TV in the home, what are your thoughts?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Witkey
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I don’t have a TV. My wife and I would normally pick a movie or a series to watch together.

I don’t particularly think there’s anything bad about watching a bit of TV. I just think it’s not really necessary in this day and age.

I wouldn’t allow kids to have free access to any devices, though I would have no problem with them choosing something to watch in advance and just watching that.
 
Witkey said:
Dear thistle, I can see that you have been offended, as this was solely a post for people who know non watchers or who are non watchers, just to see if there are other believers with similar thoughts, as I’m new to the church. I’m truly sorry to offend you. I am sorry, I wouldn’t want to cause you any bad feelings. You’re right, you shouldn’t get rid of it for anyone, unless the Holy Spirit tells you to do so, and that’s between you and him. I think if we open our hearts to Him, He can guide us in all truth and in His holy ways. God loves you and wants the best for your life. I found this article interesting about TV facts, one being that the average American watches 15 years of TV if you add up the hours. Maybe, if the Lord would have you to do so, you could consider these thoughts. God bless!
Click to expand...
We have had other people in these forums with similar positions. They don’t want anyone to watch tv. They don’t want anyone to watch a boxing match or go to a football game. They don’t want anyone to go to the cinema theatre.

If you feel strongly about all or any of these things good for you but please don’t suggest to me that I have to be in line with your thinking.
You are putting forward thinking that even the Church does not. I will stick with guidance from the Church which has the Holy Spirit behind it.
 
I probably watch more TV than I should, but far less than 7 years ago when I came into full communion with our one Holy and apostolic Church…

Here’s what I did.

I placed the TV remote on the coffee table (both in the family room, and in my little man cave in the loft) ON TOP OF THE HOLY BIBLE.

I had noticed that with cable/satellite TV there was hundreds of channels, but not much worth watching…it was just how I occupied idle time.

Now when I pick up the remote, I see the Bible, and I pause to ask myself, “why not spend some time with Him, instead of wasting time on TV”. Again, I still enjoy TV, but my viewing has been cut down and has been replaced with a much better use of time!

Pax et bonum!
 
We don’t have a TV. We just don’t see the point when we can have Netflix and Amazon prime instead. Our daughter is only two, but she does not watch any TV, with the exception of as a last resort on very long car rides (multiple hours), which happen maybe once a year. Not only is it not healthy for her, but on the rare occasion we have allowed screen time in the past, it’s led to awful tantrums when it’s time to put the device away.
 
Dear Adamp88, Yes! You’re right! Phones or other devices can be even more dangerous than TV!🙂 Thanks for your thoughts! Blessings!
 
Last edited:
Hi Rosalie! I can totally agree with you! I think car rides can be extremely stressful with little ones, and safe DVDs can be of help!🙂 Blessings!
 
Wow Heriam! That’s an excellent idea and it covers everyone’s viewpoint! Great thinking! God bless you!
 
Dear Thistle, If you would refer to the original post, this isn’t about what’s right and wrong. It’s amount finding others of similar thoughts and beliefs. However, I did want to address you and answer your posts, so I gave you my thoughts in response. You seem to be on the offensive. Pope Francis hasn’t watched TV since 1990 because he felt conviction about it. Is this the same way that you would speak to him? I already stated it’s between you and God, it has nothing to do with what I think (that’s why I didn’t make this post about whether it’s right or wrong). I am simply new to the Catholic faith and wanted to find others with common ground. Hopefully, you will find solace in knowing that I could only wish the best in your endeavors, especially when a new person to the Faith is in your mist. Good luck ✝️
 
I have a 2yo and a 4yo and PBS kids is on most of the time in our house, unless we decide to watch a video. We only have the free TV stations and PBS kids is the only one of them my kids are interested in. I find most of the programs educational and beneficial to them, so I don’t mind it. At this time, they don’t really stay stationary as they watch it. It’s mostly on in the background while they play. If we had cable TV, I would probably monitor what they were watching very closely because I’ve seen things I object very seriously to on all the kid’s cable TV shows I’ve seen. Even when it isn’t offensive, it often doesn’t seem to be educational either. The PBS shows, on the other hand, follow a curriculum that teachers literacy, math and problem solving skills, emotional self-regulation skills, and even science! I can’t believe how good my children have become at reading and my daughter, in particularly is very knowledgeable about space, dinosours, basic physics, nature, etc.
 
Not watching TV is like saying “I’m not going to read any books.” No one’s forcing you to watch the Kardashians. Just like no one forces you to read awful books. But if you don’t watch TV you miss all those great nature programs, sports, history, science, and things that a newspaper article or photo just can’t capture–political speeches, war, etc. You also isolate yourself from the culture around you. I have a friend who doesn’t own a TV on principle. It’s almost impossible to talk to him–you can’t make allusions, you can’t discuss issues that were illustrated in a TV program, etc. TV is a tool, just like a car, a printing press, a camera, or anything else. You can use it for good or for evil. It’s up to you.
 
Erikaspirit16 said:
Not watching TV is like saying “I’m not going to read any books.”
Click to expand...
Not really.
Erikaspirit16 said:
I have a friend who doesn’t own a TV on principle. It’s almost impossible to talk to him–you can’t make allusions, you can’t discuss issues that were illustrated in a TV program, etc. TV is a tool, just like a car, a printing press, a camera, or anything else. You can use it for good or for evil. It’s up to you.
Click to expand...
That’s more down to them. I don’t watch TV. But I still manage to keep up to date with stuff.
 
Educational programs are great! May the Lord bless you for being careful for the sake of your little ones! God bless!
 
Yes! I agree! I still can have plenty of conversations that are relevant to today’s time with my friends. I don’t feel like I am out of touch with what’s going on in the world.
 
Hi Erikaspirit16, Thanks for your thoughts. Did you read what Hereiam posted? I thought that was a helpful idea for TV watchers. God bless!
 
It’s like the highest quality preschool curriculum, but without my kids coming home with bad language, bite marks, head lice, and pertussis!
 
LOL, never had head lice or pertussis from preschool, but I can certainly related to the bad language and bite marks 😦 Some things haven’t changed in 20 years.
 
Hello.

I go with St. Augustine’s statement “Love God and do as you please -” mainly meaning, that if you think TV is going to be an occasion of sin to avoid it, but if not strive for a balance. There are some beautifully written and filmed programs/movies - film is a visual art - and we certainly need beauty in our lives.

I think not allowing TV for kids might not be so good, they may “discover” it later and become addicted - this I know about - but that’s just my opinion. I think helping them recognize what is good, what is a balance, and what is excessive and exploitative is better, but again, this is my opinion.

What I’m trying to say is that extremes are not good, balance is better. Just my two cents.
 
My relationship with TV ebbs and flows.

I wanted to be the Mom who didn’t watch TV. Then my husband had to work major overtime; my MIL was getting dementia; and my kids (1 & 2) were vomiting every three weeks (normal stomach flu). Anyways, I turned on the TV telling myself “only Catholic TV” … which is great TV! There are kids programs like “The Frost”, “My Catholic Family”, and “My time with Jesus” (EWTN). When you are raising young kids alone and one is sick and the other is bouncing around … well, I expanded to PBS and fell in love with “Seasame Street” and “Daniel Tigers neighborhood”.

When Family life becomes more stable, we naturally don’t watch TV. When I’m reduced to a single parent and there is normal sickness … total TV junkie … total ebb & flow!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top