Page 3 | To refuse a smart TV despite my kids' pleas.

BeSunnyRaven · 2026-03-14T23:20:57+00:00

We just moved house and got a new TV. I settled for a Cello one with a built in DVD player and no smart bullshite. I don't want all this telemetry or the attention span ruining elements of being able to watch whenever you want when you want. Nor do I want to connect it to my internet and I'm certainly not paying to watch something, especially not to an american company DD13 and DS11 desperately want one. I've said that if they want to watch something on netflix or the like, they can use the pirate bay to download it, burn it onto a dvd and load that into the TV. Apparently that's 'not cool' and 'annoying' or whatever. AIBU?

SisyphusDad · 15/03/2026 00:41

Do you do your washing by hand in the sink then pass it through a mangle to get the water out?

Goldencoast2 · 15/03/2026 00:40

Also just FYI… the travel agent you buy tickets from will have uploaded your information into their systems (which are almost all hosted on the cloud), as will any airlines, hotels, banks, medical facilities etc so no, you haven’t found a magical loop hole around companies having your data.

Goldencoast2 · 15/03/2026 00:36

Why have you posted this in here? You’re quite convinced you’re not unreasonable, I doubt the 90%+ people disagreeing with you will have any impact

SabrinaThwaite · 15/03/2026 00:09

Summerbay23 · 14/03/2026 23:59

Are you in the UK? You mentioned neighbourhood kids?

I think OP lives on a different planet.

She’s talking out of Uranus.

Holdmybeermoment · 15/03/2026 00:03

Summerbay23 · 14/03/2026 23:59

Are you in the UK? You mentioned neighbourhood kids?

That’s just the influence of those American TV shows getting into her mind… she forgot the tinfoil hat.

Summerbay23 · 14/03/2026 23:59

Are you in the UK? You mentioned neighbourhood kids?

MasterBeth · 14/03/2026 23:55

Why would you bother paying for a holiday when you could just stowaway on an unused plane seat or squat in someone's spare bedroom?

Original poster

BeSunnyRaven · 14/03/2026 23:54

Summerbay23 · 14/03/2026 23:52

How do you book a holiday/hotel? It’s not a gotcha game but you’re definitely behind the times, even my 80+ year old parents use devices for modern convenience (nhs app, parking, banking etc) but you obviously think you have the best experience so crack on.

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On the PC or at a travel agent. It's not the only way of life but it suits me.

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BitterTits · 14/03/2026 23:53

Oof, those kids will rum and never come back when they get to 18.

Summerbay23 · 14/03/2026 23:52

BeSunnyRaven · 14/03/2026 23:29

I use a flip phone and an mp3 player. Can't get me here

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How do you book a holiday/hotel? It’s not a gotcha game but you’re definitely behind the times, even my 80+ year old parents use devices for modern convenience (nhs app, parking, banking etc) but you obviously think you have the best experience so crack on.

MasterBeth · 14/03/2026 23:52

BeSunnyRaven · 14/03/2026 23:50

I get DVDs when possible. But some things aren't on DVD, I only ever pirate those. Their fault for not making it purchasable with no subscription.

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Why do you think you have a right to watch someone else's copyright work if they choose not to share it with you?

CactusSwoonedEnding · 14/03/2026 23:52

BeSunnyRaven · 14/03/2026 23:50

I get DVDs when possible. But some things aren't on DVD, I only ever pirate those. Their fault for not making it purchasable with no subscription.

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Still theft. Still a shitty thing to do. There is no ethical way to be a thief.

Original poster

BeSunnyRaven · 14/03/2026 23:50

CactusSwoonedEnding · 14/03/2026 23:49

I have never pirated anything, because I am not a thief. And because a world where no-one can make a living in a creative career because people won't pay for it would be a shitty world to live in. People's time and talent and creativity is worth money, if you don't want to pay for it you do not deserve to enjoy it.

Yanbu to refuse to pay for any streaming services but yabvvvvu to teach your kids to steal and to shit on the lives of creative and talented people. You can get the DVDs out from the library for a tiny amount of cash and the creators get a commission from that, you can buy the DVDs then sell them on 2nd hand once you've watched them. You can get them from charity shops even. There's no need to steal.

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I get DVDs when possible. But some things aren't on DVD, I only ever pirate those. Their fault for not making it purchasable with no subscription.

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CactusSwoonedEnding · 14/03/2026 23:49

BeSunnyRaven · 14/03/2026 23:24

If buying it off of amazon or whatever doesn't mean you own it and they can take it away at any time, then it's not stealing.

And don't act like you haven't pirated before

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I have never pirated anything, because I am not a thief. And because a world where no-one can make a living in a creative career because people won't pay for it would be a shitty world to live in. People's time and talent and creativity is worth money, if you don't want to pay for it you do not deserve to enjoy it.

Yanbu to refuse to pay for any streaming services but yabvvvvu to teach your kids to steal and to shit on the lives of creative and talented people. You can get the DVDs out from the library for a tiny amount of cash and the creators get a commission from that, you can buy the DVDs then sell them on 2nd hand once you've watched them. You can get them from charity shops even. There's no need to steal.

Original poster

BeSunnyRaven · 14/03/2026 23:48

SabrinaThwaite · 14/03/2026 23:48

If I watch an ancient episode of Frasier on Channel 4, exactly what data is being collected?

Will I need a tinfoil hat, and (more importantly) will the cat?

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Next to none, which is why I said I wish there was a british/eu alternative to the usual smart tvs.

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SabrinaThwaite · 14/03/2026 23:48

BeSunnyRaven · 14/03/2026 23:43

American programs that collect data. NCIS isn't getting telemetrics off of me.

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If I watch an ancient episode of Frasier on Channel 4, exactly what data is being collected?

Will I need a tinfoil hat, and (more importantly) will the cat?

To refuse a smart TV despite my kids' pleas.

champagnetrial · 14/03/2026 23:47

And apps come on a phone or tablet.

and a tv also. You go to the app store on your literal TV and download an app. For example, we just downloaded MUBI. It's great for indie/foreign language/alternative films.

Holdmybeermoment · 14/03/2026 23:47

BeSunnyRaven · 14/03/2026 23:46

Well at least I know the likelihood of it being used for nefarious purposes is far lower due to british data laws.

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Can you explain the nefarious purposes streaming service owners are using the data of which TV shows you watch for?

NeverTalksToStrangers2 · 14/03/2026 23:46

BeSunnyRaven · 14/03/2026 23:44

I'm not getting a firetv stick. Bezos isn't getting my data.

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Hmmm yeah it's your data he's after specifically too...

Really can't decide if this is a wind-up or not.

Original poster

BeSunnyRaven · 14/03/2026 23:46

Holdmybeermoment · 14/03/2026 23:44

Iplayer and ITV also collect your data. Has nothing to do with being American streaming services.

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Well at least I know the likelihood of it being used for nefarious purposes is far lower due to british data laws.

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MasterBeth · 14/03/2026 23:45

BeSunnyRaven · 14/03/2026 23:39

So would it be unethical for me to pay £7 and bingewatch it all in one round? It's a data collection service first and foremost. I'm all for buying DVDs though. regularly buy new releases from HMV

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No. Just as it wouldn't be unethical for you to buy a weekly bus pass and ride around all day. That's part of the Ts and C's of the deal.

Original poster

BeSunnyRaven · 14/03/2026 23:44

Holdmybeermoment · 14/03/2026 23:43

Then get a firetv stick and only download the apps you want.

They are called apps. If you want to access iplayer etc then that’s the only ones you download.

Apps come on TVs, TV sticks, as well as phones and tablets. That’s literally what they are called.

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I'm not getting a firetv stick. Bezos isn't getting my data.

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Holdmybeermoment · 14/03/2026 23:44

BeSunnyRaven · 14/03/2026 23:43

American programs that collect data. NCIS isn't getting telemetrics off of me.

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Iplayer and ITV also collect your data. Has nothing to do with being American streaming services.

NeverTalksToStrangers2 · 14/03/2026 23:43

BeSunnyRaven · 14/03/2026 23:41

The one I bought (Dell, 2025 model) has a disc drive. You know nothing about computers. And apps come on a phone or tablet.

They come preinstalled with netflix, youtube and the like. There's no way to delete it, I did a lot of searching regarding this.

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You might not be able to delete Netflix but you also don't HAVE to sign up to it. You could just not use that app.

Holdmybeermoment · 14/03/2026 23:43

BeSunnyRaven · 14/03/2026 23:41

The one I bought (Dell, 2025 model) has a disc drive. You know nothing about computers. And apps come on a phone or tablet.

They come preinstalled with netflix, youtube and the like. There's no way to delete it, I did a lot of searching regarding this.

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Then get a firetv stick and only download the apps you want.

They are called apps. If you want to access iplayer etc then that’s the only ones you download.

Apps come on TVs, TV sticks, as well as phones and tablets. That’s literally what they are called.