March 26, 2009

Refocusing

In my Sunday Salon post I asked for feedback about regular posts recapping my favorite TV shows. Well none of you people that live in my computer responded but I did receive one influential piece of feedback from my first and most important reader, my husband. He told me he would be disappointed if I started posting about TV shows. Educating Petunia was begun as a place where I could share what I'm learning, primarily from my reading but occasionally from homeschooling and from life. I have mentioned before (here and here) why I don't actually have TV. I watch a few shows on abc.com but generally our household considers television to be the antithesis to intellectual stimulation. We realize that there are some valuable shows out there but generally speaking, the television is much more about escapism and numbing the mind, filling our heads with noise instead of thoughts, than it is about learning anything useful. So I respect that my husband shared his thoughts with me about this and I am grateful that he is there to remind me of my goals. I desire to be an intelligent and thoughtful woman. This doesn't just happen, it takes work. I need to be able to think for myself if I am to have any self respect. I want to diminish my desire for pop culture and trendy America as they only leave me unsatisfied and a bit lighter in the pocketbook. At the end of the day I want to be able to look back and say that I did something useful and learned something new each and every day. I don't want to have wasted my time. I don't plan to stop watching Dancing with the Stars or Lost anytime soon because I like to be entertained once in a while; just like I will continue to read Nicholas Sparks when I need a bit of mindless romance but I will keep this blog as a place where I can share my meaningful pursuits.

Yesterday I chose nonsense. Today I choose knowledge.

8 comments:

bermudaonion said...

I don't watch much TV either, but Dancing With the Stars is one of my guilty pleasures.

Sue said...

Way to be purposeful, Petunia! Lost would be hard for me to give up--but at least I'm not tempted to run out and buy the newest (dirt and sweat stained) cargo pants or cami after watching it. ;-)

By the way, did your library dilemma ever get resolved?

Petunia said...

BermudaOnion-I would love to be able to move the way the experts do. It looks like so much fun.

Sue-It does make me wish my hair would look as good as Kates if it was that unwashed :) We have not done anything with the library yet but we decided that my son would just pay the fine himself. Chalk it up to a lesson learned.

Ti said...

I think I could do without TV, but the internet? Not that easy.

We have been turning the tube off lately. I have so much going on that the extra white noise actually bugs me.

I like what you said about how it always leads to your pocketbook being lighter, or something like that. It's true. If I see stuff on TV, then I tend to want it.

1morechapter said...

I watch too much TV and I do blog about it occasionally. I especially like conversations about LOST and the sci-fi shows I watch. I do see and understand your husband's perspective, though.

Amy said...

Shows like LOST, though can lead to some interesting philosophical discussions! I love TV and cringe when people say it's completely meaningless. I do see it as another pop art form.

Having said that, I totally respect your position. :)

Anonymous said...

Oh you anti-TV intellectuals. :)

Petunia said...

Amy-I never said TV was completely meaningless. See I have an addiction to TV so I will watch it for hours, neglecting all else, and get no pleasure from it just because it is on. That is what I call mindless noise. But what you said about LOST is true; it has gotten people talking philosophy and thinking in interesting ways. I love DWTS because dance is a lovely art form. I even like Grey's Anatomy for no good reason. TV is not meaningless but it can suck the life right out of me, leaving me in a vegetative state for more hours than I'd care to admit. When we got rid of the TV I learned to use my brain and it felt good. This blog was about articulating what I was learning. But I love that I can visit other blogs (I'm especially fond of yours) and discuss freely about the shows that I love. I hope I didn't come across as holier than thou.