TELEVISION: A Danger For The Individual III

[QUOTING]

The effect of the program on man is more or less similar to the one experienced at the cinema. The only difference is that at the cinema one has to make an effort to select a program and one has to pay. The cinema program is experienced in a small group and at the same time one has an "outing". With television, however, everything is delivered at one's home. Everything has been paid for and the set stands as a status symbol in our room, at our disposal day in and day out. We make ourselves comfortable: TV chair, TV tables, foot-stool, TV coffee pot and TV snacks, close at hand. We can then further lapse into complete inactivity, relax and at the same time the program, whatever it may be, is presented to us.

This program can only be geared to satisfy the taste of the masses, gauged and calculated  by opinion polls produced by very efficient institutes. So certainly no strenuous programs, but pure recreation with a touch of news, a touch of laughter and a touch of sex. Or a lot of sex and a lot of tension, or sport, a touch of war and a touch of murder. Wonderful! But these programs are never directed towards the great virtues of man, because that is not what is wanted; "there is no profit in it".

Thus, evening after evening the entire gullible public is attuned to the average level of the masses (therefore the lowest human level). Children, the growing youth and young people are thus confronted with the reality or our society. Children have to digest too many tensions of things they only half-understand, while the more mature youth learn to know the adults -- by whom in fact they should be led and from whom they could learn so much -- in all their limitations, narrow-mindedness and wickedness.

Therefore, young people often do not wish to have anything more to do with all those moralizing sermons from their parents; they know better! These youngsters are left behind without illusions. Is it then surprising that they become rebellious against this old herd? What happens to the grown-ups? They spend their time, evening after evening, wasting their time looking at programs which are fundamentally the same. When the television is on it is out of the question nowadays to spend time reading a good book or to have a good conversation; there seems to be no time for painting, drawing, embroidery or mending. The television-viewing public is characterized by blunted feelings. Fortunately there are still a number of people who do not want to walk on this treadmill. They still wish to have time for real relaxation, they do not want to come under the spell of a picture tube.

Now we come to the second point: the elimination of the will.  How many people say "We only look at the news bulletin, the weather forecast and then we always switch off". Do not believe them so readily, for only too often the television is on for the whole evening. If you come in suddenly, they say: "Yes, it is not so interesting now but a moment ago we laughed a lot! Come on, just sit down, for Mr. X will come on in a moment". They rarely stand up to greet you and in the twilight you must find a seat. Then you must keep very quiet. To switch off the television is out of the question. Politeness is often lacking. This viewing, evening after evening, the ridiculous sight that meets you when you go out for an evening walk and can follow the same program from one house to the next -- this behavior in the whole civilized world -- is the picture of an enslaved mankind. Looking at the magic box every evening, whatever is offered!

Undoubtedly, we have here a willing docility from whatever motive; out of whatever habit this occurs, it is thoughtlessly indulged. Just as at half past nine you feel the desire to drink a cup of coffee, or at fixed times to smoke a cigarette, so one turns on the television in the evening. Let's just have a look. Then before you know it, you are up until all hours.

Our will is already closely attuned to television. It appears that what is offered has us in its spell to such an extent, that the visual impressions entirely occupy the consciousness and accordingly, the will is paralyzed. This also takes place because the other sense organs begin to malfunction. That is why the volume of the sound must be turned up so high and be so intense that no other sound is audible to the consciousness. It is a well-known fact that the neighbors must always be able to enjoy the sound of the television.

If one were to say that what is alleged above is only temporary, because in the long run television viewing will surely diminish, the children will be better under control again and half-truths are trotted out to gloss over one's own weakness, then we must point to the facet of television that is normally never broached, but which must be seen as a most dangerous aspect. We call this facet radiation. Here we mean all the vibration frequencies (among other things light and sound) which are transmitted by the television set. This radiation can penetrate us unimpeded, for the will is eliminated and the consciousness is entirely attuned to the program. So one sees whole families sitting in front of the television, Mum, Dad and the children on the floor right up in front and sometimes even the baby on the lap for several hours a day!

From TELEVISION: A Danger For The Individual - J. Schootemeijer (1979)

[END QUOTING]

This pamphlet has a copyright date 1979.  Are things any different today? If anything, matters are far worse now by a huge factor. A "touch of murder"? How about hours and hours of such bloody fare?

There's nothing new under the sun. What has been before, shall be again.

If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that we've allowed television to take up too big a spot in our lives. What's more, we can now add computers, smartphones, ear-buds and giant earphones that rattle the precious head sanctuary with primal noise at close range.

If we've learned anything from the last few posts, we might want to reconsider the positions that television and gadgetry as a whole have taken in our lives. We might also want to consider shutting off or at least drastically reducing our exposure to the magic box. Remember, the entities that rule this planet do not have your best interests at heart. They are quite adept at hiding deadly poison in a box of chocolates. Quite adept indeed.

~ g
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