Ren Allen

"Thanks - I won't post anymore about this topic,"

I think you should!! This topic rolls around every so often, we bust a
few myths and VOILA! another family starts to see the "effects" of tv,
were really more about control than the television itself.

It's good fodder for discussion. It sharpens our thinking skills,
helps us debate whether or not the common assumptions about television
are correct and helps more people than just the ones in the discussion.

Don't feel badly for bringing up a very interesting and highly
discussed topic. I used to feel just like you and now tv has no power
in our lives, it's just another tool for learning...like everything in
the world.

It's a tough shift to make, but when a parent gives a television power
(by thinking it's "addicting" or youth can't use critical thinking
skills to see past advertising) then it does have power.

Yeah, my children have asked for things on television, but that
doesn't make the thing bad, just because the company advertised does it?
We have lots of good conversation about manipulation in advertising
and how to research consumer reports and such. My dd still wants to
buy the Floam after reading the reviews here (and knowing it won't act
like the ads make it sound, and that it might stink etc..) and it will
be a wonderful learning experience for her.

Making poor choices, leads to better choices. So it's ok if they want
things that don't meet their expectations. It's ok for us, it's ok for
them. More often than not, it leads to a bunch of research on the
internet to see if the ad is midleading or if there's a similar
product that's better!

Back when novels first came out, people were very negative about the
"effects" of reading such trash. Every new form of communication seems
to scare the older generation. Eventually it becomes accepted, then
maybe even revered (look how we worship reading books and villify
tv)...so it's all part of history. We're on the curve of teleision
being relatively new in history, and people are just beginning to show
studies that are positive. We'll get there.:)

Ren
learninginfreedom.com