Monday, June 07, 2004

Just Do It Yourself

In today’s world, more individuals seem to be clamoring for protection from this, that, and the other thing, via the State, they ever before.  Leonard, at Unruled, stumbled on a comment thread at Crooked Timber which asked individuals to rank some items to make the “world a better place.” One individual who responded, thought that eliminating advertising, should be the solution, so more social programs could be funded.  Leonard’s response to the poster’s advertising proposal.

"Turn off the TV. Don’t watch the programs which are supported by commercial advertising. Don’t watch Buffy, or those reality TV shows that you love to hate. Don’t even watch public TV, with all that “underwriting”.

Turn off the radio. Don’t listen to music which is supported by commercial advertising. Buy a CD and a CD player, or do without.

If you are unwilling to do that — to stop watching the commercial TV shows that you like — then please stop whining about how you don’t like commercials. The fact is, you are revealing your preference for them, by watching them. The fact is, you do, actually, value them (for making possible the programs that come with them), more than you value food for poor people.

Instead of watching an hour of TV, work an extra hour and donate the money to OxFam.

Stop being a hypocrite, or, own up to the fact that you value the things that you do.

NB: I do watch a small amount of TV. But I am not a hypocrite. Every evening, I have the choice whether or not to watch that TV, or work for the poor, and I choose to watch TV. I value it above feeding the poor. I am responsible for what I do. What about you?"

Posted by John Venlet on 06/07 at 02:38 AM
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