35 Comments

• At 2009.11.09 18:30, Robert said:
  

  Interesting you should write about a subject near and dear to me lately. I’ve felt the same way about separating my time from the internet. Instead of using it to fill a void by spending hours looking through personals on CraigsList, Adam4Adam, and porn sites, I elect to fill that time with something more creative for my heart & soul. My heart & soul have been malnourished from the “empty calories” of the internet.

  I will always make time for the internet’s good qualities – like reading your blog (of course, blog buddy!), business…..and, ok, still the occasional porn site But the scale will be tipped in my favor. Less is more

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• At 2009.11.09 19:08, Jake said:
  

  Great post. I discovered this “problem” a few weeks ago when my multi-tasking got way outa hand. I wrote about it in a blogpost and kinda, sorta concluded the same thing as you.

  For me, less “noise” is more quiet “insights.” And that is an amazing way to help the Universe bring you what you need.

  For me, it was… “yeah, but, ya gotta LISTEN!”

  Thanks, Davey!

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• At 2009.11.09 19:18, Rory said:
  

  My TV has been broken for months and truthfully I haven’t missed it. Any TV shows I want to watch I just download and watch on my computer.

  Still in the absence of TV Internet can easily fill the void in being a time waster.

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• At 2009.11.09 19:54, eric said:
  

  If you spend your time watching Ophra shows all the time, you can put the telly off, it’s better to masturbate!

  I expected you to write your post about “Freedom” on this special day which is November,9th; the “20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall”.

  It’s to me ONE example of freedom recovered knowing there is still walls to knock down in world! I mean you talked so much about homosexuality and its acceptance!

  Anyway, I watched this event on TV this evening. I can assure you that TV can be more instructive than silence when you choose the good channel!

  bye,

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• At 2009.11.09 21:38, GeoffisPure said:
  

  What about the internet? I’m finding I turn to that to fill every spare minute. I think I’ll take your advice and embrace quietness and nothingness.

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• At 2009.11.09 21:59, Joe Blfstyk said:
  

  Silence lets you listen to the voices in your head, for better or worse. I indulge in it as much as I can.

  PS – Oprah is very gay-positive. She’s more of a people person than a position person, which is the key to her popularity, I think.

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• At 2009.11.09 22:22, John said:
  

  Seriously though, how awesome was Ellen on Oprah?! It was just awkward because Oprah hasn’t come out yet so it was weird to see her talking with someone so candidly about coming out and her relationship when everyone knows Oprah and Gale are doing it.

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• At 2009.11.09 23:05, Joe Blfstyk said:
  

  I don’t know that Oprah and Gale are doing it, and I don’t think you do either.

  I think you’re reading too much into “The Color Purple.”

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• At 2009.11.10 04:27, gnjen said:
  

  I agree with this post… in fact, I really rarely watch television (just when there is Eurovision, which I hated this year, or when I work out, so I just need something to make me bare walking and workouts bearable, etc.) But I also think I will have to drastically reduce time I spend on the internet, because then I will read more… I’m not saying that I am not reading, au contre, I read allot (especially when there’s swine flu here and we don’t go to school xD), I read about 1 or 2 books per week, or even more when I have free time… I, for example, yesterday evening spent like 2 hours watching some gay couples on YouTube and I was crying (not literally) over myself… and that is kind of totally lost time. I could read Shaw whose dramas I’ve took from library, or Camus or Apollinaire I bought on Book fairy this year.
  So, let’s not make big digression, I agree on this and thing – that time spent on something creative or on learning is much worthier time than time lost over TV and internet… of course, none should act too drastically, so I can guess that everything is actually a question of the right measure…
  P.S. Great article on improving immune system… I’m not planning to reduce that, when finally found evidence of its usefulness…

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• At 2009.11.10 04:28, gnjen said:
  

  Especially when there is whole flu thing, and when everyone should work on improving on their immune system xD

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• At 2009.11.10 07:02, kral said:
  

  I like noise, actually I love it. I don’t like TV but I love noise, I have to have the radio on, music is awesome. You can listen without concentrating. You can have positive without tacky, dramatic without drama.

  I also love white noise. I sleep every night with a fan on. I love the gentle roar of the ocean and the sound of aircraft engines throbbing away while flying (there is an old advertising slogan ‘nothing beats the sound of a Douglas 4′)

  I guess this is why I worked in a music shop for 7 years and I am a pilot…

  Noise makes me feel alive, kinetic, connected, ON.

  TV isn’t noise it is a broken interaction. Society is full of broken interaction. I love my friends for their interaction, their conversation, who they are. TV is a very poor photocopy of interaction. This is why people turn TV on to fill the void, people need interaction and the telly somehow seems like it is there for that. Doesn’t work though.

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• At 2009.11.10 07:51, tony said:
  

  There are times the silence is great like when I sit in my courtyard during our good weather times in Michigan. Most the times I read out there in the silence. I enjoy it but sometimes I’ll have classical music on. I choose silence when I’m walking out in nature listening to the sounds of life.

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• At 2009.11.10 07:56, tony said:
  

  I’m not a big TV watcher but there is about 6 hours of programs a week I’ll tape and watch later at 1 or 2 sittings.

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• At 2009.11.10 08:08, Joey, Nc said:
  

  Well, I’m not a big fan of tv either, but I do love music. Is it okay to play it all the time instead?

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• At 2009.11.10 08:50, Joe said:
  

  sorry i have to point this out, spelling error – it’s “throw” not “through”

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• At 2009.11.10 09:21, Mr. Jody said:
  

  well actually, Joe, you don’t HAVE to point it out…

  Anyway Davey Wavey, I’m right with you on the TV thing. When I’m home, the TV is off and I listen to the birds while I read or do “stuff”! I only turn it on when I
  leave the house so my birds (finches, cockatiels, parrots, and a starling) have
  noise (which they LOVE).

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• At 2009.11.10 12:26, Cliveey said:
  

  TRY CLASSICAL MUSIC ,,, ITS GREAT.

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• At 2009.11.10 12:32, Coach Lance said:
  

  Congratulations on your reading, gnjen. Excellent use of your time. I commend you! Reading books is becomming a lost are, as people watch more TV, more internet, and read more emails.

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• At 2009.11.10 12:43, jack said:
  

  Australian Rules Football and College Bull Riding are the only two things (asides from broadband internet) I get from my cable TV service.

  Oh, the Olympics as well. We live near enough to the Canadian border we get their coverage – no talking, just pictures. If you want talking, turn on the radio … TV is about the visuals.

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• At 2009.11.10 13:02, gnjen said:
  

  Thanks I’ve just finished Shaw…

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• At 2009.11.10 18:02, Greg said:
  

  I’ll take what’s behind masturbation door number #3! a lifetime supply of entertainment that keeps a smile on my face and doesn’t insult my intelligence. actually, doesn’t talk back at all.. a most PERFECT lover!!

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• At 2009.11.10 21:38, Tony P said:
  

  I’m a music lover. Always got to have it playing. Of course my iTunes library pales in comparison to that of my SO. He’s more into the contemporary stuff, I keep filling in gaps in my library from the 1940’s up through the present.

  Shut the cable TV down a couple years back. Why keep paying for what is mostly commercials? Since then there’s youtube, hulu, surfthechannel (Warning – before you hit surfthechannel.com put a block on your router for zango.com)

  And I aggressively ad block, either using AdBlock+ in Firefox, or on my router.

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• At 2009.11.10 22:01, Icon said:
  

  Davey, I suggest that you try playing music in your home. A couple of years ago I purchased a very nice receiver and CD player. I installed ceiling speakers in my bedroom with the intestion of expanding the system throughout my home. I prefer New Age music and it makes a perfect background for nearly any activity within my home. Select your preferred music and try it!

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• At 2009.11.10 22:08, Oly said:
  

  Certanly I think that television is not the best way to spend our time;there exist a lot more intresting things to do.

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• At 2009.11.10 23:24, Jack said:
  

  You should turn the TV off, and turn on some talk radio.. like Rush Limbaugh or Mark Levin. Get beyond and don’t be fooled by the hate. Without fail, these guys are only hated by those that refuse to listen.. The haters never listen. But when and if you do listen, you will be pleasantly surprised. And please don’t give me the falsehood about them being anti-gay. It’s simply a verifiable lie. I’m a gay man and I assure you I would not tolerate such..
  I don’t think or vote with my dick either, at least not in politics. I vote for those that will do the most to preserve Liberty Freedom.
  Unfortunately, based on their words, deeds, and track record, the people that don’t care about Liberty, are in power right now.
  You would be very wise to open your mind to AM radio and shut off the TV. Give it a try Davey.

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• At 2009.11.10 23:31, Jack said:
  

  You should turn the TV off, and turn on some talk radio.. Listen to Rush Limbaugh or Mark Levin. Get beyond, and don’t be fooled by the hate. Without fail, these guys are only hated by those that refuse to listen.. The haters never listen. But when and if you do listen, you will be pleasantly surprised. And please don’t give me that false nonsense about them being anti-gay. It’s simply a verifiable lie. I’m a gay man and I assure you I would not tolerate such..
  I don’t think or vote with my dick either, at least not in politics. I vote for those that will do the most to preserve Liberty Freedom and private property.. along with the country and the things that made it great.
  Such as the Constitution.
  Unfortunately, based on the words, deeds, and track record of the current crop of politicians in D.C., caring about and preserving Liberty and the Constitution is not their goal. In fact, destroying them appears to be their true objective.
  You would be very wise to open your mind to AM radio and shut off the TV. Give it a try Davey.

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• At 2009.11.11 08:45, gnjen said:
  

  agree totally

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• At 2009.11.12 06:49, christopher said:
  

  college and pro sports-occasionally-some cable news-cnn or msnbc.u.s. television-a basic package is way too boring.Trueblood-The Amazing Race-thats about it.the most i spend with at home would be internet-music-talk radio.ive really no time for tv.

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• At 2009.11.12 06:54, christopher said:
  

  tv-forget about it.the internet is where its at.and if you do watch some telly-try BBC or CBC.who cares about u.s.television-same old crap.learn a foreign language-watch their tv-you might learn something.

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• At 2009.11.12 07:00, christopher said:
  

  in the states try air america radio-if no local outlet-try internet streaming.learn a foreign language.i went to learn German-so i dont have to put up with too much talk-radio.with the internet i can pretend i dont live locally where im at.so so much a relief.

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• At 2009.11.12 12:09, Jack said:
  

  Beware of air-america. The reason A-A went bankrupt, is it’s never ending, non stop negative, hate filled format based upon anything except the truth.. espoused by the likes of Janeane Garofalo, Ed Shultz, Rachel Maddow and Al Franken. Abusing the truth, and remaining willfully ignorant is pretty much the only standard they adhere to. Just listen to them or read the postings by it’s audience on the A-A message board.. to discover this.
  I know.. I know that talkers like Rush and Levin and Hannity, are typically the ones accused of hate. But again, if you truly listen to both sides with an open mind, and you are not prone toward becoming willfully ignorant, then you will soon turn off A-A, (like it’s audience did..), and instead turn on Rush, Levin and Hannity as a replacement for TV. Don’t take my word for it.. Decide for yourself, but just be open minded in the process.
  Davey, give AM radio a shot. You might be pleasantly surprised. I”m sure you know that seeking and finding The truth is hard work, especially in this PC crazy world, where the lines are often blurred between fact and fiction. But it’s worth the effort, because the Truth will absolutely set you free.

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• At 2009.11.12 18:06, Kenneth Livingston said:
  

  Hey Davey,

  My computer just broke the other day I spend so much time responding to blogs etc. The substitute ended up being watching T.V. which I’ve done like 1% of the time over the last 7 or so years. Now I’m addicted to the news and crime shows especially NCIS and all the medical shows like House holy I love them I watched Lou Dobbs last program on CNN last night I loved that guy. And sooooooo many War Docs. they are my favorite. I’ve never watched T.V. much in my life but I swear I must watch like 7 hours a day now. It’s kind of addicting. But there is a problem to this exposure to contemporary media perspective I already only go in public about once every 2 weeks not because I’m a hermit but I live with a lot of people in huge home so I don’t worry to much about having to leave the house to socialize. Anyway I’m finding since I spend most of my time watching the news etc. That when I go out that every 2 weeks or so first of all the world even the small city I live in seems like a foreign country and I have spent a lot of time doing research on human behaviour triggers and how our literal and personal responses to our surroundings and the things that we choose to acknowledge affect our behaviour in the wider world even to the level of global interaction. I have to say when I leave the protection of our estate there is a certain anxiety based on the understanding of my own self confidence in the fact that when I see people in the wider world after having viewed these news programs and the realities of the world here in north america there is a feeling of disappointment. I stand behind a strong creed of being honest no matter what the cost and no choice of being spiteful no matter how hard I need to suck up my pride. But when you watch even some of the media etc. and it’s promoting a loss of integrity on a grand level and some how there is no regulation to curb this loss of integrity. For example the conservative Carrie Pre? somethings controversy about being Miss California and having a sex tape she made to improve the sex life of her and her boyfriend at the time and because it was made so public which in my opinion should not have been done. Carrie appologizes and I’m sorry but why would someone feel they need to apologize for an effort made between two manogimous partners to do things that will improve the sexual realations between them. To appologize for this is like to applogize for the belief that any individual wants to have a successful marriage and have children. If that was what it took for them to maintain faithfulness to each other I can’t see how she should be appologizing for that on her part that is kind of morally wrong. Anyway I just wanted to say I’m addicted to T.V. for the first time in my life and actually I commend the reality put on the news programs but at the same time not having to leave the estate it also makes me feel like there is also no point in doing so as it gives the perception that the world in general is corrupt.

  Kenneth Livingston

  P.S. sorry for rambling I don’t get out much

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• At 2009.11.14 13:22, John said:
  

  Hi Davey,
  One of the best times in my life was when we had a shitty old b&w TV that got bad reception. We’d watch only what we really wanted to watch. The rest of the time we’d have sex, visit friends, cook, etc. (not all at the same time). Now there is a flat screen TV and a surround sound and HD cable and Netflix. My partner watches WAY TOO MUCH for my taste and it’s bad for the relationship. Got my head bit off and handed to me (not in a good way) when I suggested that one night a week we keep the TV off. Hooray for silence. How else are you going to hear the little voice(s) in your head? When will we realize that the programs are there on TV just to sell us soap?
  John

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• At 2009.11.20 13:48, Brittany said:
  

  I agree with Davey, people use Television far to much. But don’t get me wrong I have a few tv shows I watch myself but I limit how much time I watch Tv, I never sit around during a comercial, and as soon as my show is off I turn off the TV and find something to do.
  Silence is a virture that many human beings take for grandted.

  Love ya Davey!

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• At 2009.12.01 22:57, Harrison said:
  

  Thought it might be worth reminding folks that Oprah played the therapist on Ellen’s “coming out” episode of her TV show – so they do have some history together.

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