Another month, another study on how TV is bad for us.The latest comes from The University of Maryland, where sociologists looking over 30 years worth of data have concluded that people who watch a lot of television are unhappy. People who say that they are very happy read more and socialize more.
Oh, this is bogus on so many levels.
First, what exactly are the definitions of "unhappy" and "very happy?" Couldn't someone who describes themselves as "very happy" actually be unhappy in a major part of their life, or just be wrong, or maybe just won't admit it? It seems to me that the entire study hinges on whether the respondents are being accurate with the way they think about themselves. And what about internet use and video games? Is that different viewing than television? And are those people happy or unhappy? Do people who watch a lot of television use more sad face emoticons when they e-mail than people who watch less television?
:(
I'd like to see a study that shows that people who use a microwave oven are more unhappy than people who use a stove. Or maybe people who watch television on a giant HDTV are happier than people who watch it on a small black and white portable. Does that mean the sociologists would then say that watching TV makes you happier, just make sure it's a big one?
The part that really ticks me off is where it says people who read the newspaper are happier. What a load of crap. What about the millions of people like me who watch a ton of television but also read a ton and exercise and socialize and try to have a well-rounded life?
The article does provide us with one great thing: a paragraph titled "Unhappy People Are Happy With TV." That's a great slogan for trying to get people to watch more TV and someone should make a t-shirt with that on it.
[via TV Tattle]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-18-2008 @ 2:49PM
Andrew said...
I'm pretty sure you could come up with any label for any group of people if you get a large enough sample.
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11-18-2008 @ 2:56PM
Willmore2000 said...
sounds like someone is unhappy. Go watch some more TV :-)
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11-18-2008 @ 3:02PM
CRVBOY said...
I'm unhappy and I watch TV.
I'm unhappy that Pushing Daisies maybe canceled.
I'm unhappy that Angel was canceled.
I'm unhappy that Buffy ended.
I'm unhappy that Space:Above And Beyond was canceled.
I'm unhappy that Invasion was canceled.
I'm unhappy that I could go on and on...
So I guess they are right! Unhappy people watch TV!
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11-18-2008 @ 3:09PM
Ryan said...
Awesome.
11-18-2008 @ 3:17PM
I miss my stars! said...
I tend to agree that unhappy people watch more tv but that doesn't mean that watching tv makes people unhappy.
Folks battling depression tend to isolate themselves at home. What do most folks do when home alone? Watch TV. Old folks are another large community who are left alone alot and not all enjoy a happy existence. Visit any nursing home and every tv down the hall is blasting away.
I agree with CRVBOY as well. I'm still pissed that Firefly was cancelled. Don't know if I'll ever get over it.
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11-18-2008 @ 3:18PM
Modwild said...
No way in the frakkin world does a newspaper make you happy. Good God - the news is enough to make you want to off yourself these days. Idiot survey. Must be the same people who are still doing research on whether or not peanut butter gives you cancer.
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11-18-2008 @ 4:59PM
Dave said...
What a load of garbage! The study obviously finds that unhappy people watch more television. Why? Because there unhappy, and unhappy people don't like happy people. The article's assumption that TV causes unhappiness like an addiction, is totally backwards. Increased TV viewership is part of a symptom of unhappiness, not the cause. Maybe the surveyors need to do a little less TV viewing and study up on a little more scientific method before they write any more articles
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11-18-2008 @ 5:27PM
whoosh said...
maybe they are unhappy because scientists keep interrupting their t.v. viewing to ask them if they are happy.
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11-18-2008 @ 5:35PM
Phil said...
The only time I'm unhappy is when there's nothing on that I'm interested in when I do watch TV which is most of the time. Besides socializing and reading is over-rated.
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11-20-2008 @ 3:54PM
Harold said...
This post has been featured at THEWEEK.com as Best Opinion - We really enjoyed your take on this TV Depression story!
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