Everyone has an opinion. We’re all entitled to our own opinions. We’re human (most of us), we’re individuals, so having an opinion is par for the course. Some people tend to be more opinionated than others, and some people like to deem their opinion as the opinion to have, and will try to strong arm convince you to change your opinion to match theirs.
I tend to be more introverted when it comes to giving an opinion about something. However, if I feel strongly about something, I’ll state my opinion, but be sure to follow it with “That’s just my opinion” and am more than willing to hear what other opinions are. I’m not one that is set in one way of thinking, I’m open minded and always willing to listen to alternatives.
Since I experienced yet another round of Blue Screen of Death incidents today, being able to write a coherent Spin Cycle post for this week sort of went out with the blue screen. But since this week’s Spin Cycle is all about Opinions, I remembered a post I had written long before I had an ‘official’ blog – one that I posted on TV.com during the whole fight to save the show “Journeyman” in early 2008. It’s a bit wordy, so for those with a short attention span, I apologize.
Originally posted on March 12, 2008 (radically edited):
Television, as we know it, is changing as we know it. Think about it. Talk to anyone who was born before Television even existed and they’ll tell you how much it’s changed since its inception. Talk to anyone who was born within the last 40 years, and they’ll tell you things have changed since even they’ve been around.
Color television was only introduced into households in the mid 1950’s early 1960’s, but very few shows were actually filmed and broadcast in color. Although NBC’s ‘Ford Theatre’ became the first color filmed series in October 1954.
While all the networks were airing color programs by 1968, the television sales for black and white TV’s still outnumbered the color sets until 1972 – which, apparently, was just about the time that half the television households in the U.S. finally had color sets. 1972!
My grandfather would fondly recall the ‘good old days’ when his whole family would gather around the radio for their favorite weekly programs – it was something to look forward to each and every week, and the whole family enjoyed the entertainment together. When television came along, it was again a ‘family thing’, where the whole family would enjoy an evening of television, amazed at this new technology, and even more amazed when color television came to fruition.
The rapid changes of television past are only changing more rapidly as more people and companies have the means to try new things. My husband’s Electronics Engineering Technology class is astounded to hear about televisions that didn’t have a remote, television viewing before there was cable, DVR’s and ‘On Demand’, “because, like, that’s just wrong, man!”
We are in a fast-paced world, everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere, and no one has time to be mandated by a specific television schedule. More people are shifting away from sitting in front of the television for a block of time each evening or each week because it’s not ‘the good old days’ anymore. You have iTunes, iPhones, iPods and wireless computers. Who needs to actually have a television in their house anymore?
With how rapidly technology is ever changing (watching TV on your iPod, checking email on your coffee mug that doubles as a computer screen) networks have their work cut out for them. Gone are the true ‘ratings’ days – Nielsen hasn’t been able to keep up with the technology over the years and comparatively speaking, there aren’t enough Nielsen boxes in households to truly calculate actual viewer numbers.
Yet, the networks still rely on that old archaic method of deciding if a show should stay on the schedule or ultimately be canceled. NBC is a prime example – a network that used to be the #1 network of all the original three. They led the pack in new technology, they led the pack in programming, they simply led the pack.
Over the years NBC has slipped off their pedestal and have not been the #1 network in quite awhile. I can only speculate that part of that is due to their programming choices and how they promote – or don’t promote – quality shows. Instead, they’ve been the network that cancels shows in infancy, never looking back.
In this ever changing, fast-paced world, there needs to be a restructuring of how the ratings are calculated. There needs to be continuity across all the venues available today, and those that will be available in the future.
Television as we know it is changing rapidly. At some point we will come full circle and fewer households will physically have a television in their houses, because they’ll be carrying iPhones, iPods, netbooks and laptops – and yes, even coffee mugs with an interactive computer screen.
Quick Note: If you’re reading this is in IE7 or earlier, you won’t be able to leave a comment – I’m still trying to find out why…meanwhile, if you insist on using IE as your browser of choice, upgrading to IE8 resolves the issue and comments can be left. Or you can jump on the bandwagon of Firefox, Safari or Google Chrome and have way less headaches… 😉
Oh dear lord, I really am behind the times because we have none of those things…the TV’s we have are old and not very big.
I like hearing the opinions of others and even if I disagree, I will listen and respect the person. I, like you, am open minded and like to be challanged. I tend to hold back my opinion out of fear of being judged but have gotten better with that.
Hope you get all your computor/internet stuff figured out soon. I’m sure that is driving you crazy cause I know when I have troubles with mine how it drives me crazy! 🙂
Things really have changed so much! I remember those days of no remotes and only a few channels to choose from. That is when a show got a better chance because everything was not so watered down. That is just my opinion!! 🙂
Yes, it’s really amazing how technology has changed just in my lifetime. I remember the old ‘car phones’ lol. THey were as big as a brick. ha ha!
In my opinion, Google needs to get its act together so I can properly subscribe to your feed!
Alright, I’m over it. I agree completely with you. I remember when my parents had this tv, you know, the kinds that came as their own piece of furniture?, and it was huge! No remote. You had to get up to crank the dial. And we weren’t allowed to crank the dial. Mom or Dad had to do it. Now, my 3 year old knows how to turn the channel, or pretends she knows, and I don’t mind for the most part. (Except for the one time she turned on the French mode and confused the set. And me.) I haven’t been able to test her abilities, but her speediness in finding the Disney Channel is astounding.
You’re linked!
I went to Google Reader and it said you had 11 new posts! But I’d read all of them but this one…ah, well, at least I’m getting your feed.
When I was growing up, we had one television. One. In the living room. With all of six stations – the three networks, PBS, and two local stations, one of which came through the UHF band and was spotty at best (it showed mostly old western reruns and religious programming).
Jeez, I’m old.
Well we have tV boxes we just don’t use them for broadcast TV. We can’t get a signal that’s strong enough for us to actually sit there and watch. CBC (Canadian PBSish) is all digital, we haven’t bought digital boxes. We cancelled CAble because we couldn’t afford it. WE don’t have i anything either, it’s just too expensive. No cellphones, no texting, ust commputers lots off commputers. dumpsterdivers though.
I didn’t like what you said about there being no televisions in our future. I can’t bear it, Stacy! I can’t bear it!!!
.-= blueviolet would like you to read blog ..A Tat Like That =-.
Soon the programming will be transmitted directly to our brains and we’ll have to sneeze to change the channel…
.-= VE would like you to read blog ..No Dough Arising Here =-.
I’ve been reading along for a while now. I just wanted to drop you a comment to say keep up the good work.
oh dear, you have no idea what kinds of people make these decisions. Seriously, total boys club, trust me, I”m shocked they let in any woman, ever. It’s as sexist as it can be b/c in HOllywood, “women just aren’t that funny”. I’m just saying, in my opinion
My dad has a bumper sticker on his truck that says “Everyone is entitled to MY opinion”, and let me tell you, he is NOT joking.
I’m like you, constantly saying “that’s just MY opinion”, not forcing it on anyone.
I’m so old school with TV, I still watch ordinary TV, no Tivo, high def, nothing!
you were on my blogroll this morning!
.-= Otin would like you to read blog ..A Happy Hour Friday Farewell =-.
crazy how much has changed so quickly. yay you were in my reader today!
.-= brian miller would like you to read blog ..55 – tart =-.
I will never give up on television.
It’s my lifeline.
Baby, let the IE thing go. Firefox screws with my computer, so I’m sticking with IE…
I miss the days when you could gather around the TV. When shows were good enough that both parents and kids could enjoy them, and adult themed programs were related to after 9:pm. Sigh, I’m old.
.-= Mama Badger would like you to read blog ..The Spin Cycle- Opinions… =-.
Well put! I was too chicken to post my opinions on this round of the Spin Cycle…I was also a bit rusty.