So what do you do in the evening, then?

[davywavy]

In the comments to my post the other day, I mentioned that I don't own a TV. This is unusual - figures from the TV licensing people suggest that 99.5% of households in the country have a telly in them and such is the ubiquity of the gogglebox that the Joseph Rountree Foundation uses non-ownership of one as an indicator of poverty (this surprises me, as the people I know who don't own a TV tend to be both better educated and in better jobs than the average).
The are distinct advantages to not owning a TV. I don't run the risk of wasting my time watching witless crap like Eastenders, X-Factor, Big Brother or the new Doctor Who, and anything decent like Life on Mars I can pick up DVDs of at Cash Converters six months after they come out.
What was interesting about my comment was that it pulled out a number of other people on my friends list who don't own TV's. According to the above statistic, only one person in every 200 should be telly-less, and so I should only have one person reading me who doesn't as opposed to several which seems to be the case.

So, to satisfy my curiosity:

[Poll #1070038]

Comments

Re: Deconstructing Firefly

[(Anonymous)]

In 3 words:

Size 20 thong.

Re: Deconstructing Firefly

[vulgarcriminal.livejournal.com]

It has to be hot pink.

Let's hear it for the BBWs.

Re: Deconstructing Firefly

[(Anonymous)]

There is no such thing.

Skimpy underwear is a privelige not a right. In much the same way as it's funny to put people who can't drive in high performance vehicles, perhaps with a couple of pints inside them, and let them loose on the general public, fat gurls in tight or skimpy clothing are all very amusing until an innocent bystander gets crushed to death.

Best observed from a distance.

Through a scope.

"I say Carruthers, pass up the Holland & Holland would you? There's a particularly grotesque specimen for the billiard room wall!"

Re: Deconstructing Firefly

[vulgarcriminal.livejournal.com]

One of the best things I've ever seen on my ghetto ass council estate was a heavily overweight woman with orange-blonde hair in cycling shorts and a pink t-shirt that said 'PRINCESS' stumbling around with a bottle of fortified wine.

She was SEXY.

Re: Deconstructing Firefly

[astartesyriaca.livejournal.com]

Even better than a bunch of geeks on LJ making fun of overweight people? Not sure what is sadder, actually.

Re: Deconstructing Firefly

[(Anonymous)]

To quote the unforgettable Independent review of a TV programme about male impotence, it's "ribald entertainment for the unafflicted."

H

Re: Deconstructing Firefly

[astartesyriaca.livejournal.com]

Ha! Good one. ;)

Being a "foreigner", and on the subject of TV, I am amazed by this programme about embarrassing ailments, an entire show devoted to the treatment of the most disgusting health problems the human body can muster. WHY? WHY? WHY? I don't get it.

Re: Deconstructing Firefly

[vulgarcriminal.livejournal.com]

Because people enjoy laughing at the disgusting and strange. A hobby as old as time.

Re: Deconstructing Firefly

[astartesyriaca.livejournal.com]

Gee, and I thought it was a science show.

Re: Deconstructing Firefly

[vulgarcriminal.livejournal.com]

Oh my LAWD, someone lambasting the hideously obese on LJ and then called sad, MY GOD. I've seen the light.

Re: Deconstructing Firefly

[astartesyriaca.livejournal.com]

Glad to have helped you.

Are you sure you are from Portland? *grin*

Re: Deconstructing Firefly

[vulgarcriminal.livejournal.com]

According to you I'm a male gamer geek with no social skills. Not to mention how sad it is I live on a council estate in Wigan. Hi-lar-ious.

But then, FTM isn't uncommon in Portlandia... so you know.

Re: Deconstructing Firefly

[astartesyriaca.livejournal.com]

Actually, and just to clarify for you, I didn't quite say that. I never said you were male... and also didn't say you had no social skills. I DID suggest you were a gamer geek (takes one to know one, and I think it is something to embrace), and I said that you socialize online, not that you didn't have any SKILLS.

YOU said you live on a council estate. I was just pondering the sad irony of gamer geeks making fun of fat people. Often, the two quite literally go hand in hand.

Agreed on the FTM - there is this great drag bar, but I can't recall the name of it just now...

Look for context clues next time ;)

Re: Deconstructing Firefly

[vulgarcriminal.livejournal.com]

Re: Deconstructing Firefly

[(Anonymous)]

What broke the link between normal people & what used to be called 'disadvantaged' so that instead of our pity these people now inspire our contempt, and that instead of wanting to help them I now just want to bulldoze them into a landfill?

Re: Deconstructing Firefly

[vulgarcriminal.livejournal.com]

Jeremy Kyle.
Increase in National Insurance contributions to pay for their DIABEETUS.

Re: Deconstructing Firefly

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Nobless Oblige used to work both ways - the advantaged used to help he disadvantaged and the disadvantaged used to say thank you, and continue the process should they become advantaged themselves. Now the disadvantaged 'know their rights' and don't have to give anything in return.

Re: Deconstructing Firefly

[(Anonymous)]

Yup, I can see how that would work. There's precious little reward in helping someone who shows no interest in, or gratitude for, being helped, having been conned by teh state into thinking it's some sort of God-given right that they don't have to do anything at all for themselves.

In contrast, I am always very grateful when I do something for me.