from Tufts Observer... October 16, 1997

  
   From the moment of its creation, television has drastically changed society. Although it has been used for educational and informational purposes, most of the ways it has affected society have not been beneficial. People have stopped playing sports because television presents them with a less strenuous way of passing their time. Reading is no longer the wonderful door to the outside world it used to be, and socializing is no longer a key aspect of American life. Television has replaced activities that were once the staples of life in American society and has hindered play, reading, imagination, conversation and work.
   Ever since television became widely accessible to the American public, each consecutive generation of children has become increasingly lazy and less apt to play sports and appreciate the outdoors. Children used to spend weekends playing ball in a park or walking through the woods with friends. In today's society, children would rather sit on their couches, eat chips and watch Saturday morning cartoons.
   Television can be a beneficial way to relax if watched once in a while; however, when children watch it constantly and use it as a substitute for physical activity, it is both physically and mentally harmful. Watching television requires no energy or physical exertion. Getting dressed or even fully waking up is unnecessary.
   Reading used to be the only way for children to transport themselves to another place and time. Books provide infinite vicarious experiences. All of the wonder and excitement that books hold, however, has been diminished by television. Books used to be the sole source of information about the world. With the advent of television, books seem to be a more strenuous and dull way to learn. Books are more informative, however, and a page depicting the smells, sounds, emotions and feel of a place is infinitely more descriptive than a television program.
   "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a prime example of the different interpretations which develop from reading a novel and watching a movie. This is a complex novel about the inner conflict of one woman between her sexual nature and her Puritanical responsibilities. In the movie, however, Demi Moore is not the fallen Puritan ostracized from society, but merely a star on the screen. This movie does not convey the powerful message of the book. The meaning of the novel is tainted by Hollywood's narrow interpretation.
  
  
   Before the days of sitcoms like "Seinfeld" and "Friends," socializing was a much more important skill. Instead of sitting in front of the television all night, people would tell stories, sing and find entertainment within themselves. Television offers people a tranquil break from the chaotic world, but it is used too often as a substitute for socialization and conversation. Even when people are not watching television, they talk about various television shows and try to imitate characters.
   My maternal grandmother told me stories of how she and her sisters would sit around and talk all night about their boyfriends, friends and neighborhood gossip. In my own family, my siblings and I rarely talk because most of the time, at least one of us is sitting in front of the television. My family is not unique. In each subsequent generation, the emotional bonds between siblings grow weaker and weaker because television has replaced family conversation. I remember many instances when I went over to a friend's house to watch television. During that time, I barely spoke to my friend.
   In diaries of people who lived many years ago, socializing after school was a major part of a child's day. In "The Diary of Anne Frank," for example, Anne describes how she and her friends would go out for ice cream and flirt with boys after school. This important bonding time between friends has greatly decreased in the decades since television has been popularized. Children now hurry home from school so that they don't miss the after-school specials.
   Productivity was once greatly valued in American society. The immense amount of work people had to do was the cause for the creation of many inventions. Unfortunately, television was one of these inventions. Now, many people would rather "veg out" in front of the television than do actual work.
   People don't take great pride in their work any more because work is no longer seen as the central part of their lives. Challenges are no longer interesting endeavors, but annoying interruptions of television time. In fact, the excuse, "Not now! I'm watching TV!" is one of the most common ways to avoid doing work. Work seems to be scheduled around television.
   Television transmits information to millions of otherwise uninformed people, as well as providing entertainment. It has also had negative effects on American life, however.
   A culture that used to value work, creativity, physical activity and family has completely changed into a society in which the television is the center of most people's lives.
   This electronic medium is a very useful tool with which to communicate and is beneficial when used in moderation. It cannot be abused, however, and we Americans should take heed. Imagination and creativity depend on it.b