TV Tirade

Three years ago when I joined the Air Force I decided not to buy a TV so that I wouldn't be distracted from my flight school stuff. Since then I have gotten a TV but no Cable (I just use it to watch movies), and that has been such a good decision for me. The last couple months I've been staying in on-base billeting and I've remembered how easily TV can become a huge part of our life. It's just the natural thing to do when you walk in the room, and it does its job as a filler of empty time very very well. The question though is how much empty time do we have? Do people really need to leave a good time with friends early so that they can get home in time to catch the latest episode of the "Bionic Woman" or whatever? Should we waste our own lives watching other people live in the many permutations of reality shows. How many calories does one burn watching other people get healthy on "The Biggest Loser?" I love "Man vs. Wild," but couldn't we be out in nature ourselves? Okay so I'm not saying that laughing at Dwight on "The Office" is anything but hilarious, just that it seems important to recognize the TV for what it is, a way to fill some time and be entertained. Not a focus for our lives and families. Ever think about how the layout of living rooms have changed in the last fifty years?
Okay I'm done. Merry Christmas!!