I have an 9 month old, and I personally watch very little broadcast television. My wife and I, whose a musician, I'm a singer and wanna-be writer, usually watch the history channel, food network or Netflix.
I hope that one day we can actually choose what we watch on TV through a la cart services such as google tv or even devices such as the XBox.
I generally detest television and most of what is on is simply depraved. If you watch any of the children's stuff, most of it is disgusting. Don't even get me started on the horrendous mockery the Disney channel is making of parenthood. I detest the D-channel.
There are some good channels out there, and some that are interesting, educational and entertaining. I love Dirty Jobs, but hate cable TV so I Netflix it.
We are considering cancelling our cable all together and go Netflix all the way once my son Alex is old enough to understand what he sees.
What I absolutely abhor is the amount of gratuitous sexuality on television, and mindless violence. While this sort of things is fitting for adults, I have really changed my tune when it comes to keeping my young son innocent of things he has no business knowing until I, his father, talk to him about it.
Children of all ages, have very little capacity for critical and abstract thinking, I think. Without these tools at your disposal, entertainment can dictate your behavior, choices and life-style.
Of course, there will be school and he'll learn things there. I don't want to deprive my child of anything, and I want him to learn in any modality that fits him, but television today is nothing by reality show trash, Snooky, Dancing with the Starlets, and things that are of so little importance that they make me laugh.
I'd rather know what's going on in the world of politics and abroad and be educated about the world around me, than mindlessly entertained by things which have no meaning.
Wow, that was a rant, eh?
:shock:
Martin