Assignment 5- Mary Huffman- Necessary Evils

I've been a bystander when it comes to television. When my friends start to talk about the shows they've recently binge-watched, I try to keep the conversation going. When my classmates enter the room giggling about the last dramatic episode of The Bachelor(ette), I'm slightly intrigued by the larger-than-life story lines. When my dad spends his evenings half asleep in front of the TV, I wonder why he complains that he never has time to do the things he wants to accomplish. I don't personally see the value of consuming hours of television every day. Why would you choose to sit motionless, watching other people's lives play out while you could be spending your own so much more impactfully? I think it's beneficial to have an occasional activity that involves mindless entertainment and relaxation, but television is not, and should not be, the end-all be-all of after-work, after-school activities. The mindless activities I partake in may not always include television, but they are always to the same effect- I forget (rather, neglect) my responsibilities, and often consume hours of content laden with advertisements preying on my idle mind. So yes, television is a form of  non-interactive entertainment filled to the brim with messages from advertisers, but these are necessary evils we must face by consuming any form of media in this day in age.