The Real Dangers of Television
last updated 30th July 2008

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"One Nation Under God has turned into one nation under the influence of one drug -
Television, the drug of the Nation Breeding ignorance and feeding radiation"

"When the human being gives up the process of hearing about the all-pervading Personality of Godhead, he becomes victim to hearing rubbish transmitted by man-made machines. Machinery is not bad because through the machine one can take advantage of hearing about the Lord, but because machinery is used for ulterior purposes, it is creating rapid degradation in the standard of human civilization. It is said here that it is incumbent upon the human beings to hear because the scriptures like Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam are made for that purpose. Living beings other than human beings have no ability to hear such Vedic literatures. If human society gives itself to the process of hearing the Vedic literature, it will not become a victim to the impious sounds vibrated by impious men who degrade the standards of the total society." (ACBSP. Srimad Bhagavatam. 2.2.36. purport)

Television Drug of the Nation - Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprasy
words to the song......
Television: opiate of the masses - (powerful information here - A MUST READ)
TV and Children:
TV linked to low academinc achievement in children
The TRUTH about Brainwashing and who is doing it:
How Advertising Brainwashes one involuntarily - ie 'Trojan Horse' meme:( memetics/thought control )
Prooving that Memes exist:

Destroyer of culture:
Destroyer of Communications:
Destroyer of Families:
Destroyer of Communities:
The No. 1 Public Enemy of Devotion

  TV - the baby sitter:
The Role-models our children "choose" to follow:
Words of wisdom from Pip Wilson of Wilson's almanac - worth a read:
TV turnoff week

Multi Media Violence  - What every parent needs to know

Solution - conclusion

More Articles about TV

Certainly everything of this world can be used to further our spiritual development. Just as a knife itself is neutral, it cannot be blamed or glorified for the way it was used - in the hands of a surgeon it can save a person's life, yet in the hand of the irresponsible it can take that very same life. So in the same way Television itself is not a great evil, nor is it necessarily the panacea we all look for in life.

The important factor is how it is used, and the message that this powerful medium is allowed to carry.

The tragedy ridden American soaps, or endless programs like Coronation St, Eastenders, Shortland St., et al of pearing into the dull mundane lives of fantasy working classes are hardly going to inspire us, or save the world.

Even if we did have so much time to spare, and nothing to fill it other than such inane drivel, you still have to listen to ideal, behaviour models, philosophies and ideas of "people" (dramatic stage characters) who are really not in a position to guide society, yet constantly try to.................. consequently under such poor guidance of script writers, actors, entertainers and ambitious networking groups with various agendas, the fate of the future on the human race deteriorates.

Occassionaly there are programs on the Box that warrant not missing them, but it is so rare amid the myriad of rubbish to sift through. In one sense it is good, as it keeps us away and busy on more productive projects - but for the innocent masses who sit and veg-out / blob-out / spend hours each day staring at the box, flicking from channel to channel, up until all hours of the early morning, you need a prayer saying for you.

Wellington, July 21 (DPA) That television set in the corner really is an idiot box, New Zealand researchers say.

A 30-year study of more than 1,000 children has found that those who watch the most TV are least likely to go to university and get a degree.

Those seven percent of children who watched the box for under an hour daily were the most qualified by the time they were aged 26.

"Those who watched little television had the best chance of going on to university and earning a degree," said researcher Bob Hancox, deputy director of the Dunedin Research Unit.

He said some children spent more time in front of the box than they did in the classroom and the findings suggested that reducing television viewing could improve their education.

"A lot of people say you can learn a lot from television. I think this is saying that may be possible, but people aren't learning anything that helps them get any qualifications," Hancox said.

The study, which monitored the TV habits of 1,037 children born in Dunedin in 1972 and 1973 when they were aged between 5 and 15, showed they watched for an average of two hours a day, though this soared at weekends.

But over 20 percent sat in front of the box for more than three hours each school-day and they did the worst at all academic levels failing to get high school leavers certificate, a diploma or a degree.

Hancox said that although teenage viewing was strongly linked to leaving school without any qualifications, earlier childhood viewing had the greatest impact on getting a degree.

"This suggests that excessive television in younger children has a long-lasting adverse effect on educational performance."

The study found that even bright children and those from well-off families who watched a lot of TV were less likely to go on and get a degree.

"Children of all levels of intelligence did worse if they watched a lot of television. Similarly, the association between watching television and poor achievement was not because heavy television viewers had poor socio-economic backgrounds," said Hancox.

He said television had also been linked to attention and behaviour problems in young children that could impact on classroom performance.

The university said that while some previous studies had investigated links between television viewing and school performance, the study was the first to follow a group of children into adulthood.

--DPA

Obviously disapointed the spread of cable television, with its blanket coverage of American soap operas and Hollywood glamour, has also made the traditional pure way of life seem outdated. "Our children eat onions and meat now," said R.C. Aggarwal, a Hindu.

"The English and Americans are sick of their culture and are becoming more like us and we are becoming more like
them," he said. "We all watch television . . . we are all becoming Americanized."

The saddest thing is that all manner of skeptics, atheists, those lacking in any culture - what to speak of Vedik culture, drug addicts, sex addicts, pedofiles, homosexuals, and other dysfunctional entities, etc., are all given equal say. Modern so-called legislative "freedom" through the PC (Politically correctedness) of liberalism allows that anyone can be in your face about their ideals irrespective of if it REALY is harmful - they have their rights, their freedom, their opinion, and can propound it as we are doing here.
    What is sad is that in a few years when the novelty wears off or friends die because of the negative implications, the same fools rearrange the laws through vox populii democratic vote and they go heading off in another direction blind as they were in the last. As a result every few years all the University books and school books are re-written and "old theories" replaced with new speculative ones.
    If there was a grain of humility in society today it might take note that so many things that are to be found in the Vedik literatures are being discovered through imperfect speculative sensuary methods only again to be re-adjusted further down the path. We can blame the Buddhists for their presentation of the unreality of the world, or being directly agains Vedik teachings due to former ages inclination toward animal sacrifice and the Ahimsa - non-violent teachings of Buddha came to odds; or that of the Christian missionaries and their purposeful dismembering of the Vedik culture, and propergation of their narrow minded idea of how they see that the world should be under the re-re-rewritten and again altered-adjusted-adulterated, new updated version of the Bible...........; the war-lords of ancient Islam who smashed temples, killed brahmins, and converted by the sword were no different from the above manipulative ambitious despots who looted India's oppulences just like the others we have mentioned. The difference is that with Islam the Koran gives strong guidelines on morality, and conduct of individuals, and makes no quam about punishing the anti-social and sinful. For this reason, although it doesn't sapply to those who have used Islam to pursue terrorism of late, but I have a degree of respect for Islam.

TV -the baby sitter:

We go out of your way to carefully chose a baby sitter, yet we allow our children to sit in front of the television to watch thousands of murders, rapes, etc., watch incidious programs like the Simpsons, South Park and others that make themselves the role models that our children and youth look up to. What to speak of cartoons - have you seen them recently? So much violence, and teaching bad behaviour as near folk heros that millions of children watch, take on the qualities of, and act out in their interactions with others.
 

Some reflections to share.............. I sent it to HH Bhakti Vikas Swami who suggested I send to everyone else too.

Some years ago when at University we asked what a penniless professor was doing teaching Social economics and was rebuked for it. Before he failed me in that subject we further pressed the point of teaching by example, that University was for training the heads of society and then the head leading the body.

Today most of society looks toward entertainers (movie stars and rock stars) to set the standard of human existence. So many problems in their personal lives, addictions and perversions rife in their life-styles, yet because they have money they are worshipped.

In most cases they are not even learned or wise, yet they set the standard for the modern world to follow. Some have pet projects and ideals but where are the actual examples of human life to follow. The media supports them, propagates their "teachings" (music lyrics, movies and themes that are an insult to the human intelligence).

Setting the yard-stick of success they'll look toward the tailors of the fashion industry - the Visaches et al. But we see they have little in the way of moral fibre and will sell themselves for a yard of cloth, and some cheap fame amid peers "on the catwalk". Excuse the puns........

While others look toward sports personalities as their role models, with testosterone pumping, high performance athletic bodies, enforcing and reenforcing the bodily concept of life. The recreationalists' recreation intoxicating the false-ego, and the body, supported by Government endowments, donations from big business, and scholarships from educational institutions.

This is all proof of poor administration of Government resources, our hard earned taxes, and rates, etc., world wide. Where today do we see kshatriyas protecting us in the true sense? Instead, diplomatic-duplicitous, power hungry despots and megalomaniacs who talk the words fed to them through ear-pieces from back rooms because they have no brain to guide and administer themselves. The wars they create to cover their mistakes are clouded with recession, depression and war talk, which are then won and lost in the media while the "Tail Wags The Dog"(a movie that takes the axe handle from the forest of the movie industry to cut it down).

As we mentioned, the teachers of today are no more than shudras at best, of low personal habit, poor personal ethic or hygiene, merely working in a job to pay the mortgage, or to maintain their own life-styles. Neuted and powerless due to "New Age" liberalism and political correctness, they seek only the highest wages. There are few who are dedicated to education of people to better themselves, then what to speak of spiritual education, giving insights into the nature of the souls and its relationship with God.

Factually, it's only the chaste and faithful devotees who live and practice Krishna consciousness who inspire us to go on. There are many such examples in the past, in the present, and will be more in the future. We humbly pray at their lotus feet, your lotus feet to guide us, and empower us to dedicate our humble selves to the task.

yhs, JTCd

(published in NZHKNet Newsletter #61 Kartik 2001 c Jaya Tirtha Charan dasan)

Author: wizwom
Date:   12-08-00 09:19

It's fairly straight-forward.

1) get a group of people.
2) survey them for existing memetic ideas.
3) allow them to interact for a specified time with a non-surveyed group.
4) survey both groups again.

If the prevalence of ideas common in the first group goes up in _both_ groups, then memes are real.

One cannot do this with a single group, because the mere mention of an idea will force it's prevalence up, and the first group will have had all the surveyed ideas mentioned to them by the survey itself.

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anti-memes?
Author: heyoka
Date:   12-08-00 10:48

I am wondering if there are anti-memes? Natural protectors of the psyche against (undo) influence of memes.

There must be otherwise we would all be bluthering idiots .... critical thought? ....skepticism? ...."common sense"? ....un-common sense?...

Every idea does not have equal stature in our thinking

NOTE: therefore the philosophy of Krishna consciousnes, and the association of Krishna conscious devotees is so important in maintaining a "reality check" on life.

See our Pramanas pages for more insights into understanding the Truth.

Levels of brain activity are measured by an electroencenograph (EEG) machine. While watching television, the brain appears to slow to a halt, registering low alpha wave readings on the EEG. This is caused by the radiant light produced by cathode ray technology within the television set. Even if you're reading text on a television screen the brain registers low levels of activity. Once again, regardless of the content being presented, television essentially turns off your nervous system.

In addition to its devastating neurological effects, television can be harmful to your sense of self-worth, your perception of your environment, and your physical health. Recent surveys have shown that 75% of American women think they are overweight, likely the result of watching chronically thin actresses and models four hours a day.
( http://www.disinfo.com/pages/article/id1149/pg2/ )
 
 

"Women are carefully trained by media to view themselves as inadequate. They are taught that other women—through the purchases of clothes, cosmetics, food, vocations, avocations, education, etc.—are more desirable and feminine than themselves. Her need to constantly reverify her sexual adequacy though the purchase of merchandise becomes an overwhelming preoccupation, profitable for the merchandisers, but potentially disastrous for the individual.

"North American society has a vested interest in reinforcing an individual's failure to achieve sexual maturity. By exploiting unconscious fears, forcing them to repress sexual taboos, the media guarantees blind repressed seeking for value substitutes through commercial products and consumption. Sexual repression, as reinforced by the media, is a most viable marketing technology.

"Repressed sexual fear, much like all types of repression, makes humans highly vulnerable to subliminal management and control technology. Through subliminal appeals and reinforcements of these fears, some consumers can be induced into buying almost anything." [MEDIA SEXPLOITATION, Key, 1976]

See also: http://www.marketingtools.com/default.htm

"As real-life experience is increasingly replaced by the mediated 'experience' of television-viewing, it becomes easy for politicians and market-researchers of all sorts to rely on a base of mediated mass experience that can be evoked by appropriate triggers. The TV 'world' becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy: the mass mind takes shape, its participants acting according to media-derived impulses and believing them to be their own personal volition arising out of their own desires and needs. In such a situation, whoever controls the screen controls the future, the past, and the present." [p. 82, Joyce Nelson, THE PERFICT MACHINE; New Society Pub., 1992, 800-253-3605; ISBN 0-86571-235-2 ]

Destroyer of Communities:

Study Reveals Correlation Between Television Watching and Violent Behavior

Source:
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-health-violence.html?ex=1018334393&ei=1&en=10c15f38cf6ffb23

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 28, 2002: A study conducted at Columbia University in New York has revealed that teenagers who watch more than one hour of television a day are more likely to display violent aggressive behavior. Jeffrey Johnson, who led the study, tracked 707 children from upstate New York for 17 years. Results of the study were published in journal Scientist and the article says, "The study found that 5.7% of the adolescents who watched less than one hour of television committed aggressive acts against other people in later years, as compared to 22.5% of those who watched between one and three hours a day." Even when other factors such as childhood neglect, low family income, or a psychiatric disorder during adolescence were considered, the correlation between time spent watching television and violent behavior was significant.

Courtesy of http://www.HinduismToday.com/
 

Solution - conclusion

Use technology for Krishna's service, don't waste time in idle pursuits.......

There's an interesting little story of Srila Prabhupad seated on a aircraft and devotees observed him watching an old Charlie Chaplin comedy. Devotees were a little shocked to see Prabhupad enjoying the movie and laughing along with the action of the comedy. The devotees approached Srila Prabhupad quite concerned, to which he replied, Krishna is the origin of all humour, when we see such things we can see Krishna, see the futility of the matierial world, and laugh.   (not that we're encouraging everyone to watch all the comedies...... )

See Krishna in everything, always remember Krishna and never forget Him, consequently one will not make a habit of wasting much time in front of a TV, but we can utilise such a powerful media tool to preach, or view Krishna conscious topics, videos, presentations, reports etc.

Psychonauts: Hi, my name's Pip and I'm a recovering TV addict. It's TV Turnoff Week (see at foot of this page). This week, the Planet Directory will be featuring sites that have something to say about television. Let's get into the spirit of the week. I believe TV has a negative effect on the psyche, almost regardless of what is programmed by the masters of commerce. Do you think you can live a whole week without TV, or are you addicted, as I was years ago? Next week I'll publish some emails in which Almaniacs tell the rest of us what readers did for TV Turnoff Week. No prizes, but I think I can safely say that a week without television will bring rewards that regular watchers will be pleasantly surprised to experience. Please put "TV" plus other words in your subject header to help me file.

I grew up above the family's TV shop, but turned off my TV several years ago and have found absolutely no need to turn it back on. I love being in TV recovery! I can get all the news I need from NewsRadio (and it's far more comprehensive than any TV news I've ever seen, plus it has programs from several countries -- UK, USA, Australia, Netherlands and Germany). What can I find on TV that I can't find more efficiently on the Net? I don't miss EV (Electronic Valium) at all, and I don't miss having my senses assaulted by stuff that not only wastes my precious time away, but which is designed to stupefy and commodify* my life. People ask me I guess a couple of times a week how I get so much done. Apart from my Net work, I go out at night to socialise about six or seven nights a week. Not watching TV has liberated hours of time to do other things, and I truly enjoy the clarity of thought that comes once one is a few weeks down the track of TV Turnoff.

What anyone else does with their time is their own business, but I hope you'll consider what TV means to you. So, I hope next week we can all read in the almanac some fascinating reports (to 200 words, please) of your week without the idiot box. Do you know if the moon is waxing (growing) or waning (reducing) this week? Will you see the rare conjunction of the planets? What are the birds and flowers doing now in your neck of the woods? What will you do with the kids? What decisions will you make about television in your family's life? In what ways has your consciousness changed? I have a feeling a lot of Almaniacs will want to read your brief report. Bright blessings to one and all, and happy psychonautics!
Abundance and gratitude,
Pip Wilson

PIP WILSON
Webservant and scribe
mailto:almanac@acay.com.au
WILSON'S ALMANAC SCRIPTORIUM http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com

In the current issue of Science, a team of US researchers show how adolescents who watch more than one hour of TV a day are far more likely to become violent adults.
http://www.nature.com/nsu/020325/020325-9.html

Media skeptics are in damage control: "It's just the violent programs that are the problem." "Watch TV with your children and discuss the troubling images." "Teach media literacy and everything will be okay."

But will it?

The evidence is pretty clear. In its current hyper-commercial form, television is part of a toxic mental environment. If you want to do yourself and your kids a favor, limit your time in front of the box to less than one hour a day.

Better yet, pull the plug and throw away the remote. We challenge you to try it for a week and see how it feels -- you may get the shock of your life.

International TV Turnoff Week, begins April 22. Go to http://www.adbusters.org for details.
 

CNN UPDATE

Last week we asked your help in deciding which uncommercial to air on CNN. You voted 3 to 1 for the Black Screen spot. See it at
http://adbusters.org/campaigns/tvturnoff/

You also sent in $3000 to air the spot on Headline News. But we're still shooting for Inside Politics on CNN's main channel -- it has a far larger audience of politically hip viewers who need a whack. Help us air the Black Screen spot on Inside Politics by donating $100 on line at http://adbusters.org/information/donate/. We need another $2,000.
See also http://www.tvturnoff.org

How Television Images Affect Children:
http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/children.html

TELEVISION, KIDS, INDECENCY, VIOLENCE AND THE PUBLIC INTEREST:
http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/Hundt.FCC.kids.html

The Roll of Advertising in Television:
http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/Jerry.Mander.html

TV vs Computers - Computer better if used properly:
http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/tv.vs.computers.html

What to do instead of watching the box:
http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/goodbooks.html

The International Campagn Against Television:
http://www.whitedot.org/issue/iss_front.asp

Surviving The Clock Of Life:
http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/clocklife.html

TV's vomit garbage at those who sit before them:
http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/thedome.html

Parents TV council USA:
http://www.parentstv.org/

Kill Your Television:
http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/

Anti-TV links:
http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/tv.links.html