i'm getting my very republican father to turn the TV off!!!! woo hoo!!!

[AgadorSparticus]

He usually has FOX on 24/7. And it was getting too scary talking to him. But I brought in information about how watching TV reduces attention spans and added that it just numbs your cognitive skills. So, I'm getting him to turn the TV off and listen to music, read, print pictures, write letters, etc. I told him to go online to get his news and do more reading. He's limiting his TV time to an hour or so a day!!! You don't understand. This is a HUGE step for him.

I'm so excited!!! Now, if we could just get the whole country to turn their TV's off....

[Melodybe]

1. Good for you

[MissMarple]

2. Congratulations! FOX can scramble one's synapses.

And, I think it can put some folks into a state of permanent brain freeze. Good luck, I hope he feels better. The NewsHour may be an acceptable substitute, not perfectly objective, but way better than FOX.

[enough]

3. TV-watching is a big problem for the elderly

Both my parents and my husbands parents, all in their 80's, spend a LOT more time watching TV now than any of them did when they were 10 years younger. It's getting so that's all they really relate to in the world. These were all active, sharp, committed people when they were younger.

I think when you have less energy, it's just so easy to turn it on and go with the flow. NO question their attention span has deteriorated -- I never connected it to the fact that they are watching the tube so much.

You have done your father a great service. Now I'm starting to wonder if I should try to do the same.

[AgadorSparticus]

4. you should!! my father is pushing 80 and i think it really numbed him

mentally to watch that much TV. i may be way off, but i could swear that watching that much tv puts people into trances. like zombies. very sluggish. i told him to be more active in his activities. don't just sit there passively recieving information. go read. go walk. go listen to music. do easy crossword puzzles.

i even bought him classical CD's to play in the background. it stimulates brainwaves and is calming. the elderly tend to be prone to depression. i have him listen to happy, stimulating music during the day and soothing, calm music in the evening.

now, we spend time organizing things, learning to operate his digital camcorder, making labels, cleaning, etc. it engages a person moreso than just watching tv.
in a mere couple of days, i can already see a big difference in him mentally. he's sharper, more alert, more coordinated, etc. his spirit is coming back too. he argues more. he even says he feels better.

[Barbara Ann]

5. Now, give him a book!