Quiet times

[John F]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Yep. Here, when someone mentions watching TV, it's almost always cable TV they mean (or our free national TV which has only two channels, so most people subscribe to a cable TV provider). There are very few streaming services legally available here, Netflix, Amazon, also a couple of local ones (but those are offered by the same cable providers and part of their general subscription plans, so they don't really count) and that's it (unless something's changed recently). So people still think of streaming and TV as two different things.

For me, it depends who I'm talking to. If I think it is someone who uses streaming services, I would say I'm watching a show/series/movie, otherwise it is TV/movie.

If I was watching cable/Direct TV, I would say TV.

If I'm watching a DVD/Bluray, I'm watching a series/movie.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Why should it be more of a hell than to spend a weekend binge-reading?

Because they’re two entirely different activities, even if some of the incidentals are the same? Because one is my favorite activity and I dislike the other?

Golly, first people say that listening to audiobooks (which I love) is the same as reading (which it isn’t). And now watching tv is the same as reading?

Originally Posted by mlewis78

I know people on facebook who brag about never watching TV and then they tell you about a movie or tv show they are watching on their Apple large screen monitor. That's watching TV. I don't know why they feel superior. It's the same activity.

I don’t know why people feel superior about personal entertainment preferences, either. However, I think there’s an assumption that people who say they don’t watch tv are bragging, which is why I’m always careful to add that I never watch television because I don’t like it, and not because I think there’s anything wrong with it. Oddly enough, one thing that keeps me from watching any television at all is that there are too many excellent choices. I wouldn’t know how to choose.

[JSWolf]

Streaming is not cord cutting. If you cut all cords, you'd hae no Internet and no way to stream. So the term "cord cutting" is rubbish.

I am watching a lot of TV. I plan on watching a movie after lunch. I do have some shows that are finished or finished for the season waiting to be watched and removed from the DVR.

And one thing, if you have HBO or access to the show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, watch the current episode. He does an excellent job talking about covid-19 and the state of it in the United States. It sums up what's going on very well. Better then you get from the news broadcasts. So go watch it if you can.

[JSWolf]

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver from March 29, 2020

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7t08gi

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by issybird

I don’t know why people feel superior about personal entertainment preferences, either. However, I think there’s an assumption that people who say they don’t watch tv are bragging, which is why I’m always careful to add that I never watch television because I don’t like it, and not because I think there’s anything wrong with it. Oddly enough, one thing that keeps me from watching any television at all is that there are too many excellent choices. I wouldn’t know how to choose.

I think that many people might tend to make assumptions about those who make a point of saying that they never watch television because they usually don't actually mean never. They usually mean rarely (or even very rarely). Why the need for hyperbole if there's not some sort of implied judgement about what taking part in the activity (however rarely) might say about them?

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by issybird

Because they’re two entirely different activities, even if some of the incidentals are the same? Because one is my favorite activity and I dislike the other?

Golly, first people say that listening to audiobooks (which I love) is the same as reading (which it isn’t). And now watching tv is the same as reading?

I didn't say it's the same as reading. I said it's almost the same experience. There's a difference.

And yes, for me they're not entirely different activities. Physical exercise is an entirely different activity, for example. Your opinion in that regard may well be different than mine, but that doesn't make my opinion any less valid.

[Gardenman]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver from March 29, 2020

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7t08gi

Thanks for this link. Very good

[John F]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Streaming is not cord cutting. If you cut all cords, you'd hae no Internet and no way to stream. So the term "cord cutting" is rubbish.

...

Maybe if your Humpty Dumpty. Otherwise I'll enjoy my cord cutting/streaming.

[binaryhermit]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Streaming is not cord cutting. If you cut all cords, you'd hae no Internet and no way to stream.

Sattelite and cellular internet want to have a word with you.

Not that they're terribly competitive with wired broadband in places where that exists.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Streaming is not cord cutting. If you cut all cords, you'd hae no Internet and no way to stream. So the term "cord cutting" is rubbish.

Oddly, I know one person who decided to cut the cord and cancelled all her services with Shaw cable. She ended up paying for the reconnection and then for a higher tier Internet service after she ran over her data limit 3 months running.

Evidently, she thought the advertisments in which they said you don't need the telco/cable/whatever anymore meant that you could disconnect completely.

[taosaur]

I never owned a TV for 20-odd years of my adult life until last summer, but I watched plenty of TV

[BookCat]

Returning to the lockdown issue, is painting and decorating a house an essential service? The house next door to me had a minor fire before Christmas, no one one hurt. Just one elderly man lived there and I believe is now staying with his son.

Nothing happened with the house for months, apart from a clearing out of furniture. Now there's a crew of men working on it. I was surprised to find this happening right now, with the Covid 19 restrictions. Naturally, I haven't spoken to them, but wonder whether they should be doing it.


Cydric, my cat, died on tuesday morning. I was on the way to see the emergency vet when he went. I partly blame Covid 19 and the vet surgery's reaction for this. They closed for all but urgent cases so he wasn't able to have weekly visits which may have indicated that he needed different treatment. When I took him tuesday morning I had to wait in the taxi, the nurse took the cat into the surgery, I spoke to them on my mobile phone. The vet confirmed that Cyd had passed. Their response to this crisis almost verges on paranoia imho.

When I got home I rang a close friend - two, in fact. One lives close by and was reluctant to come over to help me to bury him later today (weds) because of Covid, the other, who lives a short distance away, is worried about being stopped by the police while travelling here. I can't do it on my own, having recently had a cast removed from my arm and having very thin bones.
Eventually, the one who lives nearer reluctantly agreed to help.

My point being that this Covid 19 situation is having consequences I wouldn't have dreamed of.

[FizzyWater]

So sorry about your Cydric, BookCat. I'm glad your friend eventually came over to help you.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by BookCat

Returning to the lockdown issue, is painting and decorating a house an essential service? The house next door to me had a minor fire before Christmas, no one one hurt. Just one elderly man lived there and I believe is now staying with his son.

Nothing happened with the house for months, apart from a clearing out of furniture. Now there's a crew of men working on it. I was surprised to find this happening right now, with the Covid 19 restrictions. Naturally, I haven't spoken to them, but wonder whether they should be doing it.


Cydric, my cat, died on tuesday morning. I was on the way to see the emergency vet when he went. I partly blame Covid 19 and the vet surgery's reaction for this. They closed for all but urgent cases so he wasn't able to have weekly visits which may have indicated that he needed different treatment. When I took him tuesday morning I had to wait in the taxi, the nurse took the cat into the surgery, I spoke to them on my mobile phone. The vet confirmed that Cyd had passed. Their response to this crisis almost verges on paranoia imho.

When I got home I rang a close friend - two, in fact. One lives close by and was reluctant to come over to help me to bury him later today (weds) because of Covid, the other, who lives a short distance away, is worried about being stopped by the police while travelling here. I can't do it on my own, having recently had a cast removed from my arm and having very thin bones.
Eventually, the one who lives nearer reluctantly agreed to help.

My point being that this Covid 19 situation is having consequences I wouldn't have dreamed of.

I'm so sorry about your cat. I lost a kitten a few weeks ago. It was the runt of the litter and I guess just wasn't well developed enough to survive. It's always hard. I would like to think that I'm a good enough person to help a friend or neighbor bury a beloved pet, even in these times.

Fortunately the kitten's litter mates are still running around leaving mayhem and destruction in their wake. They keep me amused in these gloomy days.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

Sattelite and cellular internet want to have a word with you.

Not that they're terribly competitive with wired broadband in places where that exists.

Every form of Internet needs a cord in some part of the connection. So the term cord cutting is just wrong. You cannot have a 100% wireless connection to your TV shows/movies.