Is TV dumbing down American society?

Jeanwah · October 2010

mikepegg44 wrote:

short answer...No.

Long answer would be that the user is the one responsible for learning. TV is a tool, and so is the internet, it is up to the user to get out of it what they want. The TV isn't responsible for how people use it. Ultimately it comes down to the person either wanting to learn and improve their life or wanting to go through life like Flounder...
Blaming TV or any programming for human failure isn't right, it is more passing of the buck. I watch television during the week, and it doesn't make me want to learn any less, in fact a lot of what I watch would be considered educational.
All that being said, some of us just want to relax and watch the Situation be a jackass.

I kinda agree; we can't really blame TV (although I still hate advertisers). It's us making that choice of whether we even turn it on to begin with. Everyone's got that choice, but placing blame on why we're collectively dumber than in the past seems so much easier.

_ · October 2010

I do think there's more crap on TV than there used to be though. There's a difference between entertainment that involves a well-thought-out, creative story and entertainment that just involves watching someone make an ass out of themselves.

.....

Regarding TV teaching kids to value celebrity, I was listening to a story about a documentary called Teenage Paparazzo the other day and this part really struck me:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... =130104565

The film references an eye-opening study that looked at how teenagers view the celebrity world and how it affects their goals. Cited in Jake Halpern's book Fame Junkies, it "asked middle school students and high school students whether they'd rather be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, a president of a college, a Navy Seal, or an assistant to a celebrity," Grenier recalls.

The result? Forty-two percent said they'd want to be a celebrity's personal assistant.

As Halpern says, in the film's voice-over: "That was twice as much as [the percentage who wanted to be] president of Harvard or Yale, three times as much as a U.S. senator, four times as much as the CEO of a Fortune 500 company."

Those numbers say a lot about how American teens see the celebrity lifestyle, Halpern goes on to say.

"They put such a premium on fame that they're willing to give up some of the most coveted jobs in America just to be the bag-carrier to the celebrity," he says.

Grenier doesn't disagree.

"For a long time in our culture, there was an emphasis put on working hard [and] contributing to your society," he says. "Now it's not about that anymore. It's about the bling and how quickly you can get it without working."

catefrances · October 2010

youre leaving us??? aah well dont let the door hit you on the way out. :P

Paul David wrote:

for another week and a half or so, anyway.

:wave:

catefrances wrote:

and sharing your thoughts with us lovely people. :P

LikeAnOcean · October 2010

Jeanwah wrote:

Gonzo1977 wrote:

We're not meant to be an indoor creature...Hense the Vitamin D levels that are on constant decline and the obesity rates which have been increasing steadily in the Internet age.

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that helps many parts of the body including the brain.
Locking ourselves indoors...actually effects the brain...It's crazy...but it's very very true.

Vitamin D comes from the sun, not from just being outdoors in general. Folks living in the North East have low levels especially during the winter, when sun isn't abundant anyways. Not to mention that wearing sunscreen prevents the skin from absorbing it. It's an issue, but not completely due to simply being indoors all the time.

We now return to our regular program.

White people only need about 5 to 10 minutes of sun a day on their arms and face for the body to max out on the amount of vitamin D it can produce.

African Americans generally have the vitamin D deficiancy.

whygohome · October 2010

cincybearcat wrote:

Now, if you can't tell it's mindless junk...well then I don't think the TV has dumbed you down, I think you were dumb to begin with. The generic "you".

I love it!!!

Gonzo1977 · October 2010

Jeanwah wrote:

Vitamin D comes from the sun, not from just being outdoors in general.

Wow...I really must get one of those indoor suns!!!

Vitamin D comes in many forms...I was talking about the form of Vitamin D that humans get specifically from sun exposure.

Vitamin D helps the skin...that is widely known; but the form of Vitamin D that we recieve from sun exposure is now found to have a dramatic effect on the brain as well.

Vitamin D is actually a hormone...It's seen as a vitamin because it is not something that the human body actually produces. We must gain vitamin D from another source...Thankfully we have the sun which provides this for us.

Vitamin D is directly releated to brain development at all stages of life as it promotes the growth of brain cells and aids in neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity is particulary important because that is what enables the brain to process information and LEARN!!

Gonzo1977 · October 2010

LikeAnOcean= wrote:

African Americans generally have the vitamin D deficiancy.

While it is true that African Americans are at the highest risk of vitamin D deficiancy,

From 1994 to present day vitamin D defciancy has been rapidly increasing in people of all skin colors.

More troubling is the fact that vitamin D deficiancy has grown rapidly in the 12-24yr age group as well as the 25-38yr age group.

This increase is largely the result of our society's decline in sun exposure.

While it's true that humans only requrire limited sun exposure...as you said...5 to 10 minutes..

Think about how much exposure you've gotten today.

Office Jobs have increased as have the amount of hours spent at work.

We're waking up and going to work before the sun rises, and we come home when the sun sets.

When we're not at work...we're on the internet, or on the couch watching TV.

We're robbing the body of a hormone/vitamin that is essential to our bodies and more specifically

Our Brains!!

Jeanwah · October 2010

Gonzo1977 wrote:

While it is true that African Americans are at the highest risk of vitamin D deficiancy,

From 1994 to present day vitamin D defciancy has been rapidly increasing in people of all skin colors.

More troubling is the fact that vitamin D deficiancy has grown rapidly in the 12-24yr age group as well as the 25-38yr age group.

This increase is largely the result of our society's decline in sun exposure.

While it's true that humans only requrire limited sun exposure...as you said...5 to 10 minutes..

Think about how much exposure you've gotten today.

Office Jobs have increased as have the amount of hours spent at work.

We're waking up and going to work before the sun rises, and we come home when the sun sets.

When we're not at work...we're on the internet, or on the couch watching TV.

We're robbing the body of a hormone/vitamin that is essential to our bodies and more specifically

Our Brains!!

You're right, but remember that skin cancer is quite widespread, which is why so many cover up in sun block or stay out of the sun altogether. Sunblock prevents Vitamin D absorption. It explains why so many of us are deficient. But staying indoors, office work, not being active, etc like you said are all reasons also. I have to take 2,000 units of Vit D in a pill, which is supposed to help, but I have to get my blood tested to see if it's absorbing the supplement, as supplements are more difficult to absorb by the body. (I don't get enough sun because I'm wheel chair bound and not able to get out every day).

Gonzo1977 · October 2010

Jeanwah wrote:

You're right, but remember that skin cancer is quite widespread, which is why so many cover up in sun block or stay out of the sun altogether. Sunblock prevents Vitamin D absorption. It explains why so many of us are deficient. But staying indoors, office work, not being active, etc like you said are all reasons also. I have to take 2,000 units of Vit D in a pill, which is supposed to help, but I have to get my blood tested to see if it's absorbing the supplement, as supplements are more difficult to absorb by the body. (I don't get enough sun because I'm wheel chair bound and not able to get out every day).

You make a very good point Jeanwah.

Vitamin D also helps the body fight off skin cancer, yet the sun which is our biggest source of Vitamin D, also puts us at risk of developing skin cancer if we get too much exposure .

Very fustrating

arthurdent · October 2010

Ow My Balls!!!!!!

as for the rest of it, it's chicken/egg. Which came first, stupid audience or stupid TV?

whygohome · October 2010

arthurdent wrote:

Ow My Balls!!!!!!

as for the rest of it, it's chicken/egg. Which came first, stupid audience or stupid TV?

You just blew my mind.

The TV execs and the advertising companies must be on to something. Who would have ever thought that the most advanced animals on the planet would be obsessed with a show where "celebrities" dance?

BinauralJam · October 2010

No

vomikus39 · October 2010

A one word response....

ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!

Is TV dumbing down American society?

Comments

Categories