watching TV

On my mind are the following. The sound of construction work and a lawn mower overpower the birds. I am not sure what types of bird, it would sound much more intelligent if I did. There seems to be a never ending scaffolding business going on. Am I the only one around finding the noise unnatural? My neighbours seem to have a different idea about noise. To some of them one practicing on an instrument is unbearable noise. Must be a similar experience to my perception of the sound of a chainsaw. I like listening to the one playing the piano on the other side of the wall. One thing that is on my mind, and something that I would like to see realised is a more frequent happening of open gatherings. Initially I visualise a summer dinner down the street, something like the dinner scene on the street in Fellini's Rome. Of course here in London the weather might be a disadvantage, but if people wanted to we could create it. A happening. Where people are free to join, and feel free to join, any stranger would feel welcome. There would be dance, conversation, healthy fresh food, cooking together, playing of instruments, jamming, singing. Not only once a year on a bank holiday, but every week. Not only at a special place but on every street. All these isolated neighbours who rot in their own flats wasting their lives watching TV would find healing in such gathering. This is something that London needs more, or at least this area. Of course the "community" living here might not want this to happen at all, and that is fine, if people want to rot away and stay dead, let them be. But it is an idea I feel like sharing. There are a lot of pubs and night clubs of course, but to me it seems that mostly those places available at the moment serve a different purpose. The purpose of distraction, of getting drunk, of supporting a false sense of comfort.

Another thing that is on my mind and I want to mention is the destructive effect of TV on life, on the quality of life people lead. There is an immense problem with television addiction in our community and it seems to go unnoticed. So this is an attempt to bring any amount of attention on this issue. Television addiction seems to eat up people's lives and it is considered normal. Most importantly, in my opinion, we should look at what drives television addiction, what is the reason for people spending hours watching TV destroying themselves and what can we do to create an environment that supports engagement in meaningful activity. Watching TV, in my opinion - and you are free to rot away watching TV if you want to - is not only meaningless, but is damaging to one's body and life experience, the activity of watching television serves as a distraction from experiencing the gaping void of unfulfilled need, and TV will never fill that need. Something else will, and it would be a good idea to spread the information and work on and realise ideas that help filling that unfulfilled need, or that heal that wound somehow, the wound that is the cause for the craving of watching television. I guess it comes down to the lack of genuine social life for those watching TV. It might be helpful to have a welcoming group available with some people who are alive and healthy and feeling, that show the example of liveliness to those numbed by TV. Social workers and carers, GPs could refer to this group when they encounter anyone with a TV in their homes. You know, "do you have TV at home?" and then refer to the supportive services. TV addiction is just as damaging to one's health and to the community's as heroin addiction, alcoholism, or meaningless slavery work. Check this book out for further reading: Four Reasons for the Elimination of Television by Jerry Mander, you can get it for about £4 on amazon or waterstones marketplace.