No tv - this isn't weird?

[SacreBlue]

I don't have a tv, no single reason but it started off by avoiding tv when at uni

Mostly I get by in conversation by reading digital spy so I can chat about soaps, but I do watch EE, Drs Dr Who and occasional documentaries on catch up.

I have a teenager but he has never been bothered by no tv as he watches Youtube videos and spends free time working or on gaming.

I don't feel this is weird, surely some other folks don't have a tv?

Reason I ask is that TV licensing have visited us and understand we don't have a tv but some people I meet are a bit either because they think we're lying (to avoid fees) or that they don't believe anyone can survive without a live stream tv.

[CheerfulYank]

We don't have one either. I watch stuff on the iPad.

What's a TV license?

[diddl]

No TV, but you are watching stuff, just by other means, so what's your point?

[BertieBotts]

Like a TV tax, Cheerful. Pays for the BBC not to have adverts, and hence be commercially impartial.

[Thewrongmans]

Having a TV is not at all weird. Does anyone even have a TV at university? Surely there are far more fun things to be doing and no teenagers watch TV these days. Reading about soaps that you don't watch is beyond weird though!

[SacreBlue]

Well my point is that I don't consider not wanting a 'direct feed', that compromises on content, weird.

I'm happy to watch stuff later. Most is fiction, like a moving book, so the only time factor involved is the discussion afterwards.

Sometimes what I think will interest me turns out to be a lot of interesting stuff well padded with crap - you know what I mean - what is advertised as a thoughtful discussion is actually just padded out with 'cut aways', 'mood music', 'views of city/country/blah blah blah', and not actual proper discussion of the issue.

I read soap reviews to keep up conversations with people who have tv, and that's ok, to engage and be part of popular culture.

I do find myself wanting more from documentaries though. I want a documentary that doesn't repeat the first half after the break (in case in the intervening 3 minutes of adverts you forgot what the first half said)

[temporaryusername]

We once didn't have a TV for months, and for several of those months we didn't have internet either. I didn't really like it. Radio 4 probably saved my life.

[meltedmonterayjack]

Well I don't think its weird. Got rid of my tv about 18 months ago and haven't missed it one bit. I was watching so little, it just didn't seem worth having one in my v small living room.

I watch iplayer, itv player and 40D on my laptop. I thought I might mind not watching stuff live, but I quickly got used to it. The only thing I vaguely miss live is the news but then there's no problem keeping up as there are so many news websites.

I've not had any contact from licensing people (yet). I filled in the online form to say I didn't need one.

Some people do seem a bit surprised/intrigued that I don't have an actual tv though. I don't know any friends or family who don't have one.

[FayeFruitLoop]

Not wierd- me either. Just watch catch up on the iPad, phone or laptop and much prefer that I choose what I watch and when I watch without the channel hopping I used to do when I owned one. Also have netflix too.

Did have a visit from liscence person who had a good snoop round to check if I owned any tv's and also seemed to hold out what I presumed was a measuring device for tv airwaves??? It beeped a lot. He then said his goodbyes and said he'd be round to check if I had a tv yet several months later.... About 18 months ago

[moonrocket]

Not weird. We don't have a television, don't watch iplayer either except for doctor who.

Too many other things to do really, I'd much rather read.

[INickedAName]

I'd happily get rid of our TV, I love The Walking Dead but could watch that at my sisters, online or on DVD, Dd doesn't really watch TV either, she loves I'm a celeb but as it's often late she watches it on Iplayer the next day anyway, she does have an xbox though, so even if I could get dh to give up TV would still have to pay the license fee for the TV for the console.