#28 Not Having a TV
January 26, 2008 by clander
The number one reason why white people like not having a TV is so that they can tell you that they don’t have a TV.
On those lonely nights when white people wish they could be watching American Idol, Lost, or Grey’s Anatomy, they comfort themselves by thinking of how when people talk about the show tomorrow they can say “I didn’t see it, I don’t have a TV. That stuff rots your brain.”
It is effective in making other white people feel bad, and making themselves feel good about their life and life choices.
Though these people often fill their time by talking with other friends who don’t watch TV about how they don’t watch TV, looking at leaves, cooking, reading books about left wing politics, and going to concerts/protests/poetry slams.
Generally this makes them very boring and gives you very little to talk to them about. It’s important that you NEVER suggest they are making a mistake or that there is a value to owning a TV. You should just try to steer the conversation to allow them to talk about how they are better than you.
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When I was 21 I moved to Seattle with my then husband, our cats and our TV- which was a wedding gift. By the 2nd week of living there, our TV was stolen- by a black kid we knew by name of Ashby- and we couldn’t afford another one.
I lived in Seattle (the holier-than-thou, PC capitol of the world) for 6 years without a TV. I Totally felt off the grid in regard to pop-culture as it relates to television, during that time. I did a lot of clubbing and running around with friends. I was in great shape and very happy.
Did I miss TV, not really. Did I feel that not having a TV, (or a phone for that matter) made me better than everyone else? Naaah, I just felt poor. If I had the $ to buy one I probably would have
Do I have a TV now? You bet! a big-ass plasma hi-def mother that I veg in front of every night! Man- could I use some exercise… not that I want Ashby to look me up or anything ;D
Yeah, because black people steal it.
Rude and definitely toxic statement.
So saying that black people like to steal televisions is racist but this entire list isn’t racist toward whites?
Shit like this makes the racial barrier worse.
You’d have to be making your black TV stealing comment satirically (ie. as a joke) for it to be equal to the material on this blog.
I am white and I cannot imagine living without a TV. I love TV. I watch LOTS of TV.
white people also like to say that they only watch BBC.
yeah. Had to check out this one because it’s me… white and no TV. And I think I am better for it. Just found out today who is going to be in the Superbowl this weekend.
Seriously, how do people have time for TV?
Voluntarily sit on a couch to watch advertisements while your life gets shorter? When you could be playing with your kids or having a coffee or training for a marathon? Or even better, playing chess online with perfect strangers?
Love the site. I think #121 should be “Firearm Collection” for us semi-hicks.
training for a marathon? seriously? lets add that to the list. what is it with white people and marathons?
i really hope this guy is joking.
The more important thing is to say, “I don’t own a tv.” By emphasizing the ownership aspect, a white person is able to show that they reject not only popular culture, but also the consumer habits of others.
For the record, there’s a lot of good, literary tv drama out there….The Wire, Deadwood, Battlestar Galactica…..
We don’t watch TV (no cable; thus, no picture at all in a high rise building). We do watch NOVA and similar programs on DVDs. Our child watches DVDs on astronomy, physics, biology, biographies, heavy metal and rock concerts. TV is considered to be a time/brain killer.
We are proud indeed of not having TV in our life. When mention names of the shows I sometimes recognize them as I see them under “reviews” in New York Times. I have never in my life watched American Idol, Survivor, Sopranos, Buffy the vampire killer, etc. What a waste of time…
I think we all havedifferent definitions of “waste of time” To some, you sitting here, reading this blog and commenting on it may be waste of time and watching a good documentry on NatGeo/Discovery/Hsitry a good use of time.
The best thing about irony is that those who are most ironic are not aware of it.
*I* don’t own a TV. I download all my shows and watch them on my computer. *grins* No commercials. No losing DVDs. It’s great.
Yes, I’m white. And I brag about not watching TV… but just the fact that I don’t worry about commercials.
[...] it—I hated the tense feeling that shows were designed to inspire. And when I went to college, like a good white boy, I embraced my TV ignorance with open pride. It’s not until the past several months that [...]
As a Black person that doesn’t own a television let me say…
This post is effing hilarious! I’m guilty of “talking with other friends who don’t watch TV about how they don’t watch TV, looking at leaves, cooking, reading books about left wing politics, and going to concerts/protests/poetry slams.”
Not owning a television transcends race I guess…
Sheesh! All because in the 1950′s/60′s, NO BLACK PERSON was visible on TV, except whites perform in black face for comic relief, and by 1970 an occassional black face show up on TV commercials or minor character roles. This really make no sense to me, other than wealthy whites admit they had kept out minorities in major, positive, accurate, respcetful and non-stereotypical roles. The kind of pop culture ruled by greedy megacorporations and (dead) white men who want to either shock people’s sensitivities or want to start a controversy: A LEADING ROLE for an African-American. +
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