• TV may cause attention deficit

Posted: **Mon Apr 05, 2004 10:53 am**

http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/parentin ... index.html

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Researchers have found that every hour preschoolers watch television each day boosts their chances -- by about 10 percent -- of developing attention deficit problems later in life.

The findings back up previous research showing that television can shorten attention spans and support American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations that youngsters under age 2 not watch television.

"The truth is there are lots of reasons for children not to watch television. Other studies have shown it to be associated with obesity and aggressiveness" too, said lead author Dr. Dimitri Christakis, a researcher at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle.

The study, appearing in the April issue of Pediatrics, focused on two groups of children -- aged 1 and 3 -- and suggested that TV might overstimulate and permanently "rewire" the developing brain.

The study involved 1,345 children who participated in government-sponsored national health surveys. Their parents were questioned about the children's TV viewing habits and rated their behavior at age 7 on a scale similar to measures used in diagnosing attention deficit disorders.

Read the rest at the above link.

In short, kill you goddamned telivision. It's a brainwash machine.

Posted: **Mon Apr 05, 2004 11:28 am**

Yes but I wonder what ill effect the internet can have on children.

As for televions, for me it's not that it's unhealthy mentally...it's unhealthy aesthetically.

Posted: **Mon Apr 05, 2004 12:14 pm**

You know, up until 2 months ago I had forgone TV for several years. My current apartment has a policy that gives you basic cable for 10.00 a month. When I moved in, I told them thanks, but I don't use it, don't want to pay for it. They let me avoid it for 6 months, but at renewal time, they said I'd have to cough up the 10 bucks a month. So I figured fuck it, if I'm paying for it, I'll use it, and hooked up the cable.

I'm disconnecting again. For the last 2 months I have been tired, listless, and out of my routine. I have a sinking suspicion that TV has something to do with that. My view is that it is an addictive, unneccesay font of overflowing crap, with a few nourishing kernals of corn thrown in to keep people indignant about being responsible viewers. Yes, I'll miss the Daily Show and Chapelle, but I can download them if I really want to see them.

Celestial Dung, LOVE the avatar! Klaus Nomi Forever!!!

Posted: **Mon Apr 05, 2004 12:45 pm**

Im sorry, what were you saying....there was this episode of MadTV on and..................

Posted: **Tue Apr 06, 2004 8:22 pm**

I missed the opening of Law & Order to read this?!

Posted: **Tue Apr 06, 2004 9:39 pm**

the internet causes hairy palms.

Posted: **Wed Apr 07, 2004 12:30 am**

A lot of children these days have forgotten what its like to create things with their imagination as opposed to being told what to think by a screen. TV has been a problem for children lately because it doesn't allow them an opportunity to think for themselves. A lot of parents feel more comfortable planting their children in front of TVs rather than allowing them to play outside or inside and expand their mind with imagination. On one hand, I can't blame the parents for not allowing them to be outside because of all the lunatics that would snatch a child off the side of the street. On the other hand, a lot of parent's are too busy trying to provide the things that are needed by their children in today's economy and social structure. Last but not least, then, you have the parents who just don't care.

Posted: **Wed Apr 07, 2004 12:50 am**

I got rid of my TV ten years ago. I hate the damn things. They're like nails on a chalkboard to me. I don't read newspapers either. And now that I've put all that mental pablum aside and actually gotten on with living, I feel like I'm much better informed and aware of what's going on than I have been in my entire life. That crap isn't information; it's misinformation - and at best all it does is clutter up your brain. Smash the damn things with a vengeance!