Television has had many effects on my life. It also had an effect on the life of the .
After losing his parents, Philo Farnsworth, the inventor of the .
television in 1927, sank into depression. Farnsworth did not allow television in his home, .
he believed there to be nothing on it worthwhile. While television programming had .
undergone major changes since its invention seventy-five years ago, its negative effects .
are still evident.
One of the biggest effects television has had has been my relationship with my .
father. Some of my earliest memories of my childhood are of my father comeing home .
from work and sitting in his recliner in front of the television. Often, he would not leave the .
chair until it was time for bed. While you oculd get his attention by stepping in the way of .
the television, you could not speak to him while the TV was on. Every sound not coming .
from the television set fell on deaf ears. I feel I have missed out on a small part of life and .
wonder what might have been without television.
Watching television in excess can lead you to withdraw from everyone and .
everything around you. During middle schooll I was more interested in what was onTV than .
spending time with friends. I would also put off homework if there was something that could .
keep my attention on television, and today there are hundreds of channels available, one .
can always find a program of interest.
During the holidays, the adults would set all the children around the TV and pop a .
video in the VCR; this allowed the adults to socialize while we were captivated by the .
television. Television was the perfect babysitter as it kept our attention off the adults and .
did not ask for an hourly wage or a ride home.
Another important effect television has had is on my health. Dinner was always .
eaten in front of the television, and it became natural that whenever I would watch TV, I .
would want something to eat.
