In the interest of full disclosure we have a tv in every room of our house, with the exception of the bathroom. Several of them are so old they are neither flat, nor high definition. I suspect they will outlast the latest models.
We didn’t have a TV at home until I was 10 years old. It was black & white, there were only 3 channels and programs ended at midnight with test patterns. I grew up reading, playing outside and making up ways to entertain myself with household objects. It may partially explain why I’m relatively creative but doesn’t explain why I have the attention span of a gnat.
I worry about the amount of digital exposure young kids get today. My daughter-in-law is a teacher and she says that the newest kinder students are impatient and demanding to a degree not seen even a few years ago. The expect entertainment to be thrust into their hands at the first squeak. Like you, I played outside in the weeds and fallen leaves or snow or I played in my room with very few toys but a huge imagination as my resource.
Have you read Homo Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari? I think you’d like this book, about the evolution of people.
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Shari,
Interesting and disturbing to learn about your daughter-in-law’s experience.
Peggy
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At home I had to be in bed by 9:00 on a school nigh later if it was a weekend. When I babysat I watched to the bitter end. Usually watch a horror movie then being afraid to get off the couch!
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Kathy,
Are you still watching horror films?
Peggy
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The 1st tv remote control I recall was a servo operated hand clicker the size of current cell phones. It only had an up-channel button which when pushed, the still-functional manual knob ON the tv would loudly rotate to one channel higher. As there were only 3 or 4 over-air channels at that time, it didn’t take long to “scroll” through the selections.
Per your posting, I also spent a lot of time outdoors, playing, reading, or writing reports using an Encyclopedia or back issues of National Geographic. However, I am NOT overly creative and also have the attention span of a small insectoid.
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Rick,
You did miss one important element of TV watching: the laugh track. Perhaps being spared that experience helped you and Judy develop your wonder sense (s) of humor!! Or maybe it was the back issues of National Geographic.
Peggy
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Ditto
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