Is it really worth one's time to watch movies and/or TV?

College Confidential Community
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<p>Basically, I don't do a lot of things that are things that people are supposed to want to do. In other words, I never watch television or movies, because I've been under the mindset that they're generally wastes of time, and that they fall under the category of "I shouldn't, but I want to", rather than "I don't want to, but I should".</p>

<p>However, because television and movies are by far the most significant facilitators of contemporary American cultural identity, I kind of feel like I'm "missing out" on the pop culture that's supposed to define my generation. And not just current movies/television, but all the "classics" as well.</p>

<p>So, my question is this:</p>

<p>Should I force myself to watch television and go to the movies? Are they really worth it, or are they just something people do when they're bored and don't have anything else to do? I am extremely busy and never bored, so this is something I'd have to "make room" for.</p>

<p>I just want some feedback on whether I should be glad I don't spend hours and hours each week watching tv and/or movies, or whether I should cut out things like reading the news in favor of getting my fill in the pop culture for which my generation will be known.</p>

<p>More specifically, is there anything significant I'm missing from having never watched shows like CSI, House, 24, Lost, Heroes, Grey's Anatomy, Scrubs, and American Idol, and movies like The Dark Knight, Wall-E, Slumdog Millionaire, Forrest Gump, the Shawshank Redemption, Saving Private Ryan, Once, Donnie Darko, Amelie, The Godfather, No Country for Old Men, etc? Because watching all or even a fraction of these takes up an enormous amount of time, and I don't know whether it would be worth it. :X</p>

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<p>I wish I didn’t like TV. I know its a huge waste of time and completely nonproductive, yet I waste quite a bit of time watching TV. Im hooked on Scrubs, Heroes, and Man v Wild.</p>

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<p>i think it is a waste of time when you can be doing other things but when you have nothing to do it doesnt hurt. love gossip girl 90210 priviledged one tree hill and the bad girls club</p>

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<p>I loooooove TV. Why do people feel it necessary to make good use of 100% of their time? Sit back and relax you guys! Oh, and don’t watch Lost because you have to watch that from the beginning. Check out Heroes because only 2.5 seasons are out and the 2nd season was only 11 episodes due to the writers strike</p>

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<p>Watching Lost makes me feel like how I felt when I used to watch my brother play Myst.</p>

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<p>@ yawn:</p>

<p>I don’t know if you’re missing anything specifically with reagrds to not watching those shows. Many people don’t watch every show but it seems you’re at least aware they exist and probably have an idea what they’re about. I regularly watch Lost and Heroes (which really sucks now though) and I’ve seen American Idol. But the other ones I don’t watch.</p>

<p>I think the important thing is to be aware of popular culture and what’s going on. That doesn’t mean you have to become invested in the shows, music, or trends. But it’s nice to have a familiarity with the current cultural paradigm. Imagine if you grew up in the 60’s and had no idea what being a hippie meant or who The Beatles were.</p>

<p>I watch a good amount of TV, but I also supplement this with spending free time learning about more erudite subjects.</p>

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<p>

TITCR</p>

<p>Seriously, watching or following TV shows/movies relieves stress and is fun. Don’t look too deeply into it.</p>

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<p>You shouldn’t force yourself to do anything if you don’t really want to. Watching TV and/or movies are definitely worth it if the show or movie is good enough though.</p>

<p>The Uninvited is good =]</p>

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<p>probably because all the movies you watch are commercial trash. Find some good directors and what not.</p>

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<p>If you don’t wanna watch TV, don’t watch it. No one’s putting a gun to your head and making you watch it. I watch a couple of TV shows and here’s why:</p>

<p>Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson - it just cheers me up and makes me feel happy. He’s so cute and funny with his Scottish accent :slight_smile: </p>

<p>House MD - it’s so interesting and has lots of witty/sarcastic comments, and it’s dramatic but not a soap opera (except this season). </p>

<p>Desperate Housewives - my guilty pleasure soap opera. Because it’s melodramatic and unrealistic and bananas, and I love it. </p>

<p>This doesn’t take up “an enormous amount of time”. House and DH are each 1 hr a week, Late Late Show like 5 hrs a week. I usually DVR them and get to them when I can. So, you don’t have to watch TV, but you’re missing out on some good shows :slight_smile: Being constantly busy isn’t for me…I think everyone needs some down time. I have a part-time job, classes, friends, a boyfriend…still find time for my shows.</p>

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<p>It’s entertainment. You don’t <em>need</em> to watch TV/movies, but you <em>do</em> need time to relax every now and then, and hopefully you already have some of that.</p>

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<p>

Nah, I can easily find critically acclaimed movies. It’s not hard. I even have a bunch of critically movies that I downloaded but have never watched. My question also extends to whether it’s worth watching these movies as well.</p>

<p>

Uh…that’s 365 hours a year. That’s not an enormous amount of time? o.O</p>

<p>

Well, I relax and “entertain” myself by reading the news and editorials. The problem is, of course, that no one else my age does, so it’s like I might as well have just been watching paint dry.</p>

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<p>Is it really worth one’s time to ask on College Confidential if it is really worth one’s time to watch movies and/or TV?</p>

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<p>^ You always want to spend a bit of time researching before making a big investment.</p>

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<p>

Nope - you don’t watch TV so I guess you don’t know this, but new episodes don’t premiere throughout the entire year! The latest season of a show only premieres for about half the year, if even. And 7 hrs of TV a week is not a lot, imo…it’s good entertainment and something to do to relax…it’s more fun if you’re watching it with some good friends, and y’all can sit back and laugh and relax together. Just like most things, TV is best in moderation. what are you so busy doing, anyhow? you must take a lot of classes, work a lot, or have a serious internship or something, because most of my friends and I have part-time jobs/college/social lives and we still find time for a bit of TV. but i’m not saying you should watch it - different people relax in different ways. maybe you’re more of a stamp-collecting kinda guy :)</p>

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<p>

Ah, I guess I was assuming people watch reruns. I’d say about 90% of my brother’s television time includes reruns. He certainly doesn’t stop watching tv just because there’s not a new episode. o.O</p>

<p>Though I do agree that just watching new episodes would certainly be more “productive” than watching reruns.</p>

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Lol. That seems like a pretty sad existence. >_<</p>

<p><em>remembers the Pokemon days of elementary school</em></p>

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<p>hahah no i’m not saying you’re a loser - i’m just guessing you have other hobbies for fun. hey, do whatever relaxes you, and if a couple of tv cultural references go over your head, who cares? </p>

<p>I do watch reruns of House because I haven’t seen all the episodes, but not for DH and I don’t think they even show reruns for the Late Late show. many shows don’t premiere in the summer, and i usually don’t watch a lot of tv then. sometimes I catch reruns of Bones, too.</p>

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<p>[Happy</a> People Watch Less TV](<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/health/research/20happy.html?_r=1&em]Happy”>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/health/research/20happy.html?_r=1&em)</p>

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<p>^ Ah, yes, I remember reading that. But, of course, it’s not clear whether this is correlation or causation. They should carry out a study if turning off the TV will make people more happy.</p>