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TELEVISION

An expedient means for embracing frustration.

An insidious habit that thrives on human passivity.

For the sad and lonely the most intimate friend they have.

The most ubiquitous, captivating man-made device ever known.

A veritable potpourri of choices you have when abdicating your mind.

A screen and speaker that electronically reconstruct broadcast material.

A door too easily opened to the unseemly, unsightly, the crass and confusing.

A profusion of images and sounds which effectively elicit vicarious responses.

Invitation to ‘sit down’ and share an experience with millions of ‘like-minded’ people.

Common household ‘link’ to a vast world of solicitations, entertainment, education and ‘news’.
 

• Perhaps the constant habit of ‘imbibing’ fantasy can make the ‘real world’ unpalatable.
   
• Perhaps inviting strangers into your inner sanctum to assault your senses is either courageous or dumb.
   
• Perhaps those weaned on thousands of hours of ‘viewing’ will become the ideal, docile drones society needs.
   
• Perhaps the expediency of escape into ‘other worlds’ can lead to a neglect even disdain of the ‘here and now’.
   
• Perhaps quantum leaps in enlightenment by masses of viewers will vindicate television’s positive ‘role’ in history.
   
• Perhaps selfish, parental neglect that is dependent on surrogates seriously undermines life’s most important relationship.
   
• Perhaps being able to mock, criticize even adore strangers without their knowing is an irresistible attraction for the power seeking voyeur.
   
• Perhaps the ability to ‘open countless doors’ at a young age can induce a naïve haughtiness; perhaps so much ‘data’ encourages youth’s propensity for ‘knowing it all’.
   
• Perhaps centuries hence historians will castigate T.V. addiction as the most insidious force for conformity the human race has ever known; perhaps future generations will regard T.V. as the most mentally destructive virulence ‘mankind’ has encountered.
   
• Perhaps there are risks when citizens transfix their minds constantly to enticements, admonishments and conflicting values; perhaps so many ‘do’s and don’ts’ confuse and undermine individual initiative and commitment; perhaps complacency is often the result.
  
  any thoughts on this powerful alienation/escapist mesmerizer??
   

  ESSAY ON TELEVISION by EDWIN O’SHEA

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