Priority changes

Kumabjorn · 04-19-2012, 06:06 PM

In the mail today came my yearly bill from my cable provider. I was kind of surprised, I thought I had cancelled the service, because i haven't watched a single program on the tube for the last year. Turns out I had just turned it off but forgot to notify my cable provider. I opted for the yearly charge a long time ago because it was 15% less than quarterly installments. Thought I did the smart thing, now I'm stuck with the charges through April 30, 2013 (I cancelled today but the payment is up front).

This made me realize that between hanging here and reading on my e-Readers my need for entertainment (thank you, Fbone et. al.) is completely filled. Modern technology has actually induced me to retrocede to the 19th century, when reading was all you had, no wireless, no cinema. I'm even conceited enough to believe that it has made me a better person, more active, using more brain power, forcing myself to think more, selecting my entertainment.

Something I would never have dreamed of when I put in my order at Amazon. This in pretty much two years time. Makes me wonder if I'm the only one who has gone through this dramatic social change?

pidgeon92 · 04-19-2012, 06:45 PM

I gave up cable when we moved and uverse was no longer available. Now I just watch streaming video on the net or on Netflix. I really prefer it this way, no more mindless channel surfing, and I've watched some really excellent shows. I still do most of my reading before bed or while eating.

Talldog · 04-20-2012, 08:40 AM

Can't go there. Gotta have my Red Sox on TV every night. Of course, I can (and do) read while the game is on.

Kumabjorn · 04-20-2012, 09:08 AM

I wasn't specifically talking about cable-TV, I used it as an example. I'm curious as to other efects on cultural consumption. Stopping newspaper subsscription or magazine subscription. No longer visiting book stores, maybe not going to museums any more? It doesn't have to be limited to TV, it just happened that way for me.

Phogg · 04-20-2012, 10:00 AM

I had never bought a television until 1990.
Got rid of the damned thing in March of 1995.

abookreader · 04-20-2012, 10:15 AM

Just out of curiosity if you don't mind - but how old are you? You look pretty young in your avatar.

I'm asking because when my son moved into an apartment he chose not to get cable. It isn't because his nose is always stuck in a book either. He just is more streaming to his computer, all his internet stuff, and then of course his X-Box. He said it wasn't even worth the most basic plan just to get a few channels.

My husband on the other hand went nuts when I suggested cancelling Direct TV. The thought of no TV service is just beyond him - people have tvs. That's it. The changing paradigm is kind of like my Mom trying to adapt to the concept that she can call long distance whenever she wants and talk as long as she wants.

Kumabjorn · 04-20-2012, 10:26 AM

I consider myself as Naruto's mother. So I'm probably more around your age than your son's. I was brought up with TV so it has lost all of the "new and excited" it had when it came out. Digital and HD is only incremental and rather insignificant improvements in my view. I gradually discovered that I didn't turn it on any more. I simply preferred to read and stimulate my imagination rather than absorbing a predetermined diet. I wasn't like that at all when I read p-books, it is all because of e-books. That is what surprises me. The ease of access is, I believe, the determining factor. If bored, rather than turn on the tube, I will turn on the Kindle and if I don't have anything enticing on it it is just as enticing to use it for shopping in Amazon's Kindle Store.

fjtorres · 04-20-2012, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talldog

Can't go there. Gotta have my Red Sox on TV every night. Of course, I can (and do) read while the game is on.

My heart goes out to you.
(My sister's a BoSox fan and she's still walking in a daze over the Texas raid.)

Overheard:
"You get Valentine, Hitler, and Stalin in a room. Your gun has only two bullets. What do you do?"
"Double-tap Valentine."

It gets better.

Pomtroll · 04-20-2012, 11:22 AM

I don't watch t.v. anymore & only receive one subscription. I do buy one other one when the magazine for that month looks interesting. So my media entertainment is reading on an e-reader & boards on the computer.

We still have basic cable because my husband likes watching t.v.

Shack70 · 04-20-2012, 11:23 AM

We get rid of cable tv almost a year ago and have been using over the air TV for local stuff but for the most part we do not miss it. Our kids are the ones that miss it but not enough to complain about it. With things like Netflix they can watch stuff when they want just not the same cartoons over and over with commercials thrown in. That's another nice thing, we don't get a list of toys they want because they saw the commercial 1000 times.

fjtorres · 04-20-2012, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

I wasn't specifically talking about cable-TV, I used it as an example. I'm curious as to other efects on cultural consumption. Stopping newspaper subsscription or magazine subscription. No longer visiting book stores, maybe not going to museums any more? It doesn't have to be limited to TV, it just happened that way for me.

I used to run a dozen magazine subscriptions; SCIENCE NEWS, BASEBALL AMERICA, THE ECONOMIST, US NEWS & WORLD REPORT, DISCOVER, POPULAR SCIENCE, CAR & DRIVER, SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, PC MAGAZINE, etc. Plus three book clubs.
Still have the book clubs but I haven't bought anything in two years.
Every once in a while I think of re-subscribing to SCIENCE NEWS and I probably will but I keep forgetting.
There's only so many hours in a day and between webscriptions, SKYRIM & MASS EFFECT, and the *ahem* mandatory activities, there isn't much room left to go beyond the corresponding websites. Not much TV either. (Beyond baseball and CASTLE.)

My mother's not paying much attention to TV these days, either.
(I probably shouldn't have introduced her to James Patterson.)

Talldog · 04-20-2012, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

"You get Valentine, Hitler, and Stalin in a room. Your gun has only two bullets. What do you do?"
"Double-tap Valentine."

Yes, I think my Kindle will be my friend as the season rolls on.

Catlady · 04-20-2012, 12:06 PM

Geez. I'm addicted to my TV. I need my TV Land and my TCM.

sadievan · 04-20-2012, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

Geez. I'm addicted to my TV. I need my TV Land and my TCM.

TCM. Is that the one with the silent films? My husband loves that.

Carol

Catlady · 04-20-2012, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sadievan

TCM. Is that the one with the silent films? My husband loves that.

Carol

Turner Classic Movies. They do show silent films, but I don't watch those; I like the films from the '30s to the '60s primarily.

04-19-2012, 06:06 PM	#1
Kumabjorn Basculocolpic Posts: 4,356 Karma: 20181319 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Kindle 4SO, Kindle for Android, Sony PRS-350 and PRS-T1	Priority changes In the mail today came my yearly bill from my cable provider. I was kind of surprised, I thought I had cancelled the service, because i haven't watched a single program on the tube for the last year. Turns out I had just turned it off but forgot to notify my cable provider. I opted for the yearly charge a long time ago because it was 15% less than quarterly installments. Thought I did the smart thing, now I'm stuck with the charges through April 30, 2013 (I cancelled today but the payment is up front). This made me realize that between hanging here and reading on my e-Readers my need for entertainment (thank you, Fbone et. al.) is completely filled. Modern technology has actually induced me to retrocede to the 19th century, when reading was all you had, no wireless, no cinema. I'm even conceited enough to believe that it has made me a better person, more active, using more brain power, forcing myself to think more, selecting my entertainment. Something I would never have dreamed of when I put in my order at Amazon. This in pretty much two years time. Makes me wonder if I'm the only one who has gone through this dramatic social change?

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04-19-2012, 06:45 PM	#2
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	I gave up cable when we moved and uverse was no longer available. Now I just watch streaming video on the net or on Netflix. I really prefer it this way, no more mindless channel surfing, and I've watched some really excellent shows. I still do most of my reading before bed or while eating.

04-20-2012, 08:40 AM	#3
Talldog Addict Posts: 293 Karma: 1431716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Connecticut Device: Kindle Paperwhite, KDX Graphite, Surface Pro	Can't go there. Gotta have my Red Sox on TV every night. Of course, I can (and do) read while the game is on.

04-20-2012, 09:08 AM	#4
Kumabjorn Basculocolpic Posts: 4,356 Karma: 20181319 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Kindle 4SO, Kindle for Android, Sony PRS-350 and PRS-T1	I wasn't specifically talking about cable-TV, I used it as an example. I'm curious as to other efects on cultural consumption. Stopping newspaper subsscription or magazine subscription. No longer visiting book stores, maybe not going to museums any more? It doesn't have to be limited to TV, it just happened that way for me.

04-20-2012, 10:00 AM	#5
Phogg PHD in Horribleness Posts: 2,320 Karma: 23599604 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the ironbound section, near avenue L Device: Just a whole bunch. I guess I am a collector now.	I had never bought a television until 1990. Got rid of the damned thing in March of 1995.

04-20-2012, 10:15 AM	#6
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	Just out of curiosity if you don't mind - but how old are you? You look pretty young in your avatar. I'm asking because when my son moved into an apartment he chose not to get cable. It isn't because his nose is always stuck in a book either. He just is more streaming to his computer, all his internet stuff, and then of course his X-Box. He said it wasn't even worth the most basic plan just to get a few channels. My husband on the other hand went nuts when I suggested cancelling Direct TV. The thought of no TV service is just beyond him - people have tvs. That's it. The changing paradigm is kind of like my Mom trying to adapt to the concept that she can call long distance whenever she wants and talk as long as she wants.

04-20-2012, 10:26 AM	#7
Kumabjorn Basculocolpic Posts: 4,356 Karma: 20181319 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Kindle 4SO, Kindle for Android, Sony PRS-350 and PRS-T1	I consider myself as Naruto's mother. So I'm probably more around your age than your son's. I was brought up with TV so it has lost all of the "new and excited" it had when it came out. Digital and HD is only incremental and rather insignificant improvements in my view. I gradually discovered that I didn't turn it on any more. I simply preferred to read and stimulate my imagination rather than absorbing a predetermined diet. I wasn't like that at all when I read p-books, it is all because of e-books. That is what surprises me. The ease of access is, I believe, the determining factor. If bored, rather than turn on the tube, I will turn on the Kindle and if I don't have anything enticing on it it is just as enticing to use it for shopping in Amazon's Kindle Store.

04-20-2012, 11:22 AM	#9
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	I don't watch t.v. anymore & only receive one subscription. I do buy one other one when the magazine for that month looks interesting. So my media entertainment is reading on an e-reader & boards on the computer. We still have basic cable because my husband likes watching t.v.

04-20-2012, 11:23 AM	#10
Shack70 Guru Posts: 777 Karma: 1043626 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: York, Pa Device: Kindle Paperwhite 11th Generation	We get rid of cable tv almost a year ago and have been using over the air TV for local stuff but for the most part we do not miss it. Our kids are the ones that miss it but not enough to complain about it. With things like Netflix they can watch stuff when they want just not the same cartoons over and over with commercials thrown in. That's another nice thing, we don't get a list of toys they want because they saw the commercial 1000 times.

04-20-2012, 12:06 PM	#13
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,407 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	Geez. I'm addicted to my TV. I need my TV Land and my TCM.