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From: michaelm@3comvax.UUCP (Michael McNeil)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: kids without TV
Message-ID: <213@3comvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 4-Sep-85 20:25:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: 3comvax.213
Posted: Wed Sep  4 20:25:46 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 6-Sep-85 02:49:12 EDT
References: <645@wdl1.UUCP>
Organization: 3Com Corp; Mountain View, CA
Lines: 33

> I notice that there have been no articles from people like myself who
> grew up with no TV.  We got our first TV when I was 14 years old (1972).
> I don't think I really missed it.  I developed an addiction to books rather
> than to the tube.  My mother read to us every night until all of us were
> able to read on our own (there are six of us).
> 
> Is there anyone else out there who grew up without the box?
> 
> 				John R Blaker

Well, I grew up *with* TV and guess what -- I also developed an
addiction to books.  I still read avidly -- but I also appreciate
what TV provides today, and what it didn't when I was growing up.  

I would have practically no reason to own a television except
for one thing -- and that is PBS.  I suppose some of the other
services currently developing on cable are also useful (I don't
get cable where I live so I can't judge).  I do, however, pick
up PBS -- and PBS is worth everything else on TV put together.  

I can't begin to list the vast amount of educational programming
(science, nature, and public affairs), drama (Shakespeare, opera),
and other culture which I have thrilled to on PBS over the past
few years.  I agree completely with a statement made recently
on the occasion of PBS's fifteenth anniversary that ``PBS is a
national treasure.''  It saddens me that many children are now
growing up without exposure to this beauty, available to all.  

----------------
Michael McNeil
3Com Corporation
(415) 960-9367
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