Recently in our class we learned the average American stares at a screen for around 8 hours a day, however, we also are supposed to sleep for 8 hours a day as well. Does that mean being an American is a life wired to a screen or sleeping? The American dream would then mean that we only are really free for 1/3 of our lives. Back in the day, T.V. was a way to connect the community, it would start in the morning, go all day, and end with a sign off at night, featuring the national anthem or a prayer. (Sign off example) Now, T.V. runs all night, giving the average American an excuse to stay up all night, replacing sleep time with more screen time (not that we don't look at screens enough already). I think that it's the government's fault for keeping T.V. running all night because it gives us an excuse to stay up and do something (which is more or less pointless). While flipping on a show on netflix for 25mins while having trouble sleeping is great, having movies sometimes 3 hours long with commercials all night doesn't help you fall asleep once you get "sucked in" to it. For instance, my grandpa was over for the week. Every night where I was still up, I'd observe him sleeping in front of the T.V., sometimes having to turn it off and wake him up later than 1 in the morning, at times this is the same with my dad on weekends. So is it the government's fault for keeping the T.V. channels broadcasting through the wee hours of the dawn's early light? Or is it on us for staring blank minded into a 1080p display until our brain shuts off its broadcast? Monday, September 30, 2013
You Can't Sleep on a T.V., Even if it's Plasma Screen
Recently in our class we learned the average American stares at a screen for around 8 hours a day, however, we also are supposed to sleep for 8 hours a day as well. Does that mean being an American is a life wired to a screen or sleeping? The American dream would then mean that we only are really free for 1/3 of our lives. Back in the day, T.V. was a way to connect the community, it would start in the morning, go all day, and end with a sign off at night, featuring the national anthem or a prayer. (Sign off example) Now, T.V. runs all night, giving the average American an excuse to stay up all night, replacing sleep time with more screen time (not that we don't look at screens enough already). I think that it's the government's fault for keeping T.V. running all night because it gives us an excuse to stay up and do something (which is more or less pointless). While flipping on a show on netflix for 25mins while having trouble sleeping is great, having movies sometimes 3 hours long with commercials all night doesn't help you fall asleep once you get "sucked in" to it. For instance, my grandpa was over for the week. Every night where I was still up, I'd observe him sleeping in front of the T.V., sometimes having to turn it off and wake him up later than 1 in the morning, at times this is the same with my dad on weekends. So is it the government's fault for keeping the T.V. channels broadcasting through the wee hours of the dawn's early light? Or is it on us for staring blank minded into a 1080p display until our brain shuts off its broadcast? 
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2 comments:
The tv shows and movies are very tempting and at the moment they make us feel like watching tv is more important than doing homework or sleeping. But I think It ultimately comes down to us making the right decisions and in most cases, decreased hours of sleep is our fault for making the unwise decisions.
I agree with Koshi, when it really comes down to it all that matters is the viewers choice on whether or not to watch television at that time of day. Many Sundays I will be doing homework while there is a football game or some other event I would prefer to be watching but I choose not to because I have other tasks I need to attend to. I believe this is similar to staying up late watching tv because if you believe sleep is more important then watching your favorite movie then going to bed is the choice that should be made. It is up to the viewer to decide what is most important to them.
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