Television

So I’ve been kicking around the idea of trying to give up television. Just for the hell of it, just to see if I could, I guess. But then I watch an episode of Scrubs or The Office, and I think, no way can I give this up! Which is actually a little sad, and sort of precisely why perhaps it would be a good idea to do so. It’s not like I’d have a hard time "filling that time," as some people say, because I’m almost always doing something else while I’ve got the TV on. Which again brings up the idea that maybe it’s not as necessary as I think.

You know what concerns me most about that idea, though? Becoming one of those people that cannot have normal conversations with others in social situations because they’re totally out of touch with pop culture. Say what you want about the uselessness of pop culture, current tv trends, etc., but that’s a HUGE part of what people talk about at work, or at parties/mixers, etc. If you don’t have television, you are automatically completely excluded from those conversations.

Plus, a lot of people who go without tv end up coming off as the intellectual-snob type. The guy that’s like, "I’m just too good for tv. TV is below me. Blah blah blah I’m a tool." I do not want to be that guy. I don’t think TV is stupid or worthless or below me or any of that. I really enjoy it. But I also really enjoy my books and magazines and music, and I tend to put those aside in favor of TV, and that’s probably not a good thing.

I’ll continue to ponder. Thoughts and opinions on this subject are appreciated, either in the comments or via email.