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[–]comments 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

ended up long..

tl;dr: don't want to pay so use free online games/video/social media. think I should replace with family/cultural stories or educational stuff.


I can't really afford entertainment. I mean I guess I could spend money on it, but it feels extremely unwise when I don't feel super secure otherwise.

So I use what's freely available on the internet ... and I still feel bad about that because I think I should be compensating people because I think that's how things work, from the bee and the flower to human relationships with each other.

I also have always kinda disliked "TV," even growing up. "It rots your brain," idk if that's true, good stories are important, but I always had that attitude. I did watch a lot of it anyway though.

What I have ended up replacing it with is online content creators who offer their stuff for free, basically. And free video games, and anonymous social media (hi, SaidIt.). Youtube/bitchute, webcomics.

What I think I should replace it with: telling stories from my family. I think that's what TV replaced, I think back in the days of yore we were supposed to gather around the village fire in the evening and listen to the elders tell of the great deeds of our ancestors. And "gossip". Real stuff.

I'm trying to do things I think are healthier entertainment wise. I think the best thing I've found is just being outside in our garden, it's so nice just to watch all the life out there doing its thing. Like, I found out what kind of flowers our lawn grass makes the other day just wandering around in the yard.

These are some things I've been thinking are good to do, but that I'm not currently doing:

  • people keep reminding me that project gutenberg has lots of good freely available stuff. also read the founder's story, it's heartwarming and a good story in and of itself. reminds you of the best of what this information system we've got can be.

  • religious/spiritual/whatever you want to call it stuff. these things are meant to help people live good lives and provide good material for reflection and engagement that elevates life.

  • more educational stuff than TV. my family sometimes watches lectures and stuff or audiobooks instead of fiction shows.

  • math. I got an introductory abstract math book a while ago that I thought I might go through, but I haven't really gotten into it.


That said, there's some stuff I watched that I do like. I liked Frozen.

[–]Aureus[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

What I think I should replace it with: telling stories from my family. I think that's what TV replaced, I think back in the days of yore we were supposed to gather around the village fire in the evening and listen to the elders tell of the great deeds of our ancestors. And "gossip". Real stuff.

I totally agree. I think this is something we've unfortunately lost as a culture, although many people are trying to get back to it. Gardening is excellent as well, especially if you're growing things you can eat. I can also second educational and religious activities.

I'm going to think some more on this and get back to you, but feel free to speak to me more about it in the meantime. Wasting too much time on TV is definitely a problem many people struggle with