No television in this house
02-September-2010
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No television in this house

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I am in a minority group of people in this country in that I am one of those rare individuals who happen NOT to own a television.  I currently rent my house (property prices is another gripe!) and when I moved here I was bombarded by letters from the TV licensing people who more or less demanded that I buy a TV licence.  Naturally I ignored all of these letters for months and months with the vague idea that I could perhaps paper a wall with them one day.

Who needs a tv, no television in this house!

Eventually however, I succumbed to the torment and decided to tell these morons that I didn't own a television and therefore had no intention of buying a TV licence.  I did all of this online of course; there was no way on earth I was going to waste money on a stamp or a phonecall to tell these people that I didn't have something!

Anyway, to the point of the gripe.  It's not the constant harassment from the TV Licensing people that annoys me.  It's the attitude of other people that I find quite incredible and a bit irritating.

If you work in an office (as I used to) there is the usual banter about what was on the box the night before and when the conversation swings round to you with "Did you see that last night?"; you get the usual sea of dumbstruck faces when you explain that you don't have a TV and you don't really want one.  People just can't cope with the fact that you don't own a television.

It's as if you have just spent most of your "life on mars", because they just don't understand how you can live without a TV.  For example my girlfriend has a daughter by her ex-husband and he seriously believes that her development is going to be stunted because we don't have a telly, therefore she wont be able to watch "CBeebies" like all the other kids.  I think the more likely scenario is that she will grow up a little bit smarter because she'll have spent more time reading, playing and communicating instead of being dumped in front of the box as so many parents are apt to do.

So there you have it.  It is possible to live in a television free environment and still be normal - really it is!  By the way, it's not that I don't enjoy movies and television programmes. It's just that I prefer to watch what I want, when I want.  Hence we have that wonderful thing called the Internet, a PC, a DVD player and a projector.  Video on demand is in fact here now for those of you who don't want to be passive consumers of commercial junk.  By the way, I really can't stand the adverts and that was another good reason to toss the goggle box in the bin!

By: Kenny


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Craig 04-Apr-2010 21:34 "I am embarrassed for you..."

You can't feel 'embarrased for him', you can only feel 'embarassed' yourself fella. But your comments are a nice example of 'normalisation', and probably a bit of 'projection' too.
*max_b  23-Aug-2010 06:50

 
I totally agree with you, I've not got a TV either. I find them very intrusive. I've always thought that when TV became popular that was the beginning of the breakdown of family life. People just stopped talking to each other at home in favour of watching the 'one eyed idol'. I get the odd looks and comments at work too but rise above them; I tell them.... 'No, I don't have a TV, I have a life!.'
*Jeannette  27-Jul-2010 23:08

 
The government backed jobs for the boys bbc extortioners apparantly, send these letters by computer and bluff.Then hope you will communicate one way or another, [they even charge you] saving them time and money.I mean for example,the D.V.L.A. dont send threat letters if there is no record of a vehicle licence at one's address!See www.bbcresistance.com
*n.k.w.i.a.a.  02-Jun-2010 19:03

 
I don't do tv either. Oddly, the reactions that I get from people are positive. It's almost as though they consider watching tv as being on par with smoking. "That's great for you! I wish I could do that. My family watches way too much."

Kudos to you; however, it has been an uphill battle for me trying to convert my co-workers to being non-watchers. They aren't ready to hear about the effects on the brain that tv watching has, especially for the kids.
*Greg  02-May-2010 03:09

 
Dear TV licensing.
Ref:3366665275. My husband Barry C.Peerless lived at the address where you sent the TV reminder. He died In october 2009. He was 77yrs and I am 76yrs. The house at the moment is completely gutted and workers are carrying on essential work. There is a TV there but has never even been plugged in or watched. It's my property now, and I can guarantee you that this TV will not be used by myself (The only owner occupier) I intend to let the property when the renovation is complete. I will let you know when this happens and you can then send a TV license request to the new tenants. This is my promisse to you. Property in question 7,Briars Lane Hatfield. Herts AL10 8EP. I use my park home while renovations are ongoing and I have an "Exempt" TV license because of my age.This property is: No:14 Marshmoor Crescent Welham Green. Hatfield. Herts. AL9 7HZ. moniquetardieu@gmail.com Yours faithfully. Monique Tardieu.
*Marseille  19-Apr-2010 18:26

 
Wow do you sound bitter Kenny….

It sounds to me more like a money related issue as you state what you USED to do, not what you do now. You don’t own property and want to save money on a stamp. You sound like a negative skinflint to me and I suspect that is not a happy atmosphere for a kid to grow up in whilst his or her friends grow up in the modern world.

I suspect it’s more that because you have not done as well in life you impose it on others such as your poor kid. Poster Don was spot on with his earlier post highlighting that it is because of people like you we have to pay staff to enforce the fees from others (raising all our bills further).

There was one kid I knew who grew up at school with no TV, he was a strange little thing. I understand limiting it as we do for our kids but it is a good developmental tool. Also restricting them TV means you must be educating them a lot (hard to do correctly when you seem so bitter).

A fair few generations grew up on TV and I notice you feel the need for a computer and internet but no TV. A bit hypocritical I think as you will no doubt be on youtube and downloading stuff etc. Also spare a thought for all the conversations you kid won't be able to take part in at school - kids can be cruel and like it or not TV does aid development.

Sky TV is excellent with educational and documentary channels not just mindless entertainment. Granted it costs money and this seems to be your biggest objection as you clearly had one at one point, perhaps it changed when you lost your job?

I am embarrassed for you and expect your child to become shunned at school and remembered only as the boy/girl who did not have a TV.
*Craig  04-Apr-2010 21:34

 
I havent got tv in my property. you can come and check anytime thank you
*M.patel  12-Mar-2010 12:40

 
Here it is kids, Freeview over the internet and the quality ain't half bad either. Some would say you need a TV licence for this but I say bollocks to that. Put it into full screen mode for smooth streaming and use the aspect ratio button at the bottom to adjust. There's also a channel picker overlay so you can channel surf!

http://www.tvguide.co.uk/tv_channel_streams.asp

Enjoy....
*Flatcap  02-Oct-2009 09:05

 
Hey Zanna, ditch the TV and do other stuff instead. You'll be two hours a week better off. To be honest it's not something I think much about these days as you can watch whatever you like on the Internet anyway.
*Dumbed down but not out  29-Sep-2009 16:53

 
haha - brilliant. I have to admit that we have a TV, however for the 2 hours a week we watch is it possibly one of the most pointless items in the house.
*Zanna  29-Sep-2009 15:41

 
Hey, shouldn't that be down as Theo C Cupier. Quite an amusing name though.
*No television here either  19-Aug-2009 19:40

 
keep your aerial unpugged and you can say you dont use it even if you do let them into your home. I tell them my name is Theo Cupier (The Occupier).
*Theo Cupier  19-Aug-2009 19:16


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