Usually, during a typical conversation, especially if it goes on for long enough, television will come up in some form, either referencing a show or actor or scandal or season finale or whatever . If this is a group conversation, I'm usually fine. I can nod or shake my head appropriately and smile attentively. But if it's a one-on-one conversation, I'm forced to admit that I don't know what or who they're talking about because "I don't watch a lot of TV."
What is my definition of "not a lot of TV"? A simple Q&A should clear things up:
Q: What do you mean by TV?
A: I mean anything with actors that moves on a screen (so movies, shows via internet, and regular channels on TV all count).
Q: Do you watch TV every day?
A: No.
Q: How much TV do you watch in a week?
A: 1 hour, maybe 2-3 if I watch a movie.
Q: Do you have a Netflix or Hulu account?
A: No.
Q: Do you have cable or satellite?
A: No.
Q: Do you have any channels?
A: Yes. Five or maybe six?
Q: What was the last show you actually watched week by week?
A: Biggest Loser, January-May 2011
Q: What was the last movie you saw in the theater?
A: Toy Story 3
Q: What was the last movie you saw at home?
A: Father of the Bride (1991). I had never seen it.
Q: What do you watch?
A: Currently, Chopped or Downton Abbey.
Q: Have you always been this way?
A: No. That is, according to my definition of TV, I used to watch more shows and movies, but rarely have I watched anything current. When I was a teenager, I watched almost every movie that was made in the 1940's and 50's (slight exaggeration), but almost nothing that came out in the 90's and early 2000's. What can I say? I was (and am) a geek. (Stay tuned for my upcoming review of Bringing Up Geeks where I will reveal even more about my geeky nature.)
Q: What do you do in the evenings?
A: I clean my house (which is a tornado by 8:00pm). I waste time on the internet. I always think I'll have time to read. But I rarely do. (But I always listen to a book while I'm cleaning.)
Q: Do you like TV?
A: Yes, sometimes. I like it when it's clean and uplifting or funny (hmmm....maybe that's why I watch so little). I don't like to watch by myself, so I don't even think about it unless Mike is home.
Q: Why are you spending all this time talking about your TV habits?
A: I don't know. Probably because I was thinking about how awkward some conversations are with me because I don't know the names of any actors or even which shows are popular. I thought I'd give everyone an explanation for my ignorance.
Final Q: Do you let your kids watch TV?
Final A: Yes. In fact, they watch something pretty much every morning while I get ready for the day. I'm not opposed to TV (monitored and in moderation). It's just not how I choose to spend my free time.
I feel ya. I don't have cable but I do have Hulu. We like it but it also spends allot of the time off.
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