on being a watcher.

Television is, without a doubt, the most pervasive and powerful tool for propaganda that man has ever devised. Though there is extensive scholarship on the power and social effects of television - it is barely a blip on the consciousness "screen" relative to the overwhelming power of television itself. Critiques of television do not get an airing in the public square because well...uh...they are not on television...

Last night, while watching television, I noticed a series of ads explaining how to convert TV sets in time for the coming digital switchover in June. If fact, the ads were pleading with people to make the switch, giving no less than 3 options for obtaining the appropriate information and promoting a day long "broadcast event" devoted to explaining how to convert your TV. One has to wonder - is anyone really THAT stupid or have we been infantilized to such a degree that it takes a day to explain how to plug a box into another box.

Back when the conversion was to happen in February and the same types of commercials were running non stop a friend expressed the opinion that the ads were creepy. Last night I found myself in agreement with him.

This switchover has been in the works for a very long time. The ads are directed at the less than 5% of TV watchers who are not connected to cable or satellite services. Why is pleading needed? Why is it so important to ensure that every living soul with a TV be able to watch without interruption? What if some people - god forbid - could not tune into TV for a day or two????

I am a TV watcher. I like certain shows a great deal: South Park, 30 Rock, Mad Men, lots of history channel stuff - the nerdier the better, Bones, football, baseball, rugby if I can find it, if he gets too rowdy, I threaten my dog with Cesar Milan...and of course, there is always my beloved Green Acres reruns in which pigs play piano, ducks bark, chickens lay square eggs, characters pause for and comment on the opening credits, and lovely Hungarians complain about the Infernal Revenue Service... you get the drift...I WATCH.

If you, like me, are a WATCHER I recommend unplugging for extended periods. Considering how many opinions and world views we are force fed to us - NOT watching television may be the most rebellious action one can take. Once the TV is OFF for a few days, it is amazing how quickly the mental noise fades. The calmest and least neurotic people I know all have one common denominator - they do not care about or watch television.