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The Virtues of TV

Written by Arwyn Daemyir

Tuesday, 24 June 2008

The “hazards of TV" article has been done a hundred times before. Books have been written, and statements have been issued, and more books have been written. TV has been accused of everything from ADHD and autism to obesity, violence, and stupidity. The evidence, while not unassailable, is pretty clear that TV isn't good for us, and that the younger one is the truer that is; even if, demonstrably (as is the case with yours truly), one can grow up watching TV – at times far, far too much TV, of all the "wrong" kinds – and still become a functioning, literate adult.

So instead of another fear-mongering iteration of the evidence of the evils of television, let me take a moment to extol the virtues of TV and in doing so show you why my child is, and for the foreseeable future shall remain, TV free.

I love TV. I love it in the way a smoker loves that first morning drag, the way the coffee drinker loves the mid-afternoon pick me up cup. By the time I was 8, I could tell you what all the channels were, and the entire afternoon lineup, not just for my favorite channels, but for all 30+ (we had a good cable package, but this was before the days of a channel for every hobby). There are years of my life for which I could tell you who was starring in what role for a dozen different shows, but not who was governor of my own state, much less any other (and forget any countries' prime ministers, unless they were mentioned on PBS repeats of BBC classics). If TV is on in a room, I am watching it, regardless of whether the content is interesting, much less educational or enjoyable. For myself, for my own sanity and serenity, TV had to go.
TV makes parenting easy. Having a hard day? Turn on the tube. Need a shower or another hour's sleep? Pop in a movie. Dinner can be made without a 3 minute egg taking 30 minutes to prepare, without three times as many spoons getting pulled out as were needed, without "half a cup of flour" requiring one have at least two cups on hand because the first three attempts (with one's child's assistance, of course) ended up on the counter, the floor, and the back of the dog. Maybe other parents can have that instant solution available to them and resist overusing it, but not I. If we "did TV", I would always sleep in, be clean, and have a home cooked meal on the table at 6 PM, and the only cost would be my child spending eight hours glued to the set, every. single. day.
TV is educational. Everyone says so: PBS, that bastion of intelligent broadcasting (or hotbed of liberal brainwashing, take your pick) says so, our always erudite and esteemed President says so, even Peggy O'Mara, promoter of all things counter-culture and natural in the parenting world, says so¹. TV would teach my child English, ASL, Spanish, French, mathematics, physics, geometry, geography, manners, how to read and what to think, even promote physical fitness and build up his self esteem. What role would have I, a mere parent, in the face of that expert approved, scientifically designed, educational force for good? Removing TV from our toolbox makes me take responsibility for his education, for good or for ill, upon myself; I cannot assure myself that his education is well rounded simply by rotating through the full lineup of Baby Einstein videos.
TV is safe and fun. TV can make us laugh without the exertion or danger of mishap of a round of "the tickle monster attacks!" It lets us see flour turned into cake without heating up our kitchens or risking getting burned. It shows us the beauty of nature without the threat of mosquito bites, takes us on exotic adventures without the inconvenience of travel, lets us meet interesting people without having to open ourselves up in return. Foregoing TV makes me take risks with my child in order to show him all this wide world has to offer, and the result, while sometimes exhausting, itchy, and hot, is spectacularly worth it.

There are more reasons, of course – not paying a cable bill gives us money for zoo memberships, and we can arrange our living room around his toy bins and bookshelves instead of the TV hookups – but those are some of the big ones. I do not claim TV has no virtues, only that my family’s life is well enough off without them.