The Following Article Was Submitted By:Â
Scott Rittenhouse
Mrs. Klinkerman
Senior Stand
January 16, 2008
The Dangers of Television
Television is one of the most popular devices in human history. In 2007, at least 98 percent of people had a television in their home.Â
But is television safe for the future of America, or could this endanger the future of America?
If asked, most scientists would say that the amount of time spent watching TV today is a very bad thing. First, most scientists believe that this has caused laziness, IQ loss, and even Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and autism.Â
According to the University of Michigan, Television can take the place of many worth while activities, including exercise.Â
The human body is not meant to just sit around all day. If it does, then it can grow tired, the immune system can crash and the body can put on major fat. Inactivity can cause obesity.Â
Obesity has just recently passed smoking as the leading cause of death in the United States. Even more so, according to the FDA, over 50% of Americans are obese.Â
Obesity can cause: Osteoarthritis, Gallbladder Disease, Fatty Liver Disease, Pregnancy Complications, Sleep Apnea, Metabolic Syndrome, Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke, Type Two Diabetes, and Cancer.Â
What is the leading cause of inactivity in America? It’s that black box sitting in the living rooms of over 50% of Americans.
It can also cause other problems in Americans; especially in children. According to a Cornell University study, allowing children under the age of two to watch television can increase their risk of autism. Â
Many others have found that it can also cause ADD and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children.Â
There are a large number of children with these problems, and one can only think that the increase may have been caused by the number of programs geared to children under the age of 2.
Still though, there are some who believe that television isn’t bad and can even make you smarter. Steven Johnson, writer of Everything Bad is Good for You, claims that due to something called the “Sleeper Curve”, television can increase problem solving and critical thinking skills.Â
The “Sleeper Curve” is a technique used by television writers where a single television episode has many plots in it going on simultaneously. This forces the viewer to pay attention to multiple stories.Â
The technique also has to do with writers foreshadowing and adding important information more subtlety. This is supposed to force the viewer to think and try to recall the past event.Â
The interesting thing is that if anyone looks on the Internet, then this would be the only argument you could find on television.
Is television bad for you? Some say yes, and some say no. The next question though is, should we even risk watching it?Â
Are the hours of entertainment worth the heath risks we face because of it? Even more, are our children’s futures worth the risk? That is for you to decide.
Bibliography
Wallis, Claudia. “Does Watching TV Cause Autism?.” Time Oct. 20, 2006 Jan 16, 2008 <http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1548682,00.html>.
Johnson , Steven. “Watching TV Makes You Smarter.” The New York Times Apr 24, 2005 Jan 16, 2008 <http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/24/magazine/24TV.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5090&en=e08bc7c1e7acbb59&ex=1271995200&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss>.
Farnovision. Typepad. Jan 15, 2008 <http://49chevy.blogs.com/farnovision/>.
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July 25th, 2008 at 5:20 am
I have to agree watching too much tv is bad for you whatever way you look at it! especially from a fitness and health point of view, I make a concious effort not to watch more than a couple of hours a day, getting out and about is much more fun.