Do you miss how TV used to be?

an OLD TV set
Pakistan
May 20, 2023 12:06pm CST
In the not-so-distant past, television was the primary source of entertainment for families around the world. Long before smartphones and the internet took over our lives, the TV was the centerpiece of the living room, captivating audiences with its magical screen. It provided a window into a world of stories, news, and adventures, creating a unique bond within families as they gathered around it. Television had an incredible power to bring people together. In the absence of smartphones and individual screens, families would unite in the living room, eagerly awaiting their favorite shows or movies. It was a time when households shared a collective experience, collectively laughing, gasping, or shedding tears over the characters and narratives that unfolded before them. The TV became a catalyst for conversations, sparking discussions about the latest episode, plot twists, or memorable scenes. It was a shared language that connected generations and allowed for quality time together. The limited number of channels and fixed programming schedules added a sense of anticipation and excitement. Families would plan their evenings around the TV guide, ensuring they didn't miss their favorite programs. Whether it was a sitcom, a drama, a variety show, or a live event, everyone would be present, their attention fully captured by the magic of television. The TV became a focal point for relaxation, laughter, and emotional engagement, creating lasting memories that still evoke nostalgia today. With the rapid advancements in technology, the rise of smartphones, computers, laptops, and other modern gadgets has significantly impacted the role of television in our lives. Traditional TV sets are no longer the sole source of entertainment as people increasingly turn to OTT (Over-The-Top) platforms and digital streaming services like YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu to watch their favorite shows, movies, and dramas. The convenience and accessibility offered by these digital platforms have made TVs less important and less dependent. Viewers now have the freedom to watch content anytime, anywhere, and on any device, eliminating the need to gather around a television set at specific times. The emergence of these modern gadgets has transformed the entertainment landscape, providing a personalized and on-demand viewing experience that caters to individual preferences and schedules. As a result, the once-central role of TV sets in our homes has shifted, making way for the digital era of entertainment. How was your TV experience when there were no gadgets and internet?
9 people like this
11 responses
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
20 May 23
We still watch TV when there is something decent to watch. That is the problem these days, too much wokeness has spilled over to the programs. I turn it off a lot more often lately.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (92789)
• United States
20 May 23
I wholeheartedly agree.
2 people like this
• Pakistan
21 May 23
@CarolDM Please explain wokeness... wokeness as in the "woke ideology"?
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
21 May 23
@zainkhan121 Depends on who you ask. The word ‘woke’ which started as a call to stay alert, hence woke, against racially targeted police brutality in the black communities in America, has now overtaken the internet and its meaning since has been convoluted to become progressively less clear and more all-encompassing. And “woke” has gone beyond racial social justice to also apply to LGBTQ rights and feminist causes. It has spilled over into many aspects of our lives today, unfortunately.
@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
21 May 23
My TV experience has not changed a bit. After dinner I like to sit in our living room and to watch a movie on our big TV with my husband. Why should I use a small gadget when a big TV is so much better?
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
22 May 23
@zainkhan121 Everyone according to their liking. I hate to watch movies on small gadgets.
• Pakistan
22 May 23
Smaller gadgets are with much better picture quality that's one reason.... And the connectivity to the internet and the ease of access to different content is also a reason.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (92789)
• United States
20 May 23
I think I occasionally still miss that. You still get that "need to watch now" feeling with live sports, but it was more fun to know everyone was tuned into the same show at one time, and everyone couldn't wait to talk about it the next morning. It was fun to gather around the television as a family and all watch our favorite family show when I was growing up. But that hearkens back to a simpler time, and I wonder if I'm just missing the shared family moments, and maybe not so much the shared television experience.
1 person likes this
• Pakistan
21 May 23
I want to add something to what you wrote... In the past, there weren't as many entertainment options available on TV, so we used to eagerly wait for a specific show to come on at a particular time. But now, with so much entertainment easily accessible, that feeling of anticipation and excitement has disappeared. When something becomes too readily available, it becomes less special, and that's where the enjoyment is lost.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136525)
• India
30 May 23
I prefer a large screen to watch any programme and so prefer tv to a mobile. I watch a couple of serials and ofcourse news. I am not much into movies. We owned a black and white and we were the only ones in the society where we lived and so had an audience. (lol) We now have a smart tv that has a big screen.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50256)
• United States
20 May 23
I enjoyed watching television with my family and still do.
1 person likes this
• Pakistan
20 May 23
So people in your house don't watch stuff on their PCs and phones etc ?
• India
20 May 23
We need to move with the change so it's fine
1 person likes this
• Pakistan
20 May 23
But The nostalgia lingers perpetually.
1 person likes this
@jeanbug23 (992)
• Philippines
22 May 23
The TV that we used to use when I was young, I missed not only the material itself but my childhood the most. I love watching in that old, bulky TV set and the old movies that made me missed my being a young kid again.
@Jenaisle (14078)
• Philippines
21 May 23
My experience is like what you have described. Now, each one of us has cell phones and sometimes, we're so engrossed with our own online activities that we rarely get together in front of the TV. But we do have rare times watching the same show on TV.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (69826)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 May 23
The same as it is now. I have my favorite shows and movies, only now, I'm in control of it. I can be more productive, because I don't have to plan my life around the television. While you're right, families used to gather around the television, in today's world, they still do. Only now we as a society can control when that is, and still have rich filling lives.
1 person likes this
@choijungeun (2631)
• Hangzhou, China
20 May 23
I love the TV,i used to watch the Tv with my friends together.That feeling is very wonderful.
@JudyEv (340151)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 23
We rarely watch TV - about an hour in the evening to see the news and weather and that's about it.
@JudyEv (340151)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 23
@zainkhan121 You could well be right.
• Pakistan
21 May 23
and I am sure in few years you won't be doing that, as you will stop using TV as you are using it now...
1 person likes this