FTW.18: Why 1960’s TV is better than the Internet

Fatherhood in a Technological World – Message #18

Was it the “Idiot Box” or the “Character Box”?

You’d never think that the old “idiot box”, as my father affectionately called the TV when his kids were glued to it, would turn out to have so many redeeming qualities.

As I think back and compare my generation’s experience with the television in relation to today’s use of the internet, we were actually developing some CHARACTER in our efforts to catch our favorite programs.

First of all, you had to read the TV Guide or the newspaper to find out when your shows were on or what movies were being shown. The Sunday San Francisco paper had a great section called the “pink” section because, you guessed it, it was printed on pink paper. It was a fabulous collection of entertainment news, articles and photos, but most importantly it told you when the shows were on and the description of every movie. So we had to learn how to READ.

Then, since there was no recording devices, you had to be in front of the TV at the right time in order to watch your program, or you’d miss it. So we had to learn how to BE ON TIME.

Sometimes your program wasn’t on until later in the week and nothing was going to change that. So we had to learn how to be PATIENT, despite our excitement.

Once the program started, if you couldn’t hold it in until a commercial break, you’d miss part of your show. So you had to learn how to be DETERMINED and have a strong bladder.

In my generation, we learned a lot about American history and World War II. A lot of our basic history education, despite the Hollywoodish nature of entertainment film, was through watching movies. There were also excellent documentaries like reruns of “Victory at Sea” which used actual war time film footage and this seemed to help younger people better understand the darker side of human events and how conflicts begin, escalate, cause a lot of damage and pain and end. However, through the darkest times, some of the brightest characters emerge. So you learned that ADVERSITY MANIFESTS GREATNESS.

So you got an EDUCATION when you weren’t watching more reruns of the ROADRUNNER being chased by the COYOTE (which was a different form of education, the forerunner of how Technology really is NOT the answer to your problems).

Then there was one of my favorite TV shows STAR TREK. Adventure, loyalty, friendship, mini skirts, The ENTERPRISE and DOOMSDAY machines, Klingons, phasers, GIANT AMEBAS, CAPTAIN KIRK, SPOCK AND BONES. Unabashed pioneering and MANHOOD on display, resourceful, courageous, smart, all in the name of exploring the FINAL FRONTIER. You learned to FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF and PROUD OF HOW THE FUTURE WILL BE and KNOW THAT YOU ARE ON THE WINNING SIDE and YOU COULD OUTWIT ANY TROUBLEMAKING COMPUTER WITH A FAULTY LINE OF LOGIC.

Anyway, these are some reasons why 1960’s TV is better than the Internet.

Note: I don’t go off on a tangent in my video compared to what I’ve written, but you can synthesize the two and get the idea!

About Fatherhood in a Technological World

Fathers of young children in today’s modern society are facing unprecedented challenges with the wave of technology allowing ever easier access to the internet. The effect on your children has and will have a great influence on their growth. As a parent, you may be feeling the anxiety of having to confront the challenges of being at the end of the rail of the powerful forces driving technology into the laps and hands of your children.

Your work is cut out for you are a father. Even though popular culture doesn’t do well to herald the value of the leadership role of men in the form of fathers, let me tell you right now, being a father in this time and age has never been more important.

Click here to read the complete pilot blog article for FTW

Use what you find that may be helpful and share some of your own insights in my comments.

Tag along for the ride and let’s see if we can cover some common ground.

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I’ll see you… on the next page

Challen Yee

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