Papillon Parade Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 So I have just for the first time ever, canceled my cable. I am going tv-less for the summer! Just wondering how many other VC'ers don't watch the ol' boob tube and what do you do with your time? I am going to be concentrating on playing guitar so when Jeff eventually asks me on stage to play with him, I can. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
remphish1 Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 I salute you..I want to cut the cable the wife doesn't. I think it is liberating. I went a whole year without tv back when I was younger..I read and played a lot of basketball! Was a good time! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ordinary Beehive Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Television rules our lives in my house. The lady and I don't do anything else if we're home. It's kind of sad, really. I had gone 6 months without cable once, but still had the basic channels. The only things I ever watched were Cubs games on WGN and Wheel of Fortune, weeknights at 6:30. The rest of my time I spent playing guitar, cooking actual meals (as opposed to microwaving dinner), and exercising. It was probably the best 6 months of my life in terms of the overall rhythm of life - I was increasingly more productive in a number of facets of life. When you don't have the tube to just throw on instantly, you get a chance to really focus on cleaning one day a week, or doing laundry on a certain day every week, or making phone calls to old friends to catch up. It's very liberating. All that said, I do love television. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fif1435 Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 I watch very, very little TV. I'm also not a late night person. So, between cooking, cleaning (usually just the kitchen...I don't put much effort into cleaning other rooms), taking the dog for a long walk, arguing ("talking") with the kids (all teenagers +), or just talking with my wife, I don't have a lot of do-nothing time after work and before I go to bed. When I do sit down, I usually pick up a book. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Papillon Parade Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 The only shows I watch that are actually ON tv where I live (off the coast of Nova Scotia)are Coronation Street and Lost. They can both easily be downloaded. I'm just trying to cut out the mindless sitting and flicking through the channels in the hopes that something is on that I like. It very rarely is. PS - No Coronation Street jokes! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 I usually spend an hour nightly, from 8:30-9:30 watching with my wife - whatever shows we have DVRed. Movies are for weekends. The only "live" TV I watch is hockey. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Coronation StreetMy girlfriend is addicted to this show. She's able to watch it because we get CBC on our cable system, being close to the Canadian border. We're hoping to switch from Comcast to AT&T U-Verse (if AT&T ever gets our street up and running on that service), but I don't think U-Verse includes CBC, which may cause her to veto the whole U-Verse idea. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 TV doesn't rule in my house nearly as much as music does, but I ereally enjoy watching baseball games and I need to record/dvr every episode of Jeopardy. There are very, very few shows I like outside of this stuff (Deadliest Catch being one and it's only on for a few months/year). My kids do a lot of movies on the dvd player, which I have no problem letting them do after homework is done, esp. in the winter months. ed. Plus, t.v. makes a great temporary babysitter for when I need a break/cooking dinner/etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 I've never done the no tv thing, but I try to stick to only the shows I know I like and avoid vegging out or channel surfing in front of the tv. There's a guilty pleasure type of show I usually watch with my wife on Tuesday nights, but in recent weeks I've been getting together with some old bandmates on Tuesdays to make up some new songs. It's a much better feeling to have spent a couple hours trying to create something, rather than speding that time watching a tv program. Once you miss a few episodes of a show and get a verbal recap, you realize how repetitive and unnecessarily long most tv shows are. I get very little pleasure from watching tv by myself (unless it's something like a "Classic Albums" episode). If I lived alone, it'd be easy to do without a tv. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Papillon Parade Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 My girlfriend is addicted to this show. She's able to watch it because we get CBC on our cable system, being close to the Canadian border. We're hoping to switch from Comcast to AT&T U-Verse (if AT&T ever gets our street up and running on that service), but I don't think U-Verse includes CBC, which may cause her to veto the whole U-Verse idea. CBC does offer them online now, although I'm not sure if they are available for you US type folk yet. PS - Corrie stuff makes a great, unexpected gift for a lady! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The High Heat Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 I've been cable free for six years and honestly my mind feels less bogged down. I go to my sisters' homes and they have the round-the-clock news on or one of those reality shows and I feel like I'm going to lose my mind. I don't miss it and after awile you may look back and realize how big of a waste it is. The only things I watch on my television are dvds, PBS and Craig Ferguson a couple times a week. I read alot more and I write, but still not as much as I should. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 I've been watching all the Life episodes and they are incredible. most of the time i don't watch much TV, as i'm either out seeing a show, or upstairs on my computer, editing photos. however, i've been thoroughly enjoying the Celtics and Bruins playoff games so far. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouisvilleGreg Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 I have a major problem with basketball on tv. Last weekend I watched close to 5 full NBA games. I live alone and have no life. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Inside of Outside Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 I've been cable free for six years and honestly my mind feels less bogged down. I go to my sisters' homes and they have the round-the-clock news on or one of those reality shows and I feel like I'm going to lose my mind. I don't miss it and after awile you may look back and realize how big of a waste it is. The only things I watch on my television are dvds, PBS and Craig Ferguson a couple times a week. I read alot more and I write, but still not as much as I should.Cable free for 5 years. We have 2 shows we watch regularly, and I check out PBS from time to time. Don't miss it for a minute (ok, ok, now that the first round of the baseball playoffs are on TBS or TNT or some other ridiculous cable station, I do miss it then), and I am thrilled that my kids are not growing up with it. The last five years have been more balanced around the house as a result of less TV. Now if I could do something about the 3 laptops in our house.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
explodo Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 I only watch PBS, The Office, and 30 Rock. If I had cable, I would watch a lot of sports and probably Food/History/Discovery. As it is, I try to catch Rick Steves every night. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncool2pillow Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 I think I could give up TV except for sports, especially football. Having said that, since we have a tv, I watch a buttload more than I should. Lots of series, news, daily show, on and on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Duck-Billed Catechist Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 No cable. I watch the White Sox, Bulls, and Bears games that are on free TV. Except I don't get CBS. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ordinary Beehive Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 I've been watching all the Life episodes and they are incredible. Yes! I am loving Life. Incredible is definitely the word. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 What is Life? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 I watch plenty of TV, but don't have cable, so don't get any of the good stuff. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 I watch plenty of TV, but don't have cable, so don't get any of the good stuff. LouieB And I just learned that the "basic package" I subscribe to (and pay $15 a month for) is exactly what I'd be getting if I had a digital converter instead. Fuck cable companies. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Papillon Parade Posted May 2, 2010 Author Share Posted May 2, 2010 I just started re-watching Twin Peaks tonight. So far operation "CABLE? NO!" is a success. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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