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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to get rid of the T.V?

85 replies

DeliaRose · 27/04/2012 12:25

I' sick of staring at it TBH. I've just cancelled Sky (£70 a month saving!!), and I'm going to put the tele on Gumtree.

DH is cool with it. Not sure how the DC will feel (6, 3 and 1)

The Playstation and Wii are going too.

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 27/04/2012 12:26

I would get rid of the TV but not games consoles.

WorraLiberty · 27/04/2012 12:27

Hard to say without a reason really.

Original poster
DeliaRose · 27/04/2012 12:29

I'm sick of staring at it. It's all we do.

I'm sick of it being the default for the kids too. There's so much more that they could be doing.

We'll still have the Mac for iPlayer et all, but it's unlikely to be switched on just for the sake of it, like the T.V.

The games consoles will be useless without a tele? Plus, they've not been used since before Christmas.

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 27/04/2012 12:30

but why get rid of them if they're not being used? Confused

How is it 'all you do'?

DialsMavis · 27/04/2012 12:30

Who do the playstation and wii belong to? We go through no TV phases, but actually keep the T.V for DS to use his Wii IYSWIM, as the Wii belongs to DS, not us. It was his his present from FC and he has spent his own £ on games. He hardly goes near it anyway, but I would be pretty cruel to take something away that I allowed in the first place when he has done nothing wrong

valiumredhead · 27/04/2012 12:30

Have you not limited screen time at all then?

CamperFan · 27/04/2012 12:32

YANBU, but if I were you, I would put it away for a period of time, say a month and see if that breaks the cycle, rather than impulsively giving it away.

CamperFan · 27/04/2012 12:34

When I say see if it breaks the cycle, you do actually have to find other things to do, it doesn't necessarily just happen! Personally I don't know how people have the time to watch loads of TV in an evening, I just watch the odd thing on iplayer when I have a moment. But cbeebies is on a lot and I would like to reduce that.

Original poster
DeliaRose · 27/04/2012 12:35

Ok, it's not all we do. However, as soon as the DC's go to bed it gets flicked on and me and DH sit ignoring each other till bedtime. The DC's don't watch it all that often (no more than an hour per day weekdays), but at the weekend, if we're in, it;s on a lot...usually sports and DH is a zombie.

I just don't see it as something that has a positive affect on our lives.

The Wii is ours as a family. The Playstation is DH's, but has no use other than playing Blu-Rays and the games are DH's COD type games that he doesn't play anymore. I tolerated the Wii because it is 'active' but DS1 (6) is still not bothered, and if DS2 plays they just end up fighting.

OP posts:
DialsMavis · 27/04/2012 12:35

I quite enjoy it when we have had no T.V. But, the iplayer/ 40d frequently freeze/ have buffering problems, it isnt the same crowded round the screen. You can't snuggle up and have films as family etc, you can't watch any of the live stuff on the iplayer without a tv licence. Why not just stick the thing in the loft for a month, then not get back into bad lazy habits? DS watches about 30 mins a day now and maybe a film at the weekend, DD is only a toddler and not interested yet (unfortunately) and DP and I stick it on for about an hour a couple of times a week.

DialsMavis · 27/04/2012 12:37

also without the T.V you will both sit on laptops, not talking, but not even looking at the same thing Wink. Watch your posts on MN go through the roof! Grin

Seabright · 27/04/2012 12:41

Can you play the console games without the TV? I must say I am staggered at £70pm for Sky; I didn't know it was possible to spend that much on sky!

Why not try putting it in the loft for a month and see how you get on?

Smugfearnleyshittingstool · 27/04/2012 12:42

You won't regret it. Well done, it ruins kids IMO.

MarySA · 27/04/2012 12:43

I think if I did it here that would be unreasonable. But saying that everybody's circumstances are different so perhaps for you and your family YANBU. TV is such a part of life these days for most people I think once a child starts school he/she could feel a bit out of it when programmes are talked about. But there is such a thing as far too much TV. And limiting it might be an idea as your children are very small. And that would be a lot easier than telling teenagers the TV was going on the tip! My DH watches quite a lot of sport but I have learned to live with it. It's taken a long time though and I still sometimes moan about it.

Original poster
DeliaRose · 27/04/2012 12:44

No laptops... we have a desktop Mac (with the big screen) that we intend to position where the TV is now, but on a desk. So we can still have the odd family film.

OP posts:
DressDownFriday · 27/04/2012 12:44

Why don't you just turned it off rather than sell it?

I feel exactly the same as you - sat each night staring at it - but I put if down to laziness/boredom more than anything else.

TV does have it's uses when you're busy making tea etc. Limit it's usage and see if things change.

To quote Joey from Friends - what would your furniture point at if you got rid?

solidgoldbrass · 27/04/2012 12:45

Better to put the stuff away for a month or so, really, and see how the kids go on. Because it is, actually, a bit unfair to insist on no screen entertainment at all when the kids want it - you don;t want them put in the position of being the wierd kids with the wierd strict Luddite parents. Though if the kids aren't bothered then by all means ebay the lot.

DialsMavis · 27/04/2012 12:47

most of the stuff on is crap though. We have the cheapest virgin package with on demand, that way we can usually find something worth watching when we feel like it. Also, if you have no problem with the DC watching some programs (on iplayer) as opposed to be ideologically opposed to the concept of T.V, it is bloody annoying when they are getting their grubby mits on the laptops screen when you want to be using it Smile. I waste far more time on MN than is healthy, so I don't feel I can be hoity toity about others screen usage.

Original poster
DeliaRose · 27/04/2012 12:47

Dressdownfriday - Our sofas point at each other, and the focal point is the open fire Grin

SGB - I was worried about the 'weird kids' thing - hence why I've started the thread. However, DS1 (6yo) is already the weird one at school so I don't see this making a difference Grin Hmm

OP posts:
GColdtimer · 27/04/2012 12:48

"it ruins kids". What an absolutely ridiculous statement.

Why can't you just agree not to turn it on in the evening?

DialsMavis · 27/04/2012 12:49

x posts. in that case you can still snuggle up together on rainy days, when you are all fed up of wholesome craft and baking!

BigHairyFlowers · 27/04/2012 12:50

We haven't had a TV for nearly 6 months and don't miss it. DC barely noticed it was gone, happily! I find the worst part of not having a TV is the sound of judgey pants being hoisted when people find out Grin

Original poster
DeliaRose · 27/04/2012 12:50

I think it does ruin kids.

They are zombies when it's on, it can't be good.

If it's not there, they will have to make their own entertainment... this has got to be a good thing?

OP posts:
minipie · 27/04/2012 12:51

What are you going to do on those evenings where you and DH want to sit companionably on the sofa but are too knackered to talk much?

Original poster
DeliaRose · 27/04/2012 12:51

BigHairyKids - Fab Grin

OP posts: