August 22, 2007
Sarah: Is there a support group for this?
With my landlord moving out of the house and leaving me with a cable and internet bill that has more than tripled in cost, I am assessing how much I am willing to spend on these services.
I'm considering some sort of technological detox for the semester, including getting rid of my own cable and internet and possibly even lending out my TiVo to a friend. This would save me an embarrassing amount of money and possibly make me a more interesting person, as I would have more to talk about than music videos and CSI. Not to mention the chiropractic benefit, as I would probably stop falling asleep on my couch. The following is my internet/TV shame:
1. I've started watching The Hills. Seriously. How the mighty have fallen.
2. I woke up at 4 am to a sharp pain in my hip. I got up off the couch and hobbled to bed. My couch broke my hip, you guys.
3. I absent-mindedly started singing "Who Are You" while hanging out with friends. Mallory completely called me on it, and deservedly so.
4. Two words: Internet. Boyfriends.
On the other hand, could I survive it? Would I merely purchase DVD after DVD to feed my addiction? Will it hurt my schoolwork to not have internet access at my home? Will my friends invite me to their houses to watch our stories?
So. I need to decide in the next two hours. To cancel my internet and cable or not? That is the question. Please give me your insight.
Update: I've canceled my cable tv and my landlord is looking at how much it will cost me to keep my internet. No more ANTM marathons, no more Spike TV, no more FX. For at least one semester. Sniffle. Anyone want to go bunny-ears shopping?
Oh, and to Emily in the comments: We'll see if this move results in more dating. It's an interesting idea. I'm sure I'll over-share all about it in the blog if it does.
Posted by sarah at August 22, 2007 03:48 PMI couldn't do it. Tv and the internet are the only thing that balance my manic depression. Without them I am as good as dead.
Posted by: Jeremy on August 22, 2007 03:53 PMCan you get the internet without the cable? Because you can always come over to my house to watch tivo. Though you would have to deal with the all the squalor. But if you are ok with that you can also use my internet if needed.
Posted by: Marci on August 22, 2007 03:53 PMI recommend getting rid of the cable but keeping the TiVo. Antenna TV isn't so bad as long as your TiVo is working for you. And if it were me, I'd keep the internet but swear off internet boyfriends. But if you discontinue your internet, you're more than welcome to use ours if you need to submit an assignment on a weekend or something!
Posted by: lisa on August 22, 2007 03:58 PMYou could read books! Also, our house is clean these days, so...it'd be cool if you came over to watch our TiVo. It's full of Jeopardy and The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross.
Posted by: Brother Dave on August 22, 2007 05:20 PMI've never had cable TV. I don't need it cause there is My Name is Earl, CSI Miami, SNL, etc. all without it. Love me some rabbit ears. I actually existed without a tv in the home two different times for 6 months each. I only really missed watching movies. I bet you'll date a lot more.
Posted by: Emily on August 22, 2007 07:12 PMoh, sarah. i miss you. i vote internet for sure. but maybe cut the cable because you can watch the hills and grey's online. not that i have. and just for the record, i never watched 'real world: denver' online either.
i'll be in salt lake two weeks from tomorrow. we must plan a diet coke date.
Posted by: nicole on August 22, 2007 08:46 PMThere are legitimate non-entertainment uses for the Internet. Or so I've heard.
One thing I've observed about TV -- the less you watch it, the more you realize that you don't miss it.
And I feel kind of bad that Dave has to refer to himself as Brother Dave. But not bad enough to let him be Dave and differentiate myself in some way. Because we all know that the natural name for me would be Creepy Dave. And I'm not ready to own that. Yet. I'm just saying.
Posted by: Dave on August 22, 2007 11:12 PMHee. Creepy Dave. ANYWAY, I have like three sets of bunny ears if you want to take one and mess around with it. Otherwise they are less than $10 at Smiths Marketplace.
Posted by: lisa on August 23, 2007 10:38 AM