Americans watch too much TV.
True
Side Score: 25
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False
Side Score: 27
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Number of hours of TV watched annually by Americans: 250 billion Value of that time assuming an average wage of S5/hour: S1.25 trillion Percentage of Americans who pay for cable TV: 56 Number of videos rented daily in the U.S.: 6 million Number of public library items checked out daily: 3 million Percentage of Americans who say they watch too much TV: 49 Approximate number of studies examining TV's effects on children: 4,000 Number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children: 3.5 Number of minutes per week that the average child watches television: 1,680 Percentage of day care centers that use TV during a typical day: 70 Percentage of parents who would like to limit their children's TV watching: 73 Percentage of 4-6 year-olds who, when asked to choose between watching TV and spending time with their fathers, preferred television: 54 Hours per year the average American youth spends in school: 900 hours Hours per year the average American youth watches television: 1500 Number of murders seen on TV by the time an average child finishes elementary school: 8,000 Number of violent acts seen on TV by age 18: 200,000 Percentage of Americans who believe TV violence helps precipitate real life mayhem: 79 Number of 30-second TV commercials seen in a year by an average child: 20,000 Number of TV commercials seen by the average person by age 65: 2 million Percentage of survey participants (1993) who said that TV commercials aimed at children make them too materialistic: 92 Rank of food products/fast-food restaurants among TV advertisements to kids: 1 Total spending by 100 leading TV advertisers in 1993: $15 billion http://www.csun.edu/science/health/docs/ --------------------------------------- And that is only a portion of that link! Americans watch 250,000,000,000 hours of TV per year? By the age of 18, the average American has seen 200,000 deaths? I can believe that one - I've seen about two thousand this last week alone! Side: True
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250 billion hours of TV is all relative along with the myriad of statistical analysis. Not surprising that fast food restaurants are number 1 with kids. Public libraries are great, but they should never to be a free token to rent movies. Pay taxes on free books, not movies and cd's. TV is a reflection of what has become our society. Granted, we are becoming TV and movie zombies spending our money mindlessly at these mass communication companies. Yet, people wonder why movie stars get paid so good. Well, because of our addiction to TV and movies. Are you suggesting that TV is bad? What about educational programming? What about news programming? Where are those stats? Granted, TV for the most part is a waste of time, but it is there to entertain, and Americans love to be entertained. Side: False
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My TV is on a lot. Unfortunately its a biggun, so it's not very environmental of me, but I'm working on turning it off more. Now that doesn't mean I'm constantly watching it. For instance, according to my cable company I watched about 16 hours of curling yesterday. In actuality I cleaned my apartment, did my laundry, and got a lot of work done. So while there are fat asses watching 19 hours of TV a day and gaining 50 lbs a year, we can't say that all 250,000,000,000 hours are those kind of hours. Side: False
Yeah, but your statement says that Americans (this implies all Americans) watch too much TV. First off, I explained that generalizations are almost always false. Second, how much is "too much"? ;) I'm American and I barely ever watch TV. And I know other people who happen to be American who never watch TV. Side: False
What is "too much"? How many hours is "too much"? Television is a form of communication. Mass communication. People study by TV (educational programs), people learn through TV via documentaries and news and children's programs, people make business decisions based on business news, people are entertained by TV, their stress levels relieved by TV and so less likely to seek a negative way to release it (like buying a gun and shooting people, or picking a fight with someone). So... no, I don't think anyone is watching too much TV. You can say that they're not doing enough exercise or whatever, but to say that they're doing something "too much" is quite a difficult statement to agree with. Side: False
Too much is when it gets in the way of being productive. An hour of television is too much. It's not proper communication if there isn't an exchange of information. The television just talks at you and you listen. People could be studying more effectively via a computer. People can learn via television, but they can also learn by drawing pictures in sand. Most likely not. Paper news maybe but not television news. Stress is caused by people having shit to do, but their favorite shows are always on, so they'll never actually do what they need to do... that must be stressful. I think maybe, you think that if people didn't have televisions they would shoot other people, but that's because you have watched too much television in your life... Side: True
Productivity? Doesn't America have the highest GDP? I mean as a nation, you produce more goods and services then any other nation right? Watch as much TV as you like I say :) An hour of TV is too much? Why? What are you watching? Your watching the news and then relaying the news later to a friend in conversation is good thing, discussions about current affairs are good. Comedies are good. It relieves your stress level and may even make you funny around people! Sandpit VS a multi-media device? You're an idiot! Can you learn that an elephant can hear sound waves below humans ears are capable of hearing by drawing pictures in the sand? I'll repeat, you're an idiot! Shooting people due to stress is just an exaggerated example, you're stupid if you think that it actually happens. Imagine a court case where a dude shoots 20 people on a rampage: Ummm your honor, I didn't have a TV, so I thought it'd be fun to go around shooting people... You're an idiot! Sorry if I'd called you an idiot too many times, I'm a little stressed out. I've only watched 5 hours of TV today... I need another 5 hours I'm afraid... Side: False
Probably, but I don't see that as an issue that needs to be fixed in some way. You know, freedom. And those snooty "oh I don't watch tv" people get on my nerves, I think they just want to be able to say that. But what you have to remember is that t.v. is different now. We have the science channel, nat geo, history channel, all things educational you name it. Tv has come a long way from only 5 channels, it's educational now. So it depends on what where watching. As for me, There are some select shows I specifically record and watch(24, the office, family guy, house). But I never just sit there and flip through the channels. Though occasionally I will turn on nat geo, or the history channel just to see what's on. The internet is much more entertaining to me. Side: False
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Without the internet, we'd be completely lost when it comes down to dealing with all those weirdos. Yes, I hate those people who, as you said, say 'oh I don't watch tv.' What is the point about bragging that you are completely cut off from most of the world? You are for Fox News, right? Would you call the vast number of people who watch CNN to be watching an educational program - or is it a comedy? Slightly off topic here - Did you think that the later seasons of 24 was better? I never got passed Day 3. Side: True
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"Without the internet, we'd be completely lost when it comes down to dealing with all those weirdos." What are you talking about? I'm kind of confused. "You are for Fox News, right? Would you call the vast number of people who watch CNN to be watching an educational program - or is it a comedy?" Well CNN isn't all that bad. But MSNBC is a joke. "Did you think that the later seasons of 24 was better? I never got passed Day 3." Day 4 is just as good as the first 3 seasons in my opinion, It may be my favorite. But after that it gets boring, mainly because they killed off so many good characters. But I'm still loyal. Side: False
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