Start training to turn off that TV

A few weeks ago, I took advantage of an online offer to register for

two weeks of free service from Netflix. This is a company that mails

customers DVDs they have ordered online with the assurance that they

can cancel at any time. The concept is good, and their service was

outstanding, but we used Netflix only once, and I could not justify

the future $19.95 monthly fee.

So I called Netflix to cancel. Once again, they were very

efficient, and my customer service person, whom I will call “Jeff,”

was very courteous. Jeff asked why I wanted to cancel, and I told him

that we were not using the service enough to justify the expense.

Jeff replied, “Got a lot of TV to watch these days, huh?”

By now, you are probably miles ahead of me. Yes, given such an

opening, I drove my truck right through it.

“My wife and I have been TV-free for seven years, and my kids have

not watched TV in over three years,” I said.

There was sustained silence on the other end. Maybe Jeff then said

what he said because our call may have been “monitored to assure

quality customer service,” or maybe it was because Jeff recognized a

blowhard when he heard one.

“OK, Mr. Smith, you’re all set,” he said. “If you wish to

reactivate your account, you can do so online at any time.”

Being TV-free isn’t something that I go around trumpeting. But

yes, given certain opportunities, I will divulge this aspect of our

lives. The exceptions being one or two times a year when events

prompt a reminder of just how bad TV is for kids.

One of those opportunities is now, or about 30 days from now, if

you want to get technical. This year, April 21 through 27, is National TV Turnoff Week. If you think you’ve read this pitch before,

stay tuned. This year, we’ve got a whole new reason -- a big one --

to turn off the tube.

It seems that there are more and more experts who are recognizing

TV’s dangers and warning parents about them.

In an uncredited online story about how to allay the war fears of

our children, America Online wrote, “Mimi Doe, author of ’10

Principles for Spiritual Parenting’ (Harper Collins Publishers,

1998), suggests limiting TV images of tragedy, especially for young

ones. Instead, turn to less intrusive media like radio.”

Then, in a follow-up online story, author Ellen Neuborne writes:

“In addition, Dr. [Marion] Bilich recommends that parents consider

reducing their own media consumption to maintain as much control as

possible over what children see. Turn instead to radio, newspapers

and Internet sites for your news.”

There, folks, is the catch. I have no doubt that the numbers of

TV-free kids would rise like a souffle if only their parents could

kick their habit. But they can’t. They are as hooked as their

children, perhaps even more so.

This column usually appears in the middle of April, closer to the

official TV-free week. But I’m writing it early to give parents and

teachers time to think about a strategy for becoming TV-free, if only

for a week. Visit tvturnoff.org for information.

There are several options for kicking the habit. You can do what

KFI news director Ken Gallacher did about 10 years ago and send your

kids away for the weekend while you remove all evidence of TV in your

home. Or you can establish firm limits on when the TV is to be turned

on.

Some homes, for example, won’t allow the TV on from dawn Monday to

dusk Friday. Or, you can do what we did and leave the hardware where

it is so you can still watch movies, but not TV.

Quitting TV is hard. I know because I experienced the withdrawal

symptoms -- those are real -- and to this day, I am excluded from

many conversations because I did not see the latest episode of the

reality show du jour. I also know it’s hard because, if it were easy,

more people would be doing it.

The positives from a TV-free home are remarkable. Peace. Quiet.

Music. Kids who read or have lengthy conversations with their

parents. Closeness. Bonding. I could go on.

Plan now to have your kids or students turn off the TV for a week,

April 21 to 27. If you don’t like it, you can cancel anytime and

reactivate your account.

* STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and freelance writer.

Readers may leave a message for him on the Daily Pilot hotline at

(949) 642-6086.