that is fine. If you don't want to read a book, that is fine. I'm not going to pass judgement on people for their personal taste, but I do find it irritating when blanket statements are made.

Perhaps I would not have been so cranky if the thread was "What irritates me on TV". That is a whole different spin.

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: Becca72
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 10:14 AM

"Better yet, picture this: You are in Fort Kent Maine, and you want to get to Eastport. In what direction do you head?"

And what if you're starting out in Portland? Or Jackman?

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: Folkiedave
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 11:03 AM

I also find it amusing when people say they no longer own a television. Do they also boast about not reading a newspaper or reading a magazine?    Ideas and information come at us from all angles and if we can't trust ourselves to make judgements, perhaps isolation is the best bet

Ron this was the quote. No I don't boast about etc.......Nor do I "boast" about not having a TV. I mention it in discussion.

And I repeat much of the TV watched (especially in the US and even more so in Spain) is not informative so missing it out is hardly a problem.

I do believe that I am as well informed as anyone else and I do listen to the radio - mainly speech based programmes here in the UK, and I do read newspapers etc.

I trust my judgement implicitly on what information I receive.

Of course people can watch what they like. I never suggested otherwise.

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 11:12 AM

Information is not the only reason people watch TV. Entertainment is an important factor in our lives. Everyone has different tastes.

As to whether someone is boasting or adding to discussion, that is a decision the reader makes - just as a viewer or listener decides on what they are getting from TV or radio.

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: kendall
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 11:35 AM

Becca72, if you are in Jackman, you head southeast. If you are in Portland, you head Northeast.
Where you start from is irrelevent. Eastport is still in the southEAST section of Maine, and Portland is in the southWEST section of Maine.

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: SINSULL
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 11:36 AM

I wondered how long it would take for someone (read: Kendall) to comment on my sense of direction. Look at a map. Coming from NYC Portland is in the southern end of Maine on the east coast of the US.

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 11:57 AM

...and so Portland Oregon is east of Portland Maine if you you travel east far enough, and Maine is in the south - if you travel from Alaska.

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 12:14 PM

and if you go eastward (or southeastward) on the Panama canal
you will be going from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean.

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: Becca72
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 02:55 PM

I made the comment about where you start from based on your comment about leaving Fort Kent. Everything is south from Fort Kent.

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: kendall
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 04:11 PM

It's a good thing none of you were with Columbus.

It doesn't matter where you are coming from!

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: GUEST, Eb
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 04:31 PM

Yep. From Alaska, Maine really is downeast.

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 05:19 PM

All of that is all Out East from Colorado.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: Mickey191
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 02:47 PM

The news lead-in on the 4th of July (almost all stations) was the annual hotdog eating event. Disgusting to see grown people shoving tube steaks down their throats. The site would gag a maggot.

Today's stories on two babies left to die in heated cars was heartbreaking. One baby was forgotten for 5 hours by his Grandmother. The baby's photo album showed a laughing, beautiful child. The reporter followed with: "Yeah, that happens alot this time of year!"   Like she was talking about a dead flea.

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: Little Hawk
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 03:08 PM

"the annual hotdog eating event" - Disgusting to watch, if you're human. Absolutely inspiring to watch, if you're a dog, and even better to participate in. Much better.

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: Peace
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 03:15 PM

"So" he asked, "what part of the dog did YOU get?"

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 10:03 AM

So far, the comments about irritating TV have referred to the content of a show - what it was about,what people said.

I find content irritating, but I find the medium itself irritating, It doesn't matter what's on - I hate the flickering and the kind of sound they have. To see what I mean, listen to TV and pretend it's not language, it's pure sound. Notice the droning, the squawking, the explosions, the sing-sing commentary?

Aargh! Haven't had a TV since 1958.

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: Donuel
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 10:31 AM

leenia, the new HD lcd tvs no longer flicker.
In fact some of the new 3 layer tv's have the look of virtual 3D with the clarity of hyper realistic photography.

but

The factual mistakes on TV are breathtaking. LITERALLY

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 04:08 PM

That's interesting, Donuel. I'll check out the new TV's when I get the chance.

I see enough TV in airports, etc, to know that I'm not interested in having one in the house, however.

Tell me, what is it about a TV that draws people's eyes to it, even though they don't wish to watch? To me, it's rather like a page turning in a book.

I didn't mention that another thing I find innately irritating about TV is that often things move much too fast. For example, I was having a beer in the corner bar when a commercial came on that showed the surface of the earth, then something zipping out of it towards me at colossal speed. I found it so disconcerting that I turned my chair away from the screen. Not a good way to get a product sold, is it?

I do agree with everyone that there is plenty of irritating content. I am appalled at the cold-hearted comment about the death of the two babies.

Subject: RE: BS: TV is irritating
From: RangerSteve
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 07:12 PM

Another gripe I have is with the cooking shows. I like to watch them, but too often they come up with ingredients that don't exist here in the remote areas. (Remote meaning not New York City). Today's exotic ingredient was Kafir Lime leaves. Apparently, it's necessary for the dish, or it will explade or taste like shit or something. Some of these chefs would probably die if they had to leave the big city and eat like normal people.