Shall I get rid of my tv? aaargh i cannot decide...

[Fillyjonk]

Right now it is in what we laughably call the "study". But it is out of the way and not there all the time luring us to watch it.

BUT we are about to give ds his own room and will thusly lose our "study" as we need it as a bedroom.

So it will have to move to our living room, where it will take up a fair bit of space.

It is not actually used much at all. We watch dr who when we remember. The kids watch a night garden or something dvd maybe once a fortnight when I need not to kill anyone. That is it (they are nearly 5 and nearly 3 and 4 months so this is not exactly a great achievement)

It is bloody HUGE, one of those old fashioned ones that practically needs cranking to get a fuzzy picture.

I am also bloody pissed off with the tie in marketing from Teletubbies, but that is another story.

I actually grew up without a tv so I am not worried about the social side of it or whatever. We could also, of course, play dvds through the computer though this will potentially mean 5 of us cramming into the space under the stairs...

My worries are, in no particular order:

1. What if I suddenly want to watch a film? And I can't?

1. What about Christmas? I do like to watch stuff like the wizard of oz at christmas.

1. What about just plain old fashioned vegging?

1. If we change our minds we can't afford to replace it. We can't lend it to anyone I don't think (our friends tend not to have tvs, or else have a much much better one than us). We are not going to get anything for it, it is much too old. (I will give it to the local rehousing charity)

logically since we have a tv and don't really use it I KNOW it probably won't be a huge issue but I need reassurance.

I am sorry if this is garbled, I have been feeding the Baby WHo Wouldn't Go To Bed since 3am (she is now asleep, I am insomneated)

I'd chuck it. When does the analogue signal get turned off? Use the computer instead. We don't have a tv and don't miss it at all.

personally couldn't live without a tv, but....it'll be no good to you soon anyway. chuck it, and get a small flat screen

good, good

also I'd save £130 a year on tv license, that is good...

what is this about analogues?

aren't they phones?

ah I think analogue isn't an excuse, we have digital cable? (free with phone)

We are in the same position, so we keep it in the cellar and once in a while we cordially invite it up to share our evening, when there's something in particular to watch. Have you got a garage or somewhere, so you can just bring it out when you want? I hate having it around for long because then I spend the hole evening mindlessly flicking, but I'd be miffed if we didn't have it at all. Also for things like football finals, which the dcs had to watch so they could keep up with conversations at school! (We live in the host country for the European football thingy and it's been a major topic, thank goodness it's over!)

whole evening, ffs.

ah no I have no space. only a leaky shed.

this is the nub of the problem

right i need more people to tell me what to do

though am decided, really

Get an sensibly sized, flatish screened one. FAR smaller than their analogue predecessors. Like everything, TV use or abuse is a discipline, it's a great servant but a poor master. I PERSONALLY think the TV can and does enhance the DSs' education/ development. They watch it sparingly but we do record a lot from the Freeview box onto a PVR so they get to watch 'How do they do it?', 'Scrap-yard Challenge', and Spongebob Squarpants (surprisingly moral, actually!) for instance. And I get to watch poncy BBC2 docos about architecture and St Kilda!

I was the one to decide to ditch the analogue (to DH's joy!) because I was annoyed at the amount of space it commanded in the living room. The new one occupies literally 1/3 or the space so it's much less obtrusive.

Footy can be a pain but like all TV watching, can be rationed!

hmm well i thought of that but there is the eco side (huge tvs more eco friendly. plus ££ of course.

hmmm hmm hmmm

Get rid. I too grew up without a tv and in some ways wish we had never got one. It won't be a shock to the system if you don't watch it much anyway. Plus you have the net so can normally get hold of most must see things.

I'd love to get rid of ours, but I'm getting a wall of resistance from DH and DCs - go for it, I'm envious

Get rid of it. I love not having one.

Ours has gone, don't miss it.
Do wish the licensing people would stop writing though we've told them over and over we don't have one I just think they can't believe it.
(for those moments you mentioned dcs watch the odd DVD on the computer!)

1dilemma. Hate to tell you this but my parents still get regularly contatced by the licensing people and they've been in that house tvless for over 20 years.

You are well ready to get rid. We haven't had one for 14+ years, and like it that way. What we do is have a projector (size of an encyclopedia) which sits on a high shelf in the living room and a dvd player with lives with the stereo system, so when we want to watch a film we just pop it into the player and project the picture on the wall. Dh and dd's like it because it is a 'big screen' (sort of 4 ft by 4 ft) which is fun for when friends come round, and I like it because it takes no space! And don't have to pay license either - though it did take them a few goes of them coming round to see that there was no telly.

Ah well bronze I shall expect to hear from them for a while then
nice sounding arrangement jennifersofia

We were without a TV over christmas and it was very strange indeed! I did not feel like it was christmas at all.

We reinstated ours as we just ended up watching loads of DVDs. I did enjoy the time without it though, and it gave me and DHs relationship a bit of a boost, not having it.

you can watch stuff on bbc i player and 4od and itv catch up ASWELL as dvds.
I grew up tv less. Got rid of my telly licence a month ago. Very quiet(single parent) as used to use it as background noise but used it it now.
GET RID!

yes do

i am guilty of watching it myself but not for dcs

i am so so so pleased almost one year in

they can watch dvds though so i am a bit of a cheat - little children barely do though its just the teens