European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 4, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Trend americans trying to break away from television television. The average american watches four hours of it a Day and appreciates tvs ability to keep viewers in touch with the world. Yet at the same time Many feel increasingly guilty about spending so much time watching television and Are less Likely than Ever to claim it As their favorite Way to spend an evening. In fact a Good number of americans think their lives would be no worse if television disappeared and they list a wide variety of activities a including most prominently Reading a that they would do if there were no to. A recent Gallup poll shows that american Gallup polls have a decidedly ambivalent relationship with television. While Many admit to viewing plays a big role in their lives a majority of those questioned think to Hasni to been Good for society. What americans claim to value most from television is that it puts them in touch with the world around them. They say the Best things about to Are that it brings news reports from around the world 34 percent has educational programming 7 percent provides information of All sorts 6 percent and that it keeps them up to Date and current 6 percent. Much smaller percentages list entertainment sports or other types of non informational programming As the things they like Best about to. There appears to be some biases evident in these replies. To some degree americans Are talking about what they think they should value rather than what they actually watch. It May not be surprising then to find that Theta viewing called dangerously Borin Deborah Hastings associated press How Boring is television television is so Boring according to Alan Caruba that it rots your brain leads to drug and alcohol and. Diction encourages divorce and speeds society a demise. Boredom is Caruba a speciality. Well boredom and Public relations. From his Home in Maplewood n.j., the 53-year-old Caruba founded the Boring Institute in 1984. Intended As a spoof of the much hyped entertainment world the Institute publishes yearly lists of the most Boring celebrities the most Boring films and a fearless forecasts of tvs fall no. 1 complaint about television in response to a what is the worst thing about television that is the thing that you think is most negative a is that there Are not enough informative and educational programs 34 percent. Other complaints vary widely there is too much foul language 7 percent it presents an unrealistic portrayal of life 7 percent mtg 6 percent it is a negative influence on children 6 percent there is too much sex 4 percent too Many reruns 4 percent movies Arentt Good 3 percent and it is a a addictive 3 percent. Surprisingly Only 1 percent mentioned violence. Despite a Lack of evidence that americans Are actually watching television any less than they used to a considerably smaller number of americans say watching to is their favorite Way to spend an evening. In 1966 and 1974, almost one half 46 percent of those questioned said that watching to was their favorite Way to spend an evening. That dropped to one third in 1986, and to 24 percent in the most recent Gallup poll a just about what it was in 1960. There has been an increase in the number of americans who think they watch too much to. About four of 10 42 percent think they watch too much to. This is up significantly from the late 1970s, when Only 31 percent of americans thought they spent too much time watching to. It would seem reasonable that viewers might miss an activity that occupies about four hours daily if that activity were suddenly taken away. But not so for television. When asked what the Impact would be if someone suddenly removed All of the television sets from their Homes Only 35 percent said their lives would be worse. Two of 10 say it would make their lives better. Half say it make much difference either Way a an extraordinary admission from the same people who Are currently devoting such Long hours to watching to. The greatest Benefactor from a reduction in television viewing would be the printed word. Reading is by far the most common a television substitute mentioned by americans when asked what they would do to fill the time if someone took away their television sets 41 percent say they would read More. What else would americans do if television Caruba knows a lot about hype. For 20-plus years he has been in the Public relations business his real Job and before that he was a journalist. A i certainly have a very Fine sense of hype a Caruba says. A a it a almost As if in a the doctor of the doctors specially is getting the Media to pay attention to him. His lists have generated hundreds of radio interview requests several talk show appearances and stories in several big newspapers. Like or. Blackwells annual a worst dressed list Caruba a Catalon punctures some of the biggest egos in Hollywood. Among last years most Boring celebs Cher Zsa Zsa Gabor and Roseanne Barr. But Caruba has More in mind than poking fun at television and celebrities. He believes that boredom causes most of society Sills. A i take what i do very seriously a says Caruba whose efforts As the one Man Boring Institute include designating each july As a anti boredom he also publishes a pamphlet titled a ten secrets to avoid among its recommendations read More develop hobbies and be Nice to yourself. Are we glued to the tube thinking about your non working time each Day do you think you spend too much time or too Little time watching to 1,241 adults you say that television has been Good or bad for american society source Gallup organizations amps Sharon Kilday were suddenly removed from life they would listen to radio or music spend More time with families work Garden clean House exercise do arts and crafts engage in outdoor activities sew shop and sleep a which Many do whether the television is on or not. Los Angeles times Syndicate a boredom in Peoples lives causes depression and drug and alcohol abuse a Caruba says. A a lot of the major social issues Start with something As common As when it comes to television Caruba says the Boob tube is not Only Boring in its mediocrity it is a drug. A television is addicting a he says. A it encourages people to abandon their lives and live vicariously through this emptiness on and though the mind seemingly zones out while watching the Small screen in reality heavy to viewing a creates a constant state of tension a Caruba says. A a television a real secret message is that the viewer is somehow inadequate. There a something wrong with the viewers life because they re not a superstar they re not Rich and does Caruba like anything on television television is not All bad he emphasizes. When watched selectively it is just Fine. When viewed constantly it is a real bore. And we All know now what that 4,1990 sunday to plus c
