Bad TV

Most everyone who knows me knows that I have a fairly low opinion of television programming in general. Certainly there are exceptions to my dislike of shows; I enjoy a number of them – on DVD – regularly. I am, however, completely opposed to commercials and advertising. (Which is where the DVDs come in…) I won’t go on too long about this, but suffice it to say that I firmly believe that there is no amount of television that one can watch without it affecting their brain at some level – whether it be conscious or not. With that in mind, it’s wise to consider what sort of show one is watching.

This topic is at top of mind for a very specific reason: JT. JT is a 15-year-old young man with Down’s syndrome, and I am paired with him this week for a bike camp that teaches children with disabilities how to ride a bike. This volunteer role has been incredibly interesting, and also quite thought-provoking.

Today, the fire alarm went off during our regular hour and fifteen minute session. (The alarm had been pulled by a toddler; the criminal act was witnessed by many and still charges were not pressed. This is clearly evidence of the deplorable breakdown of our criminal prosecution process.) While we milled around outside, JT’s mom shared a story with us, which I will summarize:

JT was home alone one day when he found himself in a terrible quandary: His bag of potato chips absolutely refused to open. This was a very large problem, as JT fully intended to eat those chips and was – in fact – counting on them to assuage his hunger. The solution that came to his mind was inspired by one of the many television shows that he enjoys: Reno 911. (Those of you who are not familiar with this show: Bless you. May you continue to live an unadulterated life.) JT picked up the phone and dialed 911.

When the operator heard his emergency – that he couldn’t get his bag of potato chips open – she sent help immediately. It wasn’t long before the Sheriff’s deputies arrived on the doorstep of the home. At this point, another important lesson was remembered: Never open the door to strangers. Thus began a very strange sort of stand-off. On one side of the door, JT explained his dilemma. The police were sympathetic, and opened the bag of chips passed through the door to him. When entry continued to be denied they departed, calling later to recount the situation to JT’s parents.

This tale provoked a number of television-related thoughts for me, most of which I will spare you. What I will say: JT talks often about TV, and what show he will be watching that evening. At his level of development, he is like a child – unable to differentiate between what is viewed onscreen and actual reality. This is what we’re subjecting our children to on a daily basis… disturbing. I can’t imagine what a horrifying place the world must be through the eyes of a television.