Do you have the TV on when eating dinner?
By UK_Shree
@UK_Shree (3603)
December 30, 2008 4:58pm CST
I personally prefer to have the TV off if I am having dinner especially if I am eating dinner in the company of others. I just think that it prevents people from having conversations and somehow takes part of the quality of that time being spent together. If I am eating on my own then it is not a big deal and I might put the TV on, but how about you? Do you eat in front of the TV?
11 people like this
52 responses
@oyenkai (4394)
• Philippines
4 Jan 09
We have a television both in the kitchen and in the dining - but we rarely use them while eating, not even while cooking. It's quite disturbing. And I don't like it when it's loud - that's the best way to describe Filipino movies, noontime shows, series. I can't stand it and it gives me the headache. If I'm going to watch something that disturbing then I should focus my attention to it.
Thanks for the comment on my discussion!
2 people like this
@UK_Shree (3603)
•
4 Jan 09
Hi oyenkai, I know what you mean about loud, annoying programmes giving headaches! I do not like this at all either
and therefore why invite the possibility of having this sort of experience into dinner time on a regular basis?
I can understand wanting to eat and maybe watch programmes together once in a while, but definitely not all the time!
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1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
8 Jan 09
we didn't use to have it front of the tv as much,but my whole family does it now
(except on holidays).it's just so much easier for mom to eat right there at her chair,and she enjoys the tv,so i don't see the harm in it.
she and my brother will still talk..they're in the same room.
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@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
8 Jan 09
as long as it's on break from a chew..![](/Content/images/emotes/wink.gif)
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1 person likes this
@misspipsi (237)
• Bulgaria
3 Jan 09
Yes,we have the TV turned on when we eat dinner.Otherwise we will get bored from each other and while we have the TV on even the cat is glad to lay on the TV or her owners are happy to catch a good movie or TV serie.I don`t think it part in the quality of the conversation.Even sometimes it`s reason to start one-you can discuss the movie or the news.Happy MyLotting!
1 person likes this
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
•
31 Dec 08
It is a really bad habit of mine as I grew up watching TV while eating dinner
I wouldn't do it if we had family or friends round for dinner as that is just so rude but the two of us always have our meals in front of the TV.
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@Foxfire1875 (2010)
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8 Jan 09
Helle foxfire1875 - do you mean that you and your partner? Do you have similar TV viewing habits? I guess that might make it okay
Yes it's just me and my partner, if I had kids I might be more strict and insist on eating at the table and not in front of TV. We don't have similar viewing habits at all but just put up with the others programme or go play on the PC.
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@Chevee (5905)
• United States
6 Jan 09
I always eat with the television on, I have a television in the kitchen and it is always on. When I am cooking the dinner it is on, and when I sit down to eat it is still on. My televisions are always on at all time, the only time they are not on is when the electric power is off. Oh, and when I go to bed.
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@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
5 Mar 09
Yea, same here. We have TVs everywhere - living room, kitchen, etc.
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@annjilena (5618)
• United States
31 Dec 08
yes i must confess i do but i perfer it not to be on while eating this is a time for us to spend with the family and see how there day went.turning the tv off during dinner is a very good thing to do you can spend that quality time with each other.
1 person likes this
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
1 Jan 09
Our tv is usually on when we're eating dinner but we eat at the kitchen table, and we can hear the tv from there but we're not watching it. Like you if I'm home alone I'll eat in the living room and watch tv, but only then.
1 person likes this
@jesbellaine (4139)
• Philippines
31 Dec 08
Hi There! No, not really. We don’t have Television in our dining area so whenever it is dinner time; we just always talk about things we want to share about in our family. But sometimes when my sister wants to watch something, she will bring her plate and really watch TV. I guess she didn’t really want to miss her favorite soap opera every Saturdays so my mother just let her be… lolz. Goodluck! Thanks for the discussion! Happy New Year and Happy HOlidays! Cheers!
1 person likes this
@UK_Shree (3603)
•
31 Dec 08
Hi jesbellaine, thats nice that you guys all have dinner together and use that time to talk. I do understand that there are some programmes which you just don't want to miss so it's cool that once in a while you make exceptions for your sister! Happy New Year to you also!
@Cryssystar (53)
• United States
31 Dec 08
I'm always eating dinner while watching tv. Even when the family is at the table. Its weird without it on. Sometimes I eat infront of the computer too. I know its wrong, but its a bad habit I have.
1 person likes this
@godtracer (1)
• India
31 Dec 08
well.....personally...I do not watch tv while having my food, but believe me,when i used to,if an action film or a great adrenaline pumping show is being being telecasted, it can make you hog on to food, nd you end up eating a a lot. I think its a good option to keep the t.v aside while your eating and catch up with your favourate channel, Im sure It will be good 4 our healths.
1 person likes this
@kerri_guo (3)
• China
31 Dec 08
When eating, my family are used to having the Tv on even no one wants to watch.
In fact, the TV is not in our dinning room and we only can listen to it. Most of
the time we chatted with eatch other and ignored the TV. But I don't know why we
do that. Maybe, I should suggest to turning it off next time. After all, it can
save some electricity charge.
When I have dinner alone, I will turn on the radio or CD player.
1 person likes this
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
30 Dec 08
Yes, but only if I'm eating by myself. If I have company, I don't eat with the T.V. on unless we're both watching something. As a kid, we never had the T.V. on during dinner. In fact, when the Challenger disaster happened, my brother and I both knew something was up because our parents left the T.V. on during dinner.
@moonlight_dream (520)
• Romania
31 Dec 08
I always have the tv on when eating :) I usually eat with my family, and we all like to watch something while having dinner or any other meal. We can't just stand there and eat, I wouldn't be able to eat at all :) I'd get bored not having something to watch.
When you're having dinner with some guests, of course it might not be such a good idea to turn ont he tv since it might distract your attention. But if the others don't mind, why not?
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@moonlight_dream (520)
• Romania
4 Jan 09
Haha :) If you knew my family you wouldn't say that... We never "talk" like that... We're not that close, actually there's no day without an argument :D Ahh I got used to it anyway.
@AmbiePam (88835)
• United States
31 Dec 08
Since I live by myself, when I am alone at home I do eat in front of the TV. I don't have a kitchen table because there is no room for it. But if I'm at my parent's house it depends on how many people are present. If it is just them and me, we usually just set up trays and eat in the living room. Any more people than that and we all eat at the table.
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@stealthy (8181)
• United States
30 Dec 08
I have it on during dinner and other meals, too since I am single and live alone and work at home. I like having the noise and during some of the meals the news is on so it is a good time to catch up on what is going on locally, nationaly and around the world. I also grew up in a family that had the TV on at dinner time and we ate on TV tables in the den so we could watch it.
1 person likes this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
30 Dec 08
I agree with you. I think that family time is important. Conversation is a lost art due to our need to be entertained by little lighted boxes in the corner. It just seems rude in a way too. On a rare occasion we have had the TV on due to a special show that we didn't want to miss or because we need to catch the weather or news. But 99.99999% of the time, it's off.
I watch it if I'm eating alone too. Although I try to eat at the dining room table most of the time. We can see the TV from there and it save on spills in the living room.
1 person likes this
@UK_Shree (3603)
•
30 Dec 08
Thanks for your response. I just think its sad that people may live together for years but not ever bother to sit and eat together - properly together, not just together looking at the TV.
If you are alone, that's different, but yes eating in front of the TV can be rude especially if one person is not really enjoying the program very much.
1 person likes this
@dhaksha80 (143)
• Singapore
31 Dec 08
Ofcourse yaar i prefer watching TV when eating. while watching TV i dont really care about the taste of the food. But i put on weight bcoz i also dont care about the amount of food.Even if my stomach got full i will be still eating till the show or picture ends. Actually thats a bad habit. I could not make over it. If not TV atleast i want books to read while eating
@UK_Shree (3603)
•
6 Jan 09
I understand what you are saying, but I think that because food is so central to our survival, that it should be more than just fueling our bodies and that we should make an effort with the food we eat, to make to it taste good. That way, we wouldn't want to throw it away anyway! I completely agree with you when you say that we should not waste food, and you are right, wasting food is shameful. I still think that enjoying food is something we should all make an effort to do.
Happy myLotting!
@dhaksha80 (143)
• Singapore
6 Jan 09
Definitely not.By that way i could not waste the food bcoz of the taste. I should be shame if am throwing the food just bocz it is not tasty.
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