Sitting. Staring.

Motionless. Mindless.

Watching for hours. Wasting time.

Why would anyone want to sit around and watch the time escape them? This question is one that I ponder frequently.

From the occasional afternoon movie theater invite to the Netflix binge-watching spree of my sister in our family room, I frequently have the opportunity to indulge in some visual media; however, I typically decline. Most people take pleasure in following the story of a faraway land, relating to characters with similar traits, or traveling in time to a Civil War battleground, but not me. The thought of sitting for over two hours to get to the end of a movie seems torturous.

Along with movies, binge-watching shows is another activity that I have never understood. I always hear my peers talk about all of the numerous, continuous episodes of a show they watched.

“I had to figure out what happened.”

“I just couldn’t stop watching.”

They stay glued to the screen. They can’t escape the magnetic pull of the worlds beyond our own inside of the screen.

But I can never understand it.

Why would I want to watch someone else live their life on a screen when I could go out and live mine?

What do they gain from reaching the end of a television series?
There is so much in this world to experience, why would I want to watch others’ lives?

Places to see. People to meet.
Mountains to climb. Lakes to swim in.
Tears to cry. Jokes to tell.
Friends to make. Moments to share.

Life is so short, and there is so much to experience. No fake society could ever match the reality and depth of our own.

Not only is watching TV a waste of time, but it also has been proven to be bad for your health. Scientists from Harvard have found that watching too much TV can significantly increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Newscasts are often biased information. Many popular TV series have heavy themes. Commercials manipulate you into buying their products in ways you may not even realize.

The disadvantages of television and movies are endless.

Turn off the TV. Suggest a different activity for your next movie date. Say no to the next Netflix show about to autoplay.

Go see the world.

Don’t waste your time.