Principia Discordia

Principia Discordia => Or Kill Me => Topic started by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 04:50:23 PM

Title: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 04:50:23 PM
It's an interesting notion that while television was commercially available since the late 1920s, it wasn't marketed on any scale until after World War II.  It's also interesting to note the different cultures represented by that gap in time.

The "roaring 20s" were infamous for partiers, flappers, illegal hootch, driving too fast, and rampant individualism.  On the other hand, the 40s and 50s were known for lockstep conformity (Having a different cut of suit could cost you your job, or at least stunt your career, as you were considered to either be a radical or "putting on airs".).

Now, while there were other factors that explain the delay (the depression, WWII), which of those two cultures was more susceptable to programming?  Hell, to this day, there are people who think that if it wasn't true, they couldn't air it.  Anyone who pays attention knows better, of course, especially given Fox News having established in court that they are free to just make shit up and call it reporting.

I mean, why pound square pegs into triangular holes, when you can have a population of people that are not only happy to be triangles, but also demand that everone else be triangular?  After a while, of course, people were born and raised in the right shape, given that their principle source of information was the TV.

And it's not just the news...We ALL know THEY lie.  It's the programming in general.  The X-Files and Lost were both intentionally designed to be one cliff hanger after another, mostly so that people would keep watching - hoping for the payoff that deliberately never arrived - so they could see more commercials for drugs to make their dicks hard.

Children's television is a masterpiece of conditioning.  Anyone remember that piece of shit program Captain Planet?  Kids were taught from age 5 on that pollution was caused by eco-terrorists who wanted to pollute just to be evil.  It wasn't cars, refineries, industrial processes, etc...It was a group of bad guys who apparently made toxic waste just to throw around, muhaha.  This show - and others like it - were designed to get people to think of the problem as a small core group of bad guys, not 6.87 billion monkeys all doing their little part to make the planet uninhabitable.

Funny thing is, later on, they're told that they can save the world by recycling aluminum and newspaper.  Also useless, but now the monkey is very, very confused.  Confused monkeys do one of two things:  They go looking for easy answers ("Climate Change is a liberal myth" (denial) or "Shut civilization down" (unworkable)), or they shut the problem out of their mind forever.  

Now ask yourself...Why are the (very few) corporations that control TV programming so interested in abolishing "net neutrality"?  It isn't so they can bill you more (though that's a nice payoff), it's so they can control the content you receive there, too.  For radio, there are about three nation-wide providers.  For television, there's less than a dozen, once you follow the stock.  There's NOBODY for the internet, but that won't last forever.

One other contrast...On the internet, you can control how much information you receive, and of what type.  Television, on the other hand, is deliberately geared to flood you with volumes of information designed to induce stress (ie, mostly shit you can't do anything about) and self-loathing (Why aren't you beautiful like these people...Oh, yeah, because you're FAT, because you spend all day in front of the TV).

This information stress means you need more filters...Which they are happy to provide, either with Sean Hannity's Two Minute Hate, or with an endless array of pills.  These pills make you chemically dumber and lazier, so you watch more TV.

Now, while there are a few people furthering this agenda (talking to you, Roger Ailes), most of the Conspiracy is unaware of what they're doing...As Philo Drummond said, it's a vast conspiracy of dunces and rubes, not evil masterminds.

The best part of all of this is, it's a conspiracy you can defeat (at least on a personal level) simply by turning the damn television off.  All you have to do to overcome 66 years of programming experience (longer, if you count the radio) is turn the fucking thing off.  Don't throw it away, it's still good for movies and video games, but for fuck's sake, ask yourself what the hell you're watching, and whether or not you actually feel different - or feel ANYTHING - after losing an evening watching the damn thing...Other than, of course, feeling that "You're Loving It", and really wanting some horrible fast food shit/pills/beer.

Just kill it.

Or Kill Me.

Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: LMNO on January 24, 2011, 05:03:06 PM
Didn't radio have those cliffhangers, too?  And there's always the apocraphal "Christmas Story" bit about Ovaltine.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 05:12:49 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 24, 2011, 05:03:06 PM
Didn't radio have those cliffhangers, too?  And there's always the apocraphal "Christmas Story" bit about Ovaltine.

Oh, sure.  And that's not very apocryphal.  That advertising gimmick was widely used.

But programming-type advertisments really came into their own when visual media (television) became widely available, as they could present a standard that was always just out of reach of the average American.

Another interesting note:  Television stations, you may recall, used to "sign off" for the night, from about 11PM til about 6 AM, leaving the test pattern up.  Now they broadcast 24/7, and people actually watch - I shit you not - 30-60 minute infomercials.  They really sit and watch the whole thing, according to Neilson...And the fact that people keep making them.  They're aired between 2AM and 4AM, when people are most susceptable to suggestion.

And then there's the damned Shopping Network.  If you want to be horrified by your nation, turn that bastard on for 30 minutes.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Adios on January 24, 2011, 05:33:20 PM
I was flipping through the mail and saw an advertisement that lead off with "AS SEEN ON TV". I always sort the mail while standing over a trash can and immediately dropped the ad in.

The other day I was flipping through 200 channels on the TV and for the first time noticed how many shopping channels there are. A repulse impulse made me turn the TV off.

As a kid I was lucky that the only kids programming was old cartoons. You know the kind, just good old fashioned violence like in The Roadrunner Show. They were only on Saturday mornings and it wasn't a big must watch kind of thing. It may have been for the town kids, but not us country kids.
We had our heroes, sure. Roy, Gene, and many others. Looking back, it was 'programming'. Setting values, expectations. No one wanted to be the bad guy, we all wanted white hats.

The TV did have the strength of the Word of God though. "I saw it on TV always ended arguments as to whether something was true or not.

Yes, radio carried the same messages. Notably, so did the printed news. Remember those old relics? Newspapers? People actually read them in those days, I swear, I saw it. Even read more than a few myself. Every medium carried adverts. Something about making money.

As life went on TV kept taking more time to watch. (verb) Gradually there were more ads and more ridiculous ads. The people who worked to make the shows got in our heads, deeply inside. They wanted to be number 1 and they learned to know you better than you even know yourself. This information they used to slowly get you addicted. An addiction to equal any drug.  Now you can even watch your TV when you are away from it on your 'phones' and computers.

We can't escape from it, it is ingrained into our very social construct. Most offices conversations revolve around TV shows, the actors, who they are screwing, who got married or divorced. We have allowed these actors to become icons. And half of them couldn't pour piss out of a boot with the instructions on the heel.

We were led, but we followed willingly, blindly and happily.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on January 24, 2011, 05:38:06 PM
:mittens:

Quoteit's a vast conspiracy of dunces and rubes, not evil masterminds.

That's why it's the new religion! Newscasters think they're providing a public service. Celebrities believe in their own worth. Everyone stays distracted and, when an emergency is declared (usually just before 6:00pm, weekdays) Everybody dials the number and buys the shit.

And you're right - all you have to do is turn it off ...

... but the nice man said "don't touch that dial"  :?
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 05:49:39 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on January 24, 2011, 05:38:06 PM

... but the nice man said "don't touch that dial"  :?

Soon he'll be TELLING you not to touch it, and you'LL DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU'RE TOLD.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Richter on January 24, 2011, 05:49:50 PM
Damn topical, I spewed somethign similar onto Facebook, which got a good numebr of meaningfull replies  (5-6, but better than a 17 reply string of "LOL TV").  I was doign laundry, being bombarded by noise from 3 differnet screens.  One Howled news, one teen drama (disney WTF), and one howled "Spongebob Squarepants".  A fucking Babylonian chorus of crazed innanity.

I don't have TV at home.  There's a television set, sure, but it's jsut a viewing aparatus for gamign systems or movies.  No cable comes into it, and the broadcast is muted out by the horsehair plaster and lead paint in the walls.  I only see "real" TV a few times a week now, and when I do it reminds me of work.  Everything is urgent RIGHTTHEFUCKNOW, the delivery is fast paced, and I get that nasty tightness creeping up the back of my spine into my neck.  The difference is at work I can DO something about it.  Watching TV is certain to bring to my attention a bunch of shit I didn't do that I am not supposed to, or equiped to fix.  I hear enough stories while I am making money, I cannot be expected to partake of any I don't really want to when I'm off the clock.  

"Aren't you worried about the state of things?  Aren't you jsut stickign your head in the sand?"

When has my stressing and shitting myself over the economy / war / goverment / environment / fuckign anything ever solved the problem?
Everything I see on television is a ploy for ratings, ad revenue, or donations.  At the cost of my sanity and calm.  It is useless to me, and as far as I can tell there is no more entertainment to be had on it.  Except Mythbusters, which Netflix has now.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Adios on January 24, 2011, 05:52:33 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 05:49:39 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on January 24, 2011, 05:38:06 PM

... but the nice man said "don't touch that dial"  :?

Soon he'll be TELLING you not to touch it, and you'LL DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU'RE TOLD.

And the 'nice' part will evaporate.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on January 24, 2011, 06:18:07 PM
It's all about thinking, innit. I'm fast arriving at the conclusion that, to the vast majority of the earth's population, thinking is some kind of anathema. They'll do anything to avoid it. There's a power vacuum in the average brain and the network is all to ready to step in and fill it.

"We'll tell you what to wear and what to eat and how to think about this and that, so that you don't have to."

I'm pretty sure if some new channel came out with that as their tagline, they'd have near 100% of the viewing population by the end of the first night's broadcasting.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Adios on January 24, 2011, 06:20:44 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on January 24, 2011, 06:18:07 PM
It's all about thinking, innit. I'm fast arriving at the conclusion that, to the vast majority of the earth's population, thinking is some kind of anathema. They'll do anything to avoid it. There's a power vacuum in the average brain and the network is all to ready to step in and fill it.

"We'll tell you what to wear and what to eat and how to think about this and that, so that you don't have to."

I'm pretty sure if some new channel came out with that as their tagline, they'd have near 100% of the viewing population by the end of the first night's broadcasting.

All you need in the tag line is "All the cool kids are doing it" being said by inhumanly beautiful people.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 06:50:51 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on January 24, 2011, 06:18:07 PM
It's all about thinking, innit. I'm fast arriving at the conclusion that, to the vast majority of the earth's population, thinking is some kind of anathema. They'll do anything to avoid it. There's a power vacuum in the average brain and the network is all to ready to step in and fill it.

"We'll tell you what to wear and what to eat and how to think about this and that, so that you don't have to."

I'm pretty sure if some new channel came out with that as their tagline, they'd have near 100% of the viewing population by the end of the first night's broadcasting.

Thinking is poor behavior in a pack, unless you're (an) the alpha for that pack.  It's actually detrimental in primitive societies, and is therefore selected against.

We're fighting 2 million years of evolution, not to mention the "religion meme".
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 06:51:33 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 24, 2011, 06:20:44 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on January 24, 2011, 06:18:07 PM
It's all about thinking, innit. I'm fast arriving at the conclusion that, to the vast majority of the earth's population, thinking is some kind of anathema. They'll do anything to avoid it. There's a power vacuum in the average brain and the network is all to ready to step in and fill it.

"We'll tell you what to wear and what to eat and how to think about this and that, so that you don't have to."

I'm pretty sure if some new channel came out with that as their tagline, they'd have near 100% of the viewing population by the end of the first night's broadcasting.

All you need in the tag line is "All the cool kids are doing it" being said by inhumanly beautiful people.

Look again.  They aren't beautiful...In fact, they're kind of grotesque.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Adios on January 24, 2011, 06:53:24 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 06:51:33 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 24, 2011, 06:20:44 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on January 24, 2011, 06:18:07 PM
It's all about thinking, innit. I'm fast arriving at the conclusion that, to the vast majority of the earth's population, thinking is some kind of anathema. They'll do anything to avoid it. There's a power vacuum in the average brain and the network is all to ready to step in and fill it.

"We'll tell you what to wear and what to eat and how to think about this and that, so that you don't have to."

I'm pretty sure if some new channel came out with that as their tagline, they'd have near 100% of the viewing population by the end of the first night's broadcasting.

All you need in the tag line is "All the cool kids are doing it" being said by inhumanly beautiful people.

Look again.  They aren't beautiful...In fact, they're kind of grotesque.

Like skin tightly wrapped around a sneering skull.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Don Coyote on January 24, 2011, 06:55:16 PM
This is why I am glad I spent most of my childhood not watching TV, mostly because we would frequently be unable to afford cable and we didn't really llike the hassle of getting the antena to work properly.

Really odd thing, on the date I had on leave, the chick I took back to my hotel room was baffled when I didn't turn on the tv right away, or at all.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 06:59:33 PM
Quote from: Canis latrans eques on January 24, 2011, 06:55:16 PM
This is why I am glad I spent most of my childhood not watching TV, mostly because we would frequently be unable to afford cable and we didn't really llike the hassle of getting the antena to work properly.

Really odd thing, on the date I had on leave, the chick I took back to my hotel room was baffled when I didn't turn on the tv right away, or at all.

Did she get all Don Sutherland on you, pointing at you and howling?

Because that would have been hot as fuck.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Don Coyote on January 24, 2011, 07:01:06 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 06:59:33 PM
Quote from: Canis latrans eques on January 24, 2011, 06:55:16 PM
This is why I am glad I spent most of my childhood not watching TV, mostly because we would frequently be unable to afford cable and we didn't really llike the hassle of getting the antena to work properly.

Really odd thing, on the date I had on leave, the chick I took back to my hotel room was baffled when I didn't turn on the tv right away, or at all.

Did she get all Don Sutherland on you, pointing at you and howling?

Because that would have been hot as fuck.
:lulz:

No because I quickly removed her clothes and fade to black.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Whatever on January 24, 2011, 07:03:05 PM
This makes me feel much better about refusing to get cable.  
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Ari on January 24, 2011, 07:06:23 PM
It's been about eight years now since I just got up, turned off the damn thing and put it out on the street.
That bullshit reeked! I could see it oozing out from inside the glowing box. It simply had to go and I never looked back.

Lately, when I go visit friends I often can't help but ask: "hey, how about we turn that damn thing off for a while?" These fullHighDumbinition widescreen monsters feel like probes drilling into my head when tuned into yetanotherangledbullshitprogramme; and how often have I noticed people in a conversation slowly getting their focus lured back into the shiny void of shit? More than once I just left when it became clear that the droning must continue...

While the agenda seems so similar within all types of media I think television takes the top in terms of nasty effectiveness.
I do like your point about the fading net-neutrality and the control of content. I wonder who will win this one.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Adios on January 24, 2011, 07:11:04 PM
Quote from: planeswalker on January 24, 2011, 07:06:23 PM
It's been about eight years now since I just got up, turned off the damn thing and put it out on the street.
That bullshit reeked! I could see it oozing out from inside the glowing box. It simply had to go and I never looked back.

Lately, when I go visit friends I often can't help but ask: "hey, how about we turn that damn thing off for a while?" These fullHighDumbinition widescreen monsters feel like probes drilling into my head when tuned into yetanotherangledbullshitprogramme; and how often have I noticed people in a conversation slowly getting their focus lured back into the shiny void of shit? More than once I just left when it became clear that the droning must continue...

While the agenda seems so similar within all types of media I think television takes the top in terms of nasty effectiveness.
I do like your point about the fading net-neutrality and the control of content. I wonder who will win this one.

I turn mine off when company comes over, I think it is rude not to.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 07:14:48 PM
Quote from: planeswalker on January 24, 2011, 07:06:23 PM
It's been about eight years now since I just got up, turned off the damn thing and put it out on the street.
That bullshit reeked! I could see it oozing out from inside the glowing box. It simply had to go and I never looked back.

Lately, when I go visit friends I often can't help but ask: "hey, how about we turn that damn thing off for a while?" These fullHighDumbinition widescreen monsters feel like probes drilling into my head when tuned into yetanotherangledbullshitprogramme; and how often have I noticed people in a conversation slowly getting their focus lured back into the shiny void of shit? More than once I just left when it became clear that the droning must continue...

While the agenda seems so similar within all types of media I think television takes the top in terms of nasty effectiveness.
I do like your point about the fading net-neutrality and the control of content. I wonder who will win this one.

:mittens:
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Jasper on January 24, 2011, 07:35:31 PM
Living without television has been liberating.  It frees you.  I can't stand television.  I can't bear to face the reality that there are people who watch commercials.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Cramulus on January 24, 2011, 07:41:17 PM
:mittens: Roger!

I've been without cable for over a year now and I haven't regretted it a BIT - I can watch the Daily Show / Colbert Report on the net; the rest of the channels were only good for making myself angry or trancing out for entire evenings at a time. Now if I want to waste a whole evening I have to be CREATIVE.

I was having an angry political conversation in the bagel store the other day, this random stranger got involved, it was a fucking gas. And the one thing we all agreed on was that Real Change is not coming until shit gets so bad that people's basic cable gets affected.

Part of the reasons why people watch TV is because it makes them feel like they're a part of something. Glenn Beck has built his career on the ability to generate rage and then make people feel like they're not alone in that rage. In the old days if I was feeling lonely I'd watch the late show, and then at least I felt like I had my finger on the pulse of what a million people are thinking about.

It's just like your warning about the occult - it makes you FEEL like you're doing something, even though that energy could be better spent achieving your goals in more tangible ways. I think TV is of the same bird, it lets people feel this outrage and they feel like they don't need to act on it because Keith Olbermann is screaming into the camera on their behalf.

FUCK

THAT

NOISE
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Captain Utopia on January 24, 2011, 07:47:11 PM
Quote from: Sigmatic on January 24, 2011, 07:35:31 PM
I can't bear to face the reality that there are people who watch commercials.

I've known a few people who said that the commercials are the best part about watching television.  People who see pressing mute during adverts not as a compromise, but an act of war.  True horrormirth.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Adios on January 24, 2011, 07:49:00 PM
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 24, 2011, 07:47:11 PM
Quote from: Sigmatic on January 24, 2011, 07:35:31 PM
I can't bear to face the reality that there are people who watch commercials.

I've known a few people who said that the commercials are the best part about watching television.  People who see pressing mute during adverts not as a compromise, but an act of war.  True horrormirth.

I hit mute as an act of peace. And quiet.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Jasper on January 24, 2011, 07:51:03 PM
Quote from: Captain Utopia on January 24, 2011, 07:47:11 PM
Quote from: Sigmatic on January 24, 2011, 07:35:31 PM
I can't bear to face the reality that there are people who watch commercials.

I've known a few people who said that the commercials are the best part about watching television.  People who see pressing mute during adverts not as a compromise, but an act of war.  True horrormirth.

This is me, staring in disbelief, agape.  Dismayed, mystified, and sad:  :crankey:
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 08:01:51 PM
Quote from: Cramulus on January 24, 2011, 07:41:17 PM
I was having an angry political conversation in the bagel store the other day, this random stranger got involved, it was a fucking gas. And the one thing we all agreed on was that Real Change is not coming until shit gets so bad that people's basic cable gets affected.

Way back in 2004, I said "The revolution will not be televised, therefore there will be no revolution.", and "There will be no rebellion as long as the TV works."

So, yeah.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Cramulus on January 24, 2011, 08:04:23 PM
yeah, mittens! a bunch of angry people in a bagel store agree 169%
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 08:04:41 PM
The reason for that, of course, is that people are afraid to revolt, because then they might miss watching the revolt on TV.

And the TV isn't telling them what's really going on (obviously), and nothing is real until it's on TV.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 08:05:07 PM
Quote from: Cramulus on January 24, 2011, 08:04:23 PM
yeah, mittens! a bunch of angry people in a bagel store agree 169%

Did they grab pitchforks and man the barricades?
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 08:07:25 PM
The Teabaggers tried, but wussed out when they were told they couldn't throw their tea bags on the ground.  So they dipped them in water to "make a statement".

What that statement SAID, of course, was "I want to be on TV as a daring radical, but I don't want to go to jail."

That's when I started hating them.  Until then, I was pulling for them in the same way I'd pull for a Down's Syndrome victim trying to solve Fermat's Last Theorem.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Cramulus on January 24, 2011, 08:13:18 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 08:05:07 PM
Quote from: Cramulus on January 24, 2011, 08:04:23 PM
yeah, mittens! a bunch of angry people in a bagel store agree 169%

Did they grab pitchforks and man the barricades?

no, but many of us continued to be angry for the remainder of the day.  :lol:

You would have liked it - the discussion started off with my roommate talking about how much he hated hipsters, how they were even less effective than hippies, and he hates hippies

my roommate gets really emotional when he talks about things he doesn't like. by the end of the rant, everybody in the joint was listening to him gnash.

and this guy in his 50s jumped in. He said that he was one of the guys protesting the war in Vietnam, and don't confuse the ACTUAL political activists with the fucking hippie burnouts. he hated them back then too.


And we got to talking about how we wished there WAS an effective counterculture, we wish there WAS a channel to protest how things are. Today's form of counterculture is what - veganism & hipsters? those spags aren't even going to move the needle - if anything they help keep the needle exactly where it is now by being a totally ineffective challenge to mainstream culture. They make it seem like the only choice is hedonistic consumerism and self-absorbed wankery.

Older Gentleman said "We made a mistake though. The vietnam war ended and we all bought into the system. We raced as quick as we could to get kids and a house and get as numb as possible. We were very naive." He is channeling Hunter S Thompson right there. He concluded with, "Your generation may not give a shit, but at least you're not buying in."
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Adios on January 24, 2011, 08:14:43 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 08:07:25 PM
The Teabaggers tried, but wussed out when they were told they couldn't throw their tea bags on the ground.  So they dipped them in water to "make a statement".

What that statement SAID, of course, was "I want to be on TV as a daring radical, but I don't want to go to jail."

That's when I started hating them.  Until then, I was pulling for them in the same way I'd pull for a Down's Syndrome victim trying to solve Fermat's Last Theorem.

That was a pathetic act, wasn't it?
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Jasper on January 24, 2011, 08:15:13 PM
That's...  I clearly need to spend more time in bagel shops.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Adios on January 24, 2011, 08:16:59 PM
Quote from: Cramulus on January 24, 2011, 08:13:18 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 08:05:07 PM
Quote from: Cramulus on January 24, 2011, 08:04:23 PM
yeah, mittens! a bunch of angry people in a bagel store agree 169%

Did they grab pitchforks and man the barricades?

no, but many of us continued to be angry for the remainder of the day.  :lol:

You would have liked it - the discussion started off with my roommate talking about how much he hated hipsters, how they were even less effective than hippies, and he hates hippies

my roommate gets really emotional when he talks about things he doesn't like. by the end of the rant, everybody in the joint was listening to him gnash.

and this guy in his 50s jumped in. He said that he was one of the guys protesting the war in Vietnam, and don't confuse the ACTUAL political activists with the fucking hippie burnouts. he hated them back then too.


And we got to talking about how we wished there WAS an effective counterculture, we wish there WAS a channel to protest how things are. Today's form of counterculture is what - veganism & hipsters? those spags aren't even going to move the needle - if anything they help keep the needle exactly where it is now by being a totally ineffective challenge to mainstream culture. They make it seem like the only choice is hedonistic consumerism and self-absorbed wankery.

Older Gentleman said "We made a mistake though. The vietnam war ended and we all bought into the system. We raced as quick as we could to get kids and a house and get as numb as possible. We were very naive." He is channeling Hunter S Thompson right there. He concluded with, "Your generation may not give a shit, but at least you're not buying in."

I was one of the people sitting around the wall outside the White House. We were all stoned out of our minds and many didn't even know why we were there.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 08:18:00 PM
Quote from: Cramulus on January 24, 2011, 08:13:18 PM
Older Gentleman said "We made a mistake though. The vietnam war ended and we all bought into the system. We raced as quick as we could to get kids and a house and get as numb as possible. We were very naive." He is channeling Hunter S Thompson right there. He concluded with, "Your generation may not give a shit, but at least you're not buying in."

Yep.  Jerry Ruben became an insurance salesman, and Abbie Hoffman became a sad joke.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: P3nT4gR4m on January 24, 2011, 08:18:07 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 24, 2011, 08:16:59 PM
Quote from: Cramulus on January 24, 2011, 08:13:18 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 08:05:07 PM
Quote from: Cramulus on January 24, 2011, 08:04:23 PM
yeah, mittens! a bunch of angry people in a bagel store agree 169%

Did they grab pitchforks and man the barricades?

no, but many of us continued to be angry for the remainder of the day.  :lol:

You would have liked it - the discussion started off with my roommate talking about how much he hated hipsters, how they were even less effective than hippies, and he hates hippies

my roommate gets really emotional when he talks about things he doesn't like. by the end of the rant, everybody in the joint was listening to him gnash.

and this guy in his 50s jumped in. He said that he was one of the guys protesting the war in Vietnam, and don't confuse the ACTUAL political activists with the fucking hippie burnouts. he hated them back then too.


And we got to talking about how we wished there WAS an effective counterculture, we wish there WAS a channel to protest how things are. Today's form of counterculture is what - veganism & hipsters? those spags aren't even going to move the needle - if anything they help keep the needle exactly where it is now by being a totally ineffective challenge to mainstream culture. They make it seem like the only choice is hedonistic consumerism and self-absorbed wankery.

Older Gentleman said "We made a mistake though. The vietnam war ended and we all bought into the system. We raced as quick as we could to get kids and a house and get as numb as possible. We were very naive." He is channeling Hunter S Thompson right there. He concluded with, "Your generation may not give a shit, but at least you're not buying in."

I was one of the people sitting around the wall outside the White House. We were all stoned out of our minds and many didn't even know why we were there.

Even revolution is ultimately a pack activity :(
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: LMNO on January 24, 2011, 08:25:13 PM
Written many years ago:

__________________________________________________________________________



The revolution will probably be televised.



The revolution will be born in some stoner's basement.  The revolution will be an ongoing prank in History class.  The revolution will not be defined.  The revolution will be acknowledged with a quiet nod.  The revolution will gain momentum.

The revolution will be identified by recent college grads with Graphic Design and Marketing degrees burning holes in their pockets.  The revolution will be pitched to CEOs of multinational corporations.  The revolution will be analyzed, autopsied, sliced, diced, and stuck to corkboards with pushpins.  The revolution will be cleaned up, polished, waxed, packaged, and tied in a nice bow.

The revolution will be leaked to the media.  The revolution will show up on the catwalks of Paris, Italy, and Japan.  The revolution will have its own burger.  The revolution will have its theme song in heavy rotation on MTV.  The revolution will be on Leno, Letterman, Conan, and The Daily Show.  The revolution will turn down an appearance on Carson Daly.

The revolution will be sold at Hot Topic.

The revolution will be identified as a "trend" by CNN.  The revolution will be reported on by self-proclaimed Experts In The Field.  The revolution will be blamed for teen pregnancy.  The revolution will be synonymous with the "Twinkie defense" in courts of law.

The revolution will host a concert series to help the homeless.  The revolution will be managed by financial advisors, lawyers, ad agencies, and media planners.  The revolution will be publicly traded in the stock market.  The revolution will be remixed by P. Diddy and released exclusively on iTunes.

The revolution will have sub-genres.  The revolution will suffer an anti-revolution backlash.  The revolution will appear on an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger.  The revolution will generate buzzwords that will be used by your parents trying to sound hip.  The revolution will be in a Cadillac commercial.  The revolution will be adopted by pre-pubescent girls trying to act "grown up".

The revolution will be derided by Bill Mahr, Rush Limbaugh, & Al Franken.  The revolution will be mocked by Jon Stewart, Steve Colbert, and Tina Fey.  The revolution will appear on Best Week Ever.  The revolution will become an automatic punchline.  The revolution will be relegated to a question in the next edition of Trivial Pursuit.

The revolution will be televised.  After all, there's market share to consider.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 08:26:06 PM
Mind if I clean up all the board-board translation fuckups in that?
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: LMNO on January 24, 2011, 08:27:06 PM
The what now?


Oh.  


Nah, I can do it.


[edit: did it.]
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 08:35:04 PM
Sweet.  I might do something with this, and I'd like to throw yours in, as well...With attribution.  If you agree, just let me know how you want to be credited.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Requia ☣ on January 24, 2011, 08:37:59 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 24, 2011, 08:25:13 PM
Written many years ago:

__________________________________________________________________________



The revolution will probably be televised.



The revolution will be born in some stoner's basement.  The revolution will be an ongoing prank in History class.  The revolution will not be defined.  The revolution will be acknowledged with a quiet nod.  The revolution will gain momentum.

The revolution will be identified by recent college grads with Graphic Design and Marketing degrees burning holes in their pockets.  The revolution will be pitched to CEOs of multinational corporations.  The revolution will be analyzed, autopsied, sliced, diced, and stuck to corkboards with pushpins.  The revolution will be cleaned up, polished, waxed, packaged, and tied in a nice bow.

The revolution will be leaked to the media.  The revolution will show up on the catwalks of Paris, Italy, and Japan.  The revolution will have its own burger.  The revolution will have its theme song in heavy rotation on MTV.  The revolution will be on Leno, Letterman, Conan, and The Daily Show.  The revolution will turn down an appearance on Carson Daly.

The revolution will be sold at Hot Topic.

The revolution will be identified as a "trend" by CNN.  The revolution will be reported on by self-proclaimed Experts In The Field.  The revolution will be blamed for teen pregnancy.  The revolution will be synonymous with the "Twinkie defense" in courts of law.

The revolution will host a concert series to help the homeless.  The revolution will be managed by financial advisors, lawyers, ad agencies, and media planners.  The revolution will be publicly traded in the stock market.  The revolution will be remixed by P. Diddy and released exclusively on iTunes.

The revolution will have sub-genres.  The revolution will suffer an anti-revolution backlash.  The revolution will appear on an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger.  The revolution will generate buzzwords that will be used by your parents trying to sound hip.  The revolution will be in a Cadillac commercial.  The revolution will be adopted by pre-pubescent girls trying to act "grown up".

The revolution will be derided by Bill Mahr, Rush Limbaugh, & Al Franken.  The revolution will be mocked by Jon Stewart, Steve Colbert, and Tina Fey.  The revolution will appear on Best Week Ever.  The revolution will become an automatic punchline.  The revolution will be relegated to a question in the next edition of Trivial Pursuit.

The revolution will be televised.  After all, there's market share to consider.


Jesus Christ.  D we have an emote to combine :x and :mittens: ?

Also, Roger, how the heck do I get *other* people to turn the TV off?  The damn thing never stops when anybody else is in the house.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Adios on January 24, 2011, 08:39:07 PM
Requia, use a .357 magnum. It's like a remote.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Requia ☣ on January 24, 2011, 08:40:54 PM
That is incredibly tempting, but my exercise equipment (gamercise stuff) plugs into my TV, and if I shot their TV they'd just start using mine instead.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 08:47:21 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on January 24, 2011, 08:37:59 PM
Jesus Christ.  D we have an emote to combine :x and :mittens: ?

Also, Roger, how the heck do I get *other* people to turn the TV off?  The damn thing never stops when anybody else is in the house.

Accidentally the cable with a pair of side cutters.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: LMNO on January 24, 2011, 08:50:49 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 08:35:04 PM
Sweet.  I might do something with this, and I'd like to throw yours in, as well...With attribution.  If you agree, just let me know how you want to be credited.

PM me with details.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 08:51:49 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on January 24, 2011, 08:50:49 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 08:35:04 PM
Sweet.  I might do something with this, and I'd like to throw yours in, as well...With attribution.  If you agree, just let me know how you want to be credited.

PM me with details.

Will do, either tonight or tomorrow.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Don Coyote on January 24, 2011, 08:55:35 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on January 24, 2011, 08:40:54 PM
That is incredibly tempting, but my exercise equipment (gamercise stuff) plugs into my TV, and if I shot their TV they'd just start using mine instead.

It's a remote for PEOPLE.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Adios on January 24, 2011, 08:56:24 PM
Quote from: Canis latrans eques on January 24, 2011, 08:55:35 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on January 24, 2011, 08:40:54 PM
That is incredibly tempting, but my exercise equipment (gamercise stuff) plugs into my TV, and if I shot their TV they'd just start using mine instead.

It's a remote for PEOPLE.

Coyote Dog got it.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Requia ☣ on January 24, 2011, 08:58:10 PM
I think not then.

I could split the difference between Roger and Charlie's solution and shoot the satellite dish though.  It'd probably take a week for them to figure out what went wrong.   :lulz:
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 08:59:37 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on January 24, 2011, 08:58:10 PM
I think not then.

I could split the difference between Roger and Charlie's solution and shoot the satellite dish though.  It'd probably take a week for them to figure out what went wrong.   :lulz:

Disconnect wire.

Wobble it back and forth until it goes snap inside.

Reinstall.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Adios on January 24, 2011, 09:00:08 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on January 24, 2011, 08:58:10 PM
I think not then.

I could split the difference between Roger and Charlie's solution and shoot the satellite dish though.  It'd probably take a week for them to figure out what went wrong.   :lulz:

Too easy, see those little white caps on the arm in front of the dish? They are called LNB's. (low noise blockers)

A small crack in each one should do it just fine.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Johnny on January 24, 2011, 09:23:56 PM

Stopped the TV since 11 years ago...

I might have escaped the commercials and the passive-vegetable assimilation process of information... but can we really be freed from the distance we have made from reality? I spend way too much time on the internet, whereas i could hypothetically be doing something else... but i owe the internet a lot of what i know of... maybe one day i will have gotten what i need from it and will be able to cut back on it significantly...
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Adios on January 24, 2011, 09:25:53 PM
Quote from: Joh'Nyx on January 24, 2011, 09:23:56 PM

Stopped the TV since 11 years ago...

I might have escaped the commercials and the passive-vegetable assimilation process of information... but can we really be freed from the distance we have made from reality? I spend way too much time on the internet, whereas i could hypothetically be doing something else... but i owe the internet a lot of what i know of... maybe one day i will have gotten what i need from it and will be able to cut back on it significantly...

On the net you have the choice of what is blasting at you, for now. That's the difference.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Cramulus on January 24, 2011, 09:36:45 PM
Quote from: Joh'Nyx on January 24, 2011, 09:23:56 PM

Stopped the TV since 11 years ago...

I might have escaped the commercials and the passive-vegetable assimilation process of information... but can we really be freed from the distance we have made from reality? I spend way too much time on the internet, whereas i could hypothetically be doing something else... but i owe the internet a lot of what i know of... maybe one day i will have gotten what i need from it and will be able to cut back on it significantly...

I want to point out that I think TV is dangerous because it's passive entertainment. When you watch TV, there's no way to participate, you are simply absorbing somebody else's point of view. I think the internet has the same danger, but at least you have a choice about it. Even though we are all PHYSICALLY isolating ourselves to use this medium, what we're doing here is a creative process, we are interacting with each other -- this is a social medium!

I don't think that the internet is less real than other forms of interaction, it's just different. People get nervous about this medium, but I think a lot of it is based on the incorrect assumption that it's less authentic than face to face interaction.

from warren ellis: http://www.warrenellis.com/?p=9270&start=80

QuoteDave Eggers:

I don't want to wake up and look at a screen. I feel like as a society, we try to put everything on that same goddamn screen, and pretty soon we're going to be eating on the screen or, like, making love through the screen. It's just sort of like: 'Why does everything have to be on the screen?'

Some beardy druid from the oral tradition, a few thousand years back:

I don't want to wake up and look at paper. I feel like as a society, we try to put everything on that same (Brythonic swear word) piece of paper, and pretty soon we're going to be eating on paper or, forsooth, making love through paper. It's just sort of like: "Why does everything have to be on the paper?"
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Johnny on January 24, 2011, 09:51:45 PM

I know that sometimes physical isolation cant be helped, but im always wary of it...
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Precious Moments Zalgo on January 24, 2011, 09:56:15 PM
I gave up TV, for the most part, about four years ago.  Before that I had several shows I watched every week.  It was like an addiction.  I used to be one of those people who turned on the TV as soon as I walked in the door from work.  Now I watch probably fewer than 20 hours of TV a year, and I don't miss it at all.  On the contrary, I like having the time I used to spend watching TV to spend on other things.

The rest of the family watches TV like I used to.  They look like pod people when they are all absorbed into some program.  Of course, I probably don't look any different when I'm on the computer.  

I like Roger's solutions for Requia in principle, but if I were to try something like that then Mrs. Zappathruster would just write a check out of the joint checking to have it fixed, so I'd just be costing myself money.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Eater of Clowns on January 24, 2011, 09:56:29 PM
I've been to the bottom of that well, Roger.  It's a deep, dark and old thing and there's this tiny speck of blue light far away shedding the barest glow on life.  I can't remember if I went down of my own accord or if I fell; if my legs are atrophied or if they're crushed under a big fucking rock.

An ex and I used to sit and watch hours of DVDs of television shows, staying in for days and wasting almost two years in a very beautiful location.  What the hell kind of sad shit is it when a couple 21 year olds would rather pop in the next episode of Nip/Tuck than fuck?  How is it spending any kind of time together to lay around with one watching America's Next Top Model marathons and the other playing Nintendo DS?

So I stopped.  It takes a while to realize that you can just do that, with no repercussions.  I'm not abandoning my family if I don't find out if Jack and Kate ever hooked up on Lost.  Tell that to your cable provider though.  Comcast will charge you more for Internet alone than they will for Internet and basic cable.  It's as much a pushing tactic as the dealer telling you the first taste is free.

What do you know, an open sky is a lot more appealing than a feeble shaft of light.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Triple Zero on January 24, 2011, 10:26:40 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 05:12:49 PM
But programming-type advertisments really came into their own when visual media (television) became widely available, as they could present a standard that was always just out of reach of the average American.

This is true, reminds me of what I read in No Logo, about how before the 80s, advertisements were actually claiming their product (say, laundry detergent) was objectively better than another brand and really did clean your laundry better, because they were still developing stuff (or because they were just claiming it was better). It was not until the 80s [perhaps a littlebit earlier] that they started targeting advertisements at the brands instead, changing the message from "our product is better than product X" into "buying our product will make you happy", "will make you cool like these people", "our product makes you better".
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Triple Zero on January 24, 2011, 10:42:27 PM
Quote from: Sigmatic on January 24, 2011, 07:35:31 PM
Living without television has been liberating.  It frees you.  I can't stand television.  I can't bear to face the reality that there are people who watch commercials.

It's a good thing to have done for a while, "detox" for a month or two. It really felt like that, for me. My old TV broke down many years ago and I was too lazy to get a new one. It felt like getting rid of that tough bit of meat between your teeth, like mental floss.

But nowadays I watch TV every now and then. Usually just when my gf turns it on though.

I gotta admit, Internet is just as bad for me, if not worse, because you are actually engaged in it, doing stuff, even if not accomplishing anything (http://www.pixelpoppers.com/2009/11/awesome-by-proxy-addicted-to-fake.html).

Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Cainad (dec.) on January 24, 2011, 11:39:51 PM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on January 24, 2011, 08:37:59 PM
Also, Roger, how the heck do I get *other* people to turn the TV off?  The damn thing never stops when anybody else is in the house.

http://www.tvbgone.com/cfe_tvbg_main.php

If you do get it, let us know how well it works.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 12:13:50 AM
Quote from: Triple Zero on January 24, 2011, 10:26:40 PM
This is true, reminds me of what I read in No Logo, about how before the 80s, advertisements were actually claiming their product (say, laundry detergent) was objectively better than another brand and really did clean your laundry better, because they were still developing stuff (or because they were just claiming it was better). It was not until the 80s [perhaps a littlebit earlier] that they started targeting advertisements at the brands instead, changing the message from "our product is better than product X" into "buying our product will make you happy", "will make you cool like these people", "our product makes you better".

I haven't had a chance to read that, yet.

But let me ask you...What was on the cover?
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: President Television on January 25, 2011, 12:21:20 AM
Quote from: Triple Zero on January 24, 2011, 10:42:27 PM
Quote from: Sigmatic on January 24, 2011, 07:35:31 PM
Living without television has been liberating.  It frees you.  I can't stand television.  I can't bear to face the reality that there are people who watch commercials.

It's a good thing to have done for a while, "detox" for a month or two. It really felt like that, for me. My old TV broke down many years ago and I was too lazy to get a new one. It felt like getting rid of that tough bit of meat between your teeth, like mental floss.

But nowadays I watch TV every now and then. Usually just when my gf turns it on though.

I gotta admit, Internet is just as bad for me, if not worse, because you are actually engaged in it, doing stuff, even if not accomplishing anything (http://www.pixelpoppers.com/2009/11/awesome-by-proxy-addicted-to-fake.html).



That article explains a lot, especially about my own personality and why I have a tendency to excel whenever I first attempt something, then suck at it later on.
It occurs to me that munchkins are essentially mastery-oriented RPG players; their concern is not with their characters' in-universe achievements but with their own achievements at manipulating the game system to their ends.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 12:24:02 AM
Quote from: Unqualified on January 25, 2011, 12:21:20 AM
Quote from: Triple Zero on January 24, 2011, 10:42:27 PM
Quote from: Sigmatic on January 24, 2011, 07:35:31 PM
Living without television has been liberating.  It frees you.  I can't stand television.  I can't bear to face the reality that there are people who watch commercials.

It's a good thing to have done for a while, "detox" for a month or two. It really felt like that, for me. My old TV broke down many years ago and I was too lazy to get a new one. It felt like getting rid of that tough bit of meat between your teeth, like mental floss.

But nowadays I watch TV every now and then. Usually just when my gf turns it on though.

I gotta admit, Internet is just as bad for me, if not worse, because you are actually engaged in it, doing stuff, even if not accomplishing anything (http://www.pixelpoppers.com/2009/11/awesome-by-proxy-addicted-to-fake.html).



That article explains a lot, especially about my own personality and why I have a tendency to excel whenever I first attempt something, then suck at it later on.
It occurs to me that munchkins are essentially mastery-oriented RPG players; their concern is not with their characters' in-universe achievements but with their own achievements at manipulating the game system to their ends.

And that's a good thing.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: President Television on January 25, 2011, 12:28:53 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 25, 2011, 12:24:02 AM
Quote from: Unqualified on January 25, 2011, 12:21:20 AM
Quote from: Triple Zero on January 24, 2011, 10:42:27 PM
Quote from: Sigmatic on January 24, 2011, 07:35:31 PM
Living without television has been liberating.  It frees you.  I can't stand television.  I can't bear to face the reality that there are people who watch commercials.

It's a good thing to have done for a while, "detox" for a month or two. It really felt like that, for me. My old TV broke down many years ago and I was too lazy to get a new one. It felt like getting rid of that tough bit of meat between your teeth, like mental floss.

But nowadays I watch TV every now and then. Usually just when my gf turns it on though.

I gotta admit, Internet is just as bad for me, if not worse, because you are actually engaged in it, doing stuff, even if not accomplishing anything (http://www.pixelpoppers.com/2009/11/awesome-by-proxy-addicted-to-fake.html).



That article explains a lot, especially about my own personality and why I have a tendency to excel whenever I first attempt something, then suck at it later on.
It occurs to me that munchkins are essentially mastery-oriented RPG players; their concern is not with their characters' in-universe achievements but with their own achievements at manipulating the game system to their ends.

And that's a good thing.

Of course it is. I'm seeing it all in a totally new light, is what I'm saying. Applying new filters and all that.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Johnny on January 25, 2011, 12:34:06 AM

And this is why i like to play old Starcraft:Broodwars.

I get my ass handed to me every single time by a superior South Korean opponent, and it is a truly humbling experience to know that fine motor skills and hand eye coordination, or actions per minute or discipline in the build order are not culturally fomented in latin speaking countries.

But i try, by the Overmind i swear i try...
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: President Television on January 25, 2011, 12:59:13 AM
After reading that article, I think I'm going to finally start putting some effort into music. I love it more than anything else, and I've always hated myself on some level for not being as good at it as I thought I should be. Now I understand why. I gave up too fast.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Juana on January 25, 2011, 06:09:45 AM
I'm working on being performance oriented. I am, when it comes to speech and debate, but I got the "wow you must be smart!" as a kid and sauntered through high school without actually needing to do more than pay attention in class. Bit me in the ass in college.


TV hasn't been a huge part of my life for most of it. I grew up watching Lassie and Ren and Stimpy and old Merrie Melody cartoons while my mom, who worked a night job, slept in the mornings, but after my parents split and my mom wasn't getting home at four am everyday, that stopped. I still watched a lot of the Simpsons and Antiques Roadshow as I got older, but that was it, really. We didn't have cable, and the cartoons I would have liked to watch weren't on anymore. Then I got a laptop when I started college and I watched even less. I still watch Antiques Roadshow sometimes, or part of House or Community or the Office, but I don't think I've watched a whole TV show in years and my TV time adds up to maybe a few hours a year.

TV, does, I think, have its place as a cultural medium. My friends and I reminisce about Freakazoid and it provides connection to my parents, who joke about Foghorn Leghorn or Elmer Fudd sometimes. I get it, because I watched those old cartoons. My sisters are left in the dark, wondering why it's funny.
I think the issue is intelligent TV versus drivel. Freakazoid is fucking brilliant and Foghorn Leghorn is wonderful. Hannah Montana and Phil of the Future are brain dissolvers.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Johnny on January 25, 2011, 07:36:40 AM

There is nothing more performance oriented than...

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/IWannaBeTheFangame (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/IWannaBeTheFangame)

or i swear to the Elder Gods, playing Starcraft vs. South Koreans... i cant even begin to stress this point... from 9:30 to 11:30 on one can only be humbled by the precision

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIhNRXOsnlU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIhNRXOsnlU)
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: navkat on February 11, 2011, 02:00:25 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 24, 2011, 05:49:39 PM
Quote from: P3nT4gR4m on January 24, 2011, 05:38:06 PM

... but the nice man said "don't touch that dial"  :?

Soon he'll be TELLING you not to touch it, and you'LL DO WHAT THE FUCK YOU'RE TOLD.

He won't have to. He'll just report that 7 out of 10 people who touch that dial get cancer within 5 years.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on March 31, 2011, 08:23:53 PM
bump
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on October 08, 2012, 03:49:42 AM
Bump
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Freeky on October 08, 2012, 03:54:37 AM
Great bump.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on October 08, 2012, 04:10:49 AM
Quote from: Freeky Queen of DERP on October 08, 2012, 03:54:37 AM
Great bump.

I plan to post it elsewhere, so I need to be able to find it tomorrow night.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Freeky on October 08, 2012, 04:12:06 AM
Ah/
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Sita on October 08, 2012, 12:26:41 PM
I missed this first time around.
It makes a lot of sense. I don't watch much tv anymore (and what I do watch I've either DVR'd or catch online, so next to no commercials) and really have been the better for it.
Now if only I could somehow convince my parents that the fact I'm not watching many shows isn't a bad thing. If I have to hear one more time how I'm missing all the good stuff because I stopped watching Bones or haven't started watching [insert name of show here] I think I'll scream.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: tyrannosaurus vex on October 08, 2012, 12:53:14 PM
Eliminating the majority of commercials is the worst thing I have ever done. Now I have a kid who is about 3 years ahead of all his classmates and has a genuine interest in nerdy things like history and science. He's only 6, and the other day he was telling me how the sun doesn't really go up and down, it's just an illusion because the earth is round. A Round-Earther! In my family! For shame.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Anna Mae Bollocks on October 08, 2012, 05:00:46 PM
When TV went digital, they gave everybody who asked a voucher for not one, but two boxes to make the fucking TV work with an antenna. No questions asked.

If you want so much as food stamps or WIC for your kids, you have to go through an application process and chase down documentation about your income, etc.

That pretty much tells you right there.
Title: Re: Why Do You Think They Call It "Programming"? (Part 1)
Post by: Miley Spears on October 12, 2012, 04:01:39 AM
Quote from: Adios on January 24, 2011, 05:33:20 PM
I was flipping through the mail and saw an advertisement that lead off with "AS SEEN ON TV".

If it was on TV, it must be good.