LOST, OR, How I Came To Realize TV is Making Me Stupid

First off, let me say I have nothing against LOST. I loved it...when I could understand it. Which was pretty much the first 15 minutes of the pilot, 6 years ago. I thought it was an amazing show with impressive plot twists, believeable characters, and very clever marketing (remember the "commercials" that weren't really? Pure genius.) But when I watched the series finale, I remember thinking that I can't believe I've been watching that show for 6 years and I have nothing to show for it but some stupid memories about a dude killing a polar bear with a 9mm (uh, yeah) and a fat guy who hasn't lost any weight while living on mangos and rainwater (I know, he had Dharma food, blah, blah). It kind of depressed me...for good reason I think.

Television has been a major part of my life and I'm starting to realize how sad that is. I think the thing that really has brought me to this point is the fact that I can't wait for the season finale's of the shows I watch so that I can enjoy the beautiful weather. Seriously, that is depressing if you think about it. I'm willing to sacrifice the beauty of living my life in the world God created for me because I need to see Jack Bauer shoot seven specially trained Russian Spetsnaz commandos before one of them can even get his hand on his pistol. I'm pathetic.

So my friends, I've made my decision. I'm getting on the wagon. No more TV addictions for me. I refuse to get dragged into the next big series. Thankfully, LOST and 24 are gone, so that helps. But no more American Idol (shut up, my wife got me into it), no more Apprentice. I'm done with any show that will cause me to go into withdrawals if I don't get to see it. This doesn't mean that I'm giving up cold turkey. I'm keeping The Office and Parks and Recreation, humor is good medicine. But I'm no longer adding new shows to my agenda.

I think TV is a major cause of the decline of our civilized society. I doubt you can name one social ill that hasn't been caused, spread, or agitated by our nation's love affair with "the boob tube" as my mom so lovingly called it. Speaking of my mom, when we were kids she cut the cords to all the TV's in our house because we were watching too much TV. You know what? I think she was on to something. I know she would be proud of my decision.

Now where's my 24: The Novel...I've got some reading to do.