Ben Bagdikian (Media Monopoly, p. xvi):
Our picture of reality does not burst upon us in one splendid revelation. It accumulates day by day and year by year in mostly unspectacular fragments from the world scene, produced mainly by the mass media. Our view of the real world is dynamic, cumulative, and self-correcting as long as there is a pattern of evenhandedness in deciding which fragments are important. But when one important category of the fragments is filtered out, or included only vaguely, our view of the social-political world is deficient.
Aldous Huxley (Brave New World Revisited, pp. 107, 33-35):
It is perfectly possible for a man to be out of prison and yet not free--to be under no physical constraint and yet to be a psychological captive, compelled to think, feel and act as the representatives of the national State, or of some private interest within the nation, want him to think, feel, and act. . . . The victim of mind-manipulation does not know that he is a victim. To him, the walls of his prison are invisible, and he believes himself to be free. . . . Only the vigilant can maintain their liberties, and only those who are constantly and intelligently on the spot can hope to govern themselves effectively by democratic procedures. A society, most of whose members spend a great part of their time, not on the spot, not here and now and in the calculable future, but somewhere else, in the irrelevant other worlds of sport and soap opera, of mythology and metaphysical fantasy, will find it hard to resist the encroachments of those who would manipulate and control it.
Albert Einstein (Einstein on Peace, p. 502):
Democracy, taken in its narrower, purely political, sense, suffers from the fact that those in economic and political power possess the means for molding public opinion to serve their own class interests. The democratic form of government in itself does not automatically solve problems; it offers, however, a useful framework for their solution. Everything depends ultimately on the political and moral qualities of the citizenry.
These are not mere abstractions. Many scholars feel that American politics is a con game. They believe that we are being hoodwinked, day in and day out, to vote against our interests and convictions. How else can you explain the fact that people in a democracy permit environmental decline and unsafe working conditions? How else can you explain poverty, destitution, and hunger for dozens of millions side by side with fabulous wealth for a few thousands? How else can you explain the fact that "we" vote to take money out of our own pockets and stuff it in the pockets of millionaires? The massive misinformation perpetrated upon us by television throws some light on this odd state of affairs. Now, if TV indeed contributes to the injustice and irrationality of our system, then we ought to fight back. Our most effective weapon is boycott. Early in this century, the Chicago meat-packing industry used to dish out foul-tasting meat which was at times contaminated with sawdust and even human flesh. Meat consumption in the U.S. went down by some 50%, and only then did the industry partially clean up its act. Our letters of indignation will not, I assure you, clean up our screens. A massive boycott will.
5. Another obvious drawback of television is commercials and corporate sponsorship. Like it or not, corporations are paying good money to shape our behavior. Should we consent to this deal? Should we let our emotions, beliefs, and buying habits be bought and sold to the highest bidder? Just think of it. Some people out there are paying approximately $300 a year to brainwash you. If you have a spouse and two kids, they are paying some $1200 to manipulate your household. Your children are definitely not immune to this propaganda barrage. And, despite what you might think, neither are you. So, from cradle to grave, the average American is exposed to questionable values. These include "money is king;" "happiness is earning and spending;" "look out for number one;" "you are not good enough the way nature made you, but must dye your hair, eyelashes, nails and God only knows what else with commercial products;" "your car need not only be safe, reliable, fast, and comfortable, it must be glamorous and it must tell everyone that you subscribe to the all-embracing creed of conspicuous consumption;" "violence is superior to lovingkindness;" "junk food is it." Should we continue to be exposed to such false values and beliefs?
6. TV does provide a sort of emotional escape, but better options abound. First, it is not clear that TV relieves stress; there is evidence, for instance, which suggests that people are in a worse mood after watching TV than before. Second, there are better alternatives. You can probably relieve stress more effectively and healthfully by such things as walking and yoga.
7. The last point which comes to mind concerns children. American children spend 30% of their waking hours in front of a TV set. They are exposed to 13,000 killings, 100,000 violent episodes, and some 650,000 commercials during their childhood. It is well known that children are more vulnerable than adults to X-rays, heroin, and alcohol. Isn't it reasonable to suppose that they are more susceptible to indoctrination as well? Should responsible parents permit this endless harangue? Aren't our children's minds just as precious as their bodies?
Well, there you have it, some obvious pros and cons of TV watching. Two points seem to emerge from this talk. First, we all share the blame for TV's unpalatable bill of fare. Second, you do have a choice.
Allow me to end this somber lecture with the merrier injunctions of a fellow curbsider (Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate factory, pp. 145-9):
So please, oh please, we beg, we pray
Go throw your TV set away,
And in its place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the Wall!
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