What random things have you learned from watching television that you have integrated into your own life?

I don’t have a TV set at home since I am now renting a tiny room by myself. A space barely big enough for a laptop and a wee stool to sit on.

And, I haven’t got a TV set since the mid-1990s — those were my last years in college when I got a small TV from my father for my room.

Can you imagine living without a TV set for 30 years and counting!

Ever since, I only watch TV when I eat at community restaurants, visit friends, or chance upon TV sets as I walk the streets going home or taking a stroll.

I’ve learned a lot about life from watching TV though as a kid.

The best things that I learned in life from watching TV, especially a personal TV set which you don’t share with the rest of the family because that’s a different case, is that:

1.  You have a lot of choices — and you don’t have to stick to one channel if you’re bored or aren’t feeling good watching it.

You can change channels as frequently as you want to. But there are also times when you’d stick and be loyal to only one channel because its programming is everything you need, want, and enjoy.

2.  You yourself decide — and not your sister, parents, or spouse because it’s your TV and you don’t have to be forced to watch what others like or are raving about.

You simply follow your interests, desires, and inclinations. In doing so, you’d discover the shows, series, and channels that match your taste and personality.

3.  You don’t blame anyone — and definitely not the TV set, channel, or show because you have the option to shut it off, switch the channel, or skip what’s being shown.

If you don’t feel good at any point or you feel being negatively affected, you can always choose the news that focus on good things, the shows that align with your values and politics, and the series that make you feel how you want to feel at the moment.

4.  You need a medium to project on — and even if you’re alone at home you are able to have a show to converse or debate with, movies to project your deep emotions and frustrations on, characters to relate or hate every day, narratives to validate your own experiences, and information to verify or invalidate what you know.

5.  You need a companion that is completely within your control — and you don’t even have to worry about being hated, shamed, looked down, or laughed at where everything goes and with only your attention span, waking time, and interest as a limit to a cold but worthwhile relationship, especially when you’re living alone.

You don’t even need to do the controlling on a real human and risk being an abusive control freak of a partner, so you’re guilt-free!

You need not sin with a TV set, that’s for sure.

Thanks to Quoran John Smith for asking me this question.