Once upon a time, people would go out almost every night of the week, whether over to the neighbor’s place for dinner or out to a club for dinner and dancing or simply over to the local theater for a movie and newsreel. This was before the entertainment leviathan that is television appeared.

Before TV changed the way we relax, radio was the only option for entertainment and before radio, all people had was – get this – books.

As a result I think people were generally more inclined to seek out others for entertainment; communities were closer because, on some level, people had nothing better to do.

Not all television is bad; it has helped us learn more about our world. We have access to 24-hour news, round-the-clock weather reports, how-to shows for virtually any project you can imagine, documentaries on any number of things from past, present and future, and some truly quality programming.

TV is an easy way for society to gain access to and disseminate information. It has become an ingrained part of our society, and I doubt that it’s going away any time soon.

However, there are some truly abysmal things on TV, and I’m convinced that some shows are actually making people dumber and actively contributing to our deteriorating sense of community.

Content aside, however, it seems that TV has usurped a place in our society that people used to fill. They’ve been replaced by televised stand-ins. I think that, in the end, we are worse off because of it. No longer does there seem to be a strong level of involvement in our communities.

We have our distinct social circles in which we are active; we share our experiences with our close personal friends and family. But how many of you can truly claim to be a part of the DeKalb community – or even the NIU community?

Instead of going out to meet people, taking part in activities or socializing with others, I think we often sit and watch TV. It’s easier and a lot less work, but you also get less out of it.

This is part of a larger trend in American culture toward privacy and personal space. When we no longer rely on each other for entertainment, we lose something in our appreciation of others.

And this phenomenon is destroying, or at the very least changing, what community means to America.

I am not sure much can be done to change this phenomenon in our society, but you can take a stand in your personal life.

You’re probably not ready to give up TV altogether (although I assure you can, in fact, live very well without it), so instead be cognizant of just how much time you spend in front of the idiot box.

Take note of what else you could be doing instead of watching TV, and think about what you’re missing out on.

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