We are social animals of a hierarchical nature. We crave communication, and we are given it. We are made to watch television, occasionally receiving a tidbit of useful information or an interesting show. But if you watch TV with a stopwatch, you’ll find that the benefits it offers are not worth the time you spend on it. “What about the news?” some might ask. But which news actually concerns you personally? Nowadays, when new information is shared, it is often presented solely to manipulate you. You lack the tools to distinguish between lies, half-truths, and the truth. “What about sports?” another group of viewers might inquire. Go to the stadium, watch sports broadcasts with friends at a pub, don’t just fixate on the screen!
Television has replaced our face-to-face communication. The “memory cells” meant for close relationships are occupied by politicians and brands. We trust the management of our country to people we barely know, simply because we’ve been led to believe that they are a worthy choice, while your neighbor deserves less trust. You don’t even know their name.
Another thing that makes it difficult for you to live alongside the television is the constant stimulation of anxiety and fear of death. Take a look at the list of news stories with a pencil in hand and count how many times you were reminded of death. Under stress, a person seeks comfort in consumption. When reminded of their mortality, a person is more likely to agree to purchase expensive items. If someone is anxious, they are more easily tempted by sweets, chips, or cigarettes. Now, look at the advertisements that follow the news from a different perspective.
Once you throw out your television and stop mindlessly clicking the remote or hitting the “refresh” button on social media like a rat with an electrode in its head, you’ll automatically switch to real communication. Important news will still reach you. The news broadcast on television is no longer crucial for making immediate decisions. In fact, the news you see on TV is often designed to get you to do things you don’t really need to do. If a show is being aired for you, it means someone wants something from you. The world won’t collapse without your participation. No one will share secrets with you, and you won’t lose anything by getting your news from others. You’ll engage in more conversations and gain more knowledge. Most of the books we read are recommended by other people. You’ll choose what others have chosen and get a more reliable source of information about products and services than advertising. Plus, you’ll make many acquaintances. Your “social circles,” the number of which corresponds to Dunbar’s number, will be freed from people you don’t need—mayors, ministers, artists, and “celebrities.” In the 21st century, those with more social connections will come out on top.
A society devoid of social cohesion is easily controlled and manipulated. It’s quite clear who benefits from children stopping their play in the yards and instead staying at home glued to their gaming consoles, and who wants adults to forgo going to clubs or churches and instead step outside, only to get lost in reality shows or televangelists with a bottle of legalized drugs in hand. The last bastion of social interaction in this world is dog parks 🙂 By the way, a dog is more interesting than television.