In chapter nine at the lower half of page 126, Postman states that, “An American who has reached the age of forty will have seen well over one million television commercials in his or her lifetime, and has close to another million to go before the first Social Security check arrives.”
This is absolutely ridiculous in my opinion. I watch my fair share of television, but to believe that the average forty year old will have seen one million commercials is ridiculous. What is our world coming too? Why haven’t those adults been getting exercise instead of all that TV time? Why not spend time with your children, if they have any (and by spending time I don’t mean watch TV with them.) The average forty year old when there wasn’t TV probably read about one million pages. What sounds more fun to you, read one million pages or watch one million commercials. What sounds more appropriate to you, read one million pages or watch one million commercials?
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Just remember fun and appropriate are two different things. Reading a million pages by the time you are forty is possible,if you do read a lot but some would consider seeing a million commercials to be a little more amusing. People are bound to their televisions because they use it as a way to relax, but I do have to admit some Americans do watch a little too much television. It is possible though to stay healthy, spend times with loved ones and see a million different commercials in someone's lifetime. People just have to learn to balance everything out like going to the movies with friends, actually having a family dinner, homework, sports and relaxing in front of the television.
ReplyDeleteWhat seems funny to me about commercials though is that many companies like Pepsi would spend up to three million dollars for thirty seconds on the Super Bowl. That is also how we can see a million different comericals in our lifetimes,because they want to have at least two to three different commercials at once.
I completely agree with both bloggers that the amount of television, not to mention other forms of technology, an American sees, plays with, watches, etc. is ridiculous. However, Erik, the average American receives their first social security check around the age of 65, not the age of 40.
ReplyDeleteIt is a little embarrassing to admit that I was not surprised when I read that statement about the viewing of 1,000,000 commercials. It is not unusual for many Americans to be glued to the television, therefore the viewing of the 1,000,000 commericals is not surprising either. However, the nonsurprising aspect of this situation does not diminish the fact that it is wrong and is an important issue.
I also agree with Jessica that the words fun and appropriate can mean two different things. The average teenager would say that the viewing of commercials rather than the reading of pages is more fun, and they might even venture to say that the viewing of commercials is more appropriate than reading pages, even though they truly know that the pages of a book will take them further through life than the images on a television.