Is Television a Blessing or a Curse and a Time Waster?

It goes without saying that television is one of the greatest inventions of the previous century. With the help of TV people are able to see the far away planets and even enjoy a direct broadcast from the space. Television makes it possible to watch the splitting of the atom, the birth of life, the volcano eruptions end even the earthquakes.

Ask a child, a teenager or an adult if he can do without TV and he will honestly be surprised at the question. Everyone seems to have a favourite daily or weekly chat show, serial, soap opera or at least a news programme. I personally consider it to be a wonderful way to relax and to switch off from everyday problems. So very often I indulge myself to watching a sitcom or a show. It’s ridiculous to deny that a witty comedy can improve your mood, if you are upset or exhausted, because laughter has a similar effect to physical exercise: it improves your state of mind and affects the entire well being. Besides, it’s the safest way to get an adrenaline buzz.

It’s useless to deny that education benefits greatly from television. It stirs the attention of a student and brings fun and excitement into school routine. Frankly speaking I would have never learned so much about Great Britain or America but for the videos we have watched on TV.A single panel-game or a quiz show will make memorizing ten times more efficient and enjoyable. So TV is blessing at school.

Of course every great invention can be misused. Some people are hooked on cartoons, feature films, thrillers, westerns or pop music shows. They wouldn’t miss their favourite chat shows or football matches for anything in the world. Such people must remember that one can get addicted to TV, as it is a habit-forming drug impossible to resist. Some of us develop such a taste for it that they schedule their daily routine around the TV. Some people stop participating in any sports activities. Others stop going out to socialize with friends and relatives. TV can seriously interfere with homework too. I personally disapprove of such TV maniacs. To my mind they are really wasting their lives for nuts.

Doctors keep reminding us that constant viewing inevitably degrades the eyesight. Sitting slows down blood circulation and turns you either into a coach potato or a misfit. And in this case television really becomes a curse and a real disaster.

Researchers nowadays are very concerned about the nerves system of the teenagers. They say that a child being exposed to so much violence, gore and crime that he is enable to differentiate between good and evil. Therefore he becomes aggressive, abusive and doesn’t fit the social norms. Psychologists say that such kids are more likely to kick their classmates or even commit a crime.

In this research I’d like to say that it is rather the fault of society and television. And besides, watching thrillers or horror films can provide a person with the knowledge of inevitable penalty of punishment. He learns that a criminal is doomed to be punished for burglary, arson, drug trafficking or a bank lifting. And in this case a second hand experience is definitely better than a real one. Thus TV upgrades our morals.

So I’m more likely to conclude that television is a real blessing for humanity. Even the busiest house wives drop their household chores to watch the soap operas. Businessmen freeze in front of the tel to learn the stock exchange news. Little toddlers crawl out of their beds at five in the morning to watch the cartoons.TV gives their parents a chance for a proper sleep at the weekends. Spinsters with the tears watching sentimental dramas about young happy lovers. Millions of disabled and elderly people forget their misery and pain in front of the TV screen. Cooking, cleaning, mending and repairing become much more enjoyable thanks to this magic box. Try to eliminate television from their lives and they’ll tear you to pieces.

In conclusion I’d like to say that TV viewers always complain about adverts. However, witty and bright, they may be they are definitely the greatest time wasters. Almost half of the viewing time is wasted on commercials. Pretty often my patient snaps and I turn off the TV set without learning who murdered the old lady or hijacked the plane .That’s when I really start hating TV and the time wasted on it. Besides, he pollutes the global atmosphere and risks cancer.

However, there are some ads, which I find very instructive. These ads persuade us to do things well. The idea is that you must buy the product if you want to do your job properly. Many soap, powders are sold through the idea that they “wash whiter than white”, “remove stains” and so on. That’s how I discovered “Tide” and “Ariel” washing powders. It would have cost me a pretty penny to buy and try dozens of others.

The ads which I really like to approve of are those that tell us to be responsible or act responsibly. These are adverts for health foods, environmentally friendly products, and even charities. They really appeal to the caring side of human nature. They aim to make us feel guilty if we ignore the appeal. I do want my children and grand children to live on a healthy green planet without polluted forests or harmful wastes from nuclear plants and reactors. In this concern I’d like to mention the grooving anxiety of Americans about GE food. For years they had been bombarded with ads full of fresh red-ripe tomatoes, green spotless apples and mouthwatering strawberries. Most of them turned out to be genetically engineered. Genetically engineered food is the one whose genes have been manipulated to resist destruction and develop desirable characteristics. It makes up about 60 to 70 percent of the stock in your grocery store. So those tomatoes, for example, may well have had fish genes inserted so they will resist frost. Now people become more and more aware of what they are eating and now Europe’s seven largest grocery chains have committed the store brands to go “GE” free and Japan. South Korea, New Zealand and Australia require labeling of a genetically modified foods.

To finish with, I’d like to say that I’m not entire influenced by adverts like “millions of satisfied users”. I don’t believe that it is possible to become special by using a spray the pop-stars use, or become a VIP by driving a posh Rolls Roy’s car. I remember Robert Burns’ epigram about a flea that still remained a flea after spending a day with a king. I am not going to see “unique experience”, tasting new Fanta or Cola. LIFE itself is a unique experience and it doesn’t need any advertising.

EXPRESSIONS

Be part and parcel of – to be included in something else or connected with it

GE food – genetically engineered food

a) As you read the text look for the answers to these questions:

1. Why has advertising become part of our life?

2 Why is advertising on TV a powerful force?

3. How can advertising influence you?

4. What kind of adverts are instructive?

5. What adverts can be helpful?

6. Why are Americans anxious about GE food?

7. Why doesn’t life need any advertising?

b) Find in the text the arguments to illustrate the following:

1. Television is helping educate people.

2. Television brings pleasure in everyday life.

3. Watching television is a waste of time.

2. Use the topical vocabulary in answering the following questions:

1.What are your favourite programmes? Refer to specific programmes to illustrate your preferences. 2. What qualities do you look for in a television programme? 3. What are the programmes that appeal to specific age groups? 4. What is the amount of weekend TV time devoted to sports programmes? Would you rather watch a favourite sport on TV or view it in person? Give your arguments/reasoning. 5. What genres seem to dominate prime-time viewing? First check a week's TV schedule and make a list of all prime-time TV and break it into genres. 6. Should musical concerts and theatrical performances be broadcast on TV? 7. What is your favourite TV channel? Why? 8. What is the worst TV channel? Why? 9. Do you like watching TV shows that are aimed at discovering and showing people’s talents? If so, what is your favourite one? 10. Do you like watching TV shows with celebrities? What is your favourite one? 11. Do you like watching talk shows? If so, what is your favourite one? 12. Do you prefer watching movies on TV or going to the cinema? 13. Do you like watching commercials? 14. What TV commercials do you hate? Why do you not like them? 15. Are subliminal messages in TV commercials forbidden in our country? 16. What are the advantages and disadvantages of watching TV?

3.Do library research and prepare a presentation “The History of Television.”

4. Learn the meaning of the following words and phrases from the Glossary and insert them into the text:

pauses for a commercial break, newscast, infomercials, family friendly, premium channels, wide screen, sitcoms, talk shows, remote, news anchor.

We watch a lot of television in my house. In the family room there is a huge … TV. From anywhere in the room you can see the screen without a problem. Some will say that modern day Americans watch too much TV, but I don't agree.

Since we spend so much time in front of the television, I decided to pay the money for all of the … This way we never miss any of our favorite shows. My wife likes funny programs about other families so she watches… When the kids are around we make sure to watch … shows. We don't want the children seeing a lot of violence. Once the kids go to bed I like to watch… These shows have guests ranging from movie stars to famous athletes. My favorite one is Late Night with Conan O Brian. He is a good host.

If it is really late at night there isn't much on TV. The networks show mostly… I get bored with these and I usually grab the… and change the channels all night. I should probably just go to bed! We do actually use the TV to be informed about what is going on in the world today. I watch the… that NBC, my favorite network, airs at 6:00 PM every night. The… is a pleasant man who seems to know what he is talking about. Some days the only time I get off the couch is when the network… During this time I run to the kitchen to get a snack. Someday I will get outside and get some exercise, but for now I just love the TV too much.

Read the essay written by Joshua Becker about glamorization of different things on TV. Describe something what you would like to glamorize, create a strategy of your goal achievement.

“Watching too much TV can triple our hunger for more possessions while reducing our personal contentment by about 5 percent for every hour a day we watch.” ―David Niven

Television is a powerful medium to influence thought, behavior, and even society.

We know this to be true.

· Television is carefully choreographed. Settings, dialogue, and movement are meticulously planned by writers, directors, actors, and actresses.

· Television is a one-way conversation. There is no opportunity for viewers to push-back, debate, or ask questions.

· Television engages viewers’ minds and thoughts with action, sensory, and emotion.

· Television uses story to teach values and information—just like every good communicator (and civilization).

· Television speaks to us in the privacy of our own homes. As a result, our defenses are down.

· Television is chosen by us—we decide what we want to watch.

Years ago, I sat down to interview my grandfather for a still-upcoming project. He is 93 years old, one of the wisest men I’ve ever met, and has experienced 10 different decades of America. I asked him about wealth, poverty, and consumerism.

At one point, I asked if he thought America was more consumeristic today than it was years ago. He said, “Yes, absolutely.”

My next question was a follow-up, “Why do you think that is the case?”

His replied without hesitation, “I think one of the greatest reasons America is more consumeristic today is television. Television can glamorize anything it wants to promote. And yet we willingly invite it into our homes and lives.”

He is, of course, absolutely right. Television can and does glamorize anything it desires. It gets to share any side of the story without needing to reveal any of the consequences. And it does so willingly again and again for selfish gain.

As a result, it can make any situation seem attractive: broken families, sexual unfaithfulness, unemployment. Television can romanticize drug addiction, gang life, or mob culture. It can sensationalize war, crime, revenge. And it can promote wealth and consumerism as the answer to our problems.

Television will glamorize anything it desires. And even though we know this to be true, it is helpful to be reminded over and over again.

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