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Are you unhappy? You must be a TV fan!
by Bob Sassone, posted Nov 18th 2008 2:10PM
Another month, another study on how TV is bad for us.The latest comes from The University of Maryland, where sociologists looking over 30 years worth of data have concluded that people who watch a lot of television are unhappy. People who say that they are very happy read more and socialize more.
Oh, this is bogus on so many levels.
First, what exactly are the definitions of "unhappy" and "very happy?" Couldn't someone who describes themselves as "very happy" actually be unhappy in a major part of their life, or just be wrong, or maybe just won't admit it? It seems to me that the entire study hinges on whether the respondents are being accurate with the way they think about themselves. And what about internet use and video games? Is that different viewing than television? And are those people happy or unhappy? Do people who watch a lot of television use more sad face emoticons when they e-mail than people who watch less television?
:(
I'd like to see a study that shows that people who use a microwave oven are more unhappy than people who use a stove. Or maybe people who watch television on a giant HDTV are happier than people who watch it on a small black and white portable. Does that mean the sociologists would then say that watching TV makes you happier, just make sure it's a big one?
The part that really ticks me off is where it says people who read the newspaper are happier. What a load of crap. What about the millions of people like me who watch a ton of television but also read a ton and exercise and socialize and try to have a well-rounded life?
The article does provide us with one great thing: a paragraph titled "Unhappy People Are Happy With TV." That's a great slogan for trying to get people to watch more TV and someone should make a t-shirt with that on it.
[via TV Tattle]
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