Anyone hear those teenagers on R4 this morning

[OrmRenewed]

talking to an increasingly incredulous John Humphreys about their TV habits? I found it shocking/depressing/weird in equal measure. They mainly watch on a laptop in their rooms to get away from their parents' programs. They found it boring to watch BBC1 and 2 for more than about 5 mins. One of them prefered the Suns news site because it had more pictures and ad - the BBC on was boring beause it was just words. They didn't like documentaries because they were about animals and the world and politics and such. Not sure what they would have liked They actually preferred programming with ads in because it caught their attention.

Disclaimer: not all the kids expressed these opinions

Fuck me! I was too upset to even shout at the radio . And these were coherent, intelligent people.

I want to emigrate.

Talk me down! I am upset, people. My DC are at risk of being forced to never watch TV or use the internet again.

Tell me that isn't how all teenagers think.

er what's the problem exactly? bbc1 and 2 and generally dull

Dull? How dull?

Please explain what isn't 'dull' then?

I heard some of it too. Very now. Some teenagers just want everything now, bright and flashing and don't really care what is going on in the real world.

actually I am depressed but not surprised.
I have been pondering something recently.
I have embraced FB, the internet, forums, twitter, mobiles etc etc.
I hve a very bad internet 'habit' and i know it is having a major effect on my attention-span, which, if I am honest, wasn't brilliant beforetimes....
Now, compared with many, my modern social meeja usage is actually quite mild - I still read 'proper' newspapers, I don't read 'proper' books, I don't read magazines, and i don't play pc games much.
So my point is, if I have noticed a draataic change, what might the effect be on a pre-teen or teen whose brain is still forming?

oh, add to that the whole -''bite size'' culture and Cult Of The Sleb and everything generally dumbed down....

eastenders, holby city, escape to the country, masterchef, cop shows, gardener's world, eggheads to name just some for next week, i would seriously worry if my ds watched some of those. bbc four is good though but that's cause of madmen

You see I don't see drama as being dull - it might be crap drama or good drama but surely it isn't dull?

I found it more distressing that people who aren't actually 5 yr olds need bright fucking colours and movement to grab their attention. They needed a month without any sort of screen - that'll larn 'em!

molly - I have to admit to struggling with Dickens these days. I might be down to old age and kids but maybe my attention span has shrunk too

eek, I just noticed I said I don't read proper books. I do!!
Orm, I struggle with Dickens - if it's teeny writing....

to be fair, my ds (who is just about a teen)watches masterchef with us. And nature programmes. But mostly he prefers listening to music, or watching films/blackadder/red dwarf.

Thanks herbie and molly - much reassured DS1 is also just a teenager and he loves Red Dwarf and a lot of Dave's output . Happy to watch anything about animals and loves Horizon. But he's only 13 - there's still time!