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Do you keep TV on for long periods?

(81 Posts)
biglouis Sat 02-Sept-23 11:53:08

Just read an interesting thread in Mumsnet about attitudes to having TV on all day.

I tend to only put it on when Im watching something specific. Or if its already on I mute the sound until Im ready to watch again. I do have (loudish) music on most of the day and when Im working at the computer. It helps to blot out background noise which I find distracting. I can quite happily dis-attend the music because its under my control.

When we were kids and we first got a TV it was only put on in the evening. If a visitor arrived my mother immediately turned it off, or turned the sound down. Too bad if it was something I was watching. She believed it was very rude to have the TV on when visitors arrived (even if they were unexpected) as you were not paying due attention to them.

Ailidh Sat 02-Sept-23 16:05:30

I put it on in the afternoon until I go to bed. I always turn it off if someone calls round.

I watch very little live TV, so I'm usually watching a recording or a stream, so I don't miss anything. Not that it would matter if I did, guests first!!

Primrose53 Sat 02-Sept-23 16:03:03

Watch the morning news on TV in bed. Never have it on during day unless I am ironing. Some evenings there is such rubbish on we don’t turn it on at all.

StacyAnna Sat 02-Sept-23 15:57:34

TV never on in the daytime. Sometimes switched on around 8pm til about 10, but some nights no TV at all. Love reading, listen to music or the radio……

Shinamae Sat 02-Sept-23 15:53:36

I watch far too much TV…. (And make no apology for it.) 😜🤓😁

Redhead56 Sat 02-Sept-23 15:49:56

I spend most of my day concocting recipes it's an obsession. If it's nice I am in the sun house or pottering in the garden. In the sun house or garden there is always a recipe book to be found.
I watch the BBC six o'clock news and Northwest tonight and maybe later watch something I recorded. Mortimer and Whitehouse is a favourite at the moment and period dramas.
There's plenty of time on horrid winter days and nights to watch more TV for me.

downtoearth Sat 02-Sept-23 15:35:23

I very rarely watch TV, prefer to read,and do puzzles.
DGDs normally put on when they come.

Fleurpepper Sat 02-Sept-23 15:30:24

Never have TV during the day. Never had TV as a child- and can't stand it in the background. OH would have it on much more than me.

If we are not watching something specific- I often ask if it it ok to switch off. Watch properly or not at all, for me. If he has F1 of other sport on, I usually go and read in another room, or go for a walk with doggie or work/enjoy garden.

Whitewavemark2 Sat 02-Sept-23 15:01:17

Normal days - lunch time news with lunch.
Then evenings if there is something we want to watch. DH watches a lot of sport, but he has his own tv in another room, unless it is something we both want to watch like tennis or athletics.

Unusual days - if there is a major event happening we will have it on during the day then. So E.g. we watched 6th January with open mouths all day, the Queens funeral we dipped in and out - stuff like that. History in the making events.

Visgir1 Sat 02-Sept-23 14:53:16

When we have been out the first thing DH does when he come in is put the TV on, drives me nuts so I turn it off.
I only put on if there is something to watch.
Day time TV I can't cope with.
I don't really watch TV until about 7.30. Then I'm off to bed by 10pm.

DH stays up to watch the News etc me Radio and book.

welshmist Sat 02-Sept-23 14:30:37

I prefer to read in silence. Husband has control anyway. He flicks through to find something or has recorded. I enjoy silence

LadyGracie Sat 02-Sept-23 14:26:02

Ours hasn't been on for at least 2 months, we tend to sit in the sunroom through the day then after dinner till bedtime.

pascal30 Sat 02-Sept-23 13:49:48

I only have it on for something specific..mostly I watch things on my laptop..

lixy Sat 02-Sept-23 13:45:09

Radio during the day, TV usually in the evenings. Certainly goes off when visitors arrive, except for DS who comes to watch the football in peace sometimes.

GrannyRose15 Sat 02-Sept-23 13:40:52

When the GC are here the TV isn’t allowed until after lunch. Otherwise it usually stays off till after supper when DH and I sit down to watch a detective show.

Ilovecheese Sat 02-Sept-23 13:34:26

My TV is quite judgemental and gives a warning that it will turn itself off if I dont such the controls every so often.

HousePlantQueen Sat 02-Sept-23 13:32:37

When we were children, the Tv was always turned off when someone came in to the house, it was considered rude to watch TV when you had a visitor, and I agree. Now, the one in our kitchen burbles on while we have breakfast and sometimes stays on for a few hours as we potter around, but nobody actually sits and watches a whole programme.

Dee1012 Sat 02-Sept-23 12:47:28

I tend to listen to the radio during the day and will only switch on the TV during the evening...more often than not to watch something specific. I have found lately that it's off and I'll read a book.

Calendargirl Sat 02-Sept-23 12:45:03

Only put it on when I want to watch something.

Wouldn’t dream of having it on all day.

biglouis Sat 02-Sept-23 12:38:57

Ive found that having the TV on LOUD is a way to get rid of unwanted callers as they have to shout. They soon get the message that their presence is not desired.

Many years ago when I was renting I used to have it on when the agent came to do "inspections" and it made it quite clear that they were infringing upon my time. At one time the LL decided to sell and the agent thought I should allow prospective purchasers to tramp around my home during my leisure time. They arrived to find me watching TV with the volume up LOUD so they could not ask me anything. Must have made them feel very uncomfortable, which was the general idea.

Cabbie21 Sat 02-Sept-23 12:38:27

If I am in the sitting room I have the TV on a lot, though it is often tuned to ClassicFm. I have tinnitus so I like to have some sound.

Smileless2012 Sat 02-Sept-23 12:31:37

I have the tv on during the day whether I'm really watching or not, or music as I like to have background noise.

henetha Sat 02-Sept-23 12:30:32

I watch BBC Breakfast for half an hour about 8 am -ish.
Then switch it off and don't ever put it back on until after 2pm.
That's a self imposed rule which I stick to firmly.
But often don't put it on until after 5pm.

merlotgran Sat 02-Sept-23 12:23:57

I watch the lunchtime News while I grab something to eat then the TV doesn’t go on until the evening News unless it’s a miserable wet afternoon and I watch something on catch up or Netflix.

Exceptions are Wimbledon and World events that stop you in your tracks.

SueDonim Sat 02-Sept-23 12:21:56

No, never. We watched the Ashes back in July and last week we started watching Yellowstone. The GC have it on for half an hour or so once a week.

fancythat Sat 02-Sept-23 12:06:22

Only to watch something specific.
Especially since the cost of electric has got more expensive.