Television addiction
Dec 29, 2002
THE humble television slipped unheralded into this millennium. This is probably because it has become an integral and easily overlooked part of our living rooms (and in some cases, our cars, bedrooms and bathrooms)
By Roger Mugisha
THE humble television slipped unheralded into this millennium. This is probably because it has become an integral and easily overlooked part of our living rooms (and in some cases, our cars, bedrooms and bathrooms).
As computers, mobile phones, genetic engineering, aeroplanes and other technologies are hailed, it is easy to forget how profoundly the television has changed our lives. Before its entry, harassed mothers needed four building blocks and several cushions to keep their children still for any length of time. Now all they need is dire threats and a power blackout to get them to move at all.
Before TV, the radio performed a pleasant background to our everyday domestic duties. Now the grass grows riotously, the ironing remains stacked in a heap and the cooking burns while Mum and Dad are glued to the antics of a fantasy family.
When I started watching TV, it was all in black and white and we had to imagine the colours. The TV was one of those old fashioned ones with valves that often overheated. However, it survived several house moves and amateur electronic repairs and was finally sold, good as new, when we grewn up.
In those days there was only one station, UTV and all it provided was a healthy dose of musical dream beats and patriotic programmes. The screen often went blank rendering the viewers dormant, but considering that that was the only choice we had, who could complain?
For the perpetual UTV fan, this was normal and no cause for alarm. Instead you kept your fingers crossed in anticipation that it could finally occur to them that there might have been people watching. But as the times rolled on, WBS, TV Africa, LTV and DSTV stations rolled in. Not only did this relegate the UTV but also compelled more people to tune in to different channels for visual delight.
“We used to gossip about the shenanigans of our work mates, neighbours and friends. Now our ‘Friends’, are American actors engaged in a weekly filming exercise halfway across the globe while we crack our ribs to their wild humour,†says Maria Twine. She also says that the face of television has been transformed because there are several brands of programmes today ranging from cartoons, reality TV to the Discovery Channel and musical to Channel O.
“There wasn’t as much sex and violence on TV then as there is today,†says Trevor Mubiru, a father of two. He adds that the rate of profanity and the freelance screening of violence will create a negative backlash towards children because they are so accustomed to watching TV.
“With all the body-exposing and sex oriented programmes like Baywatch and Sex and the City, our children are bound to get caught up in the web of immorality.â€
Mary says that for the past 20 years, the announcement ‘News’ brought everything to a standstill, with family members and domestic workers alike gawking at tragic happenings around the world.
She recalls that her grandmother once came to visit as they were watching the News. She went round greeting everyone and then hearing the voice of the newscaster, turned to him and held out her hand.
“I am sorry I didn’t see you as I came in,†she apologised!
As children, we lived in terror of visitors arriving just at the point when we were about to watch our favourite show. One particular gentleman from our village was notorious for demanding the television be switched off whenever he came visiting. If we were lucky it was just the sound that was muted.
So as he launched into lengthy prayers, one would try to surreptitiously keep an eye open and try and follow the action on TV. Of course, if you were caught it would mean being banned from television for a much longer time. “Remember not the sins of my youth!’’
In many households, the TV has replaced the traditional fireplace and the hub of activity. Appreciation goes to our local TV stations for developing good, social programmes especially those that get the family talking to each other while viewing the screen.
THE humble television slipped unheralded into this millennium. This is probably because it has become an integral and easily overlooked part of our living rooms (and in some cases, our cars, bedrooms and bathrooms).
As computers, mobile phones, genetic engineering, aeroplanes and other technologies are hailed, it is easy to forget how profoundly the television has changed our lives. Before its entry, harassed mothers needed four building blocks and several cushions to keep their children still for any length of time. Now all they need is dire threats and a power blackout to get them to move at all.
Before TV, the radio performed a pleasant background to our everyday domestic duties. Now the grass grows riotously, the ironing remains stacked in a heap and the cooking burns while Mum and Dad are glued to the antics of a fantasy family.
When I started watching TV, it was all in black and white and we had to imagine the colours. The TV was one of those old fashioned ones with valves that often overheated. However, it survived several house moves and amateur electronic repairs and was finally sold, good as new, when we grewn up.
In those days there was only one station, UTV and all it provided was a healthy dose of musical dream beats and patriotic programmes. The screen often went blank rendering the viewers dormant, but considering that that was the only choice we had, who could complain?
For the perpetual UTV fan, this was normal and no cause for alarm. Instead you kept your fingers crossed in anticipation that it could finally occur to them that there might have been people watching. But as the times rolled on, WBS, TV Africa, LTV and DSTV stations rolled in. Not only did this relegate the UTV but also compelled more people to tune in to different channels for visual delight.
“We used to gossip about the shenanigans of our work mates, neighbours and friends. Now our ‘Friends’, are American actors engaged in a weekly filming exercise halfway across the globe while we crack our ribs to their wild humour,†says Maria Twine. She also says that the face of television has been transformed because there are several brands of programmes today ranging from cartoons, reality TV to the Discovery Channel and musical to Channel O.
“There wasn’t as much sex and violence on TV then as there is today,†says Trevor Mubiru, a father of two. He adds that the rate of profanity and the freelance screening of violence will create a negative backlash towards children because they are so accustomed to watching TV.
“With all the body-exposing and sex oriented programmes like Baywatch and Sex and the City, our children are bound to get caught up in the web of immorality.â€
Mary says that for the past 20 years, the announcement ‘News’ brought everything to a standstill, with family members and domestic workers alike gawking at tragic happenings around the world.
She recalls that her grandmother once came to visit as they were watching the News. She went round greeting everyone and then hearing the voice of the newscaster, turned to him and held out her hand.
“I am sorry I didn’t see you as I came in,†she apologised!
As children, we lived in terror of visitors arriving just at the point when we were about to watch our favourite show. One particular gentleman from our village was notorious for demanding the television be switched off whenever he came visiting. If we were lucky it was just the sound that was muted.
So as he launched into lengthy prayers, one would try to surreptitiously keep an eye open and try and follow the action on TV. Of course, if you were caught it would mean being banned from television for a much longer time. “Remember not the sins of my youth!’’
In many households, the TV has replaced the traditional fireplace and the hub of activity. Appreciation goes to our local TV stations for developing good, social programmes especially those that get the family talking to each other while viewing the screen.