Why am I Yelling at a Flickering Box? - Yoni Dvorkis's Blog

<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: small">There they are again on my TV set, looking oh so real and oh so terrified. I never used to watch them, back when they still had that wholesome family appeal, because that never gave me much to work with. Not this time though. Oh no, I saw it for myself. Jon sat on the left side of the couch, Kate on the right, yet they never sat on it together…strange.</SPAN></P> <P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: small">Now I'm glued to my seat, chewing my nails in anticipation. Will they announce a divorce? Please <EM>please</EM> let that happen. They so deserve it for everything they've done (as if I really have a clue). But no, this doesn't seem right. These are good caring people and they obviously love their kids. Now I feel restless, so I move on...</SPAN></P> <P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: small">Ok ok, now I've really found it, my moment of truth, when I can safely and justifiably rain down my wrath on a bunch of unsuspecting housewives from New Jersey. Oh how I relish the thought of screaming at these lunatics. I can scream and yell all I want, cursing the day the network executives decided reality is interesting (read:dramatic) enough to put on prime time. Wow did she actually flip a table over? Awesome! This is exactly what I want to do with myself on a weeknight, stare at strangers fight and scream and yell and throw the best hissy fits imaginable, all so I can join in from the other side of the fourth wall. All so I can watch from a distance, yet still feel somehow intimately involved. But no, this doesn’t seem right either, but by now I’m fresh out of ideas…</SPAN></P> <P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: small">As much as I'd love to blame these celebrities for all of my problems, as much as my misplaced anger feels strangely satisfying, deep down I know it could only be a temporary relief. Because when all is said and done, though admittedly more said than done, these figures on the screen have absolutely nothing to do with me. Once I push the off button, and dispel my air of moral superiority, Jon and Kate have disappeared, as did the table flipping woman and all of her enemies that she insists on calling friends.</SPAN></P> <P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: small">When the TV’s off, and all of my imaginary ‘friends’ have vanished with it, I'm all that's left, and even though screaming at a mirror maybe far more dramatic, it’ll never be as interesting.</SPAN></P> <P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: small">Oh well, there’s always the internet…</SPAN></P>

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Charmaine Chircop Date: 7/2/2009 9:28:00 AM hi Yoni,all through the days we are being fed with dreams through tv,music,and all--its nice to watch and hear always keeping in my mind that reality is something else...and yes when we put off the button we are on our own--thank God for inernet--though we still have to switch it off too...........just discovered this blog Thing from Ruben-- i have to start looking better at the "home page",by the way Yoni--you write wonderfully my friend-------charma Login to Reply

Eric Nolan Date: 6/28/2009 12:58:00 PM Ah Yoni, I see the great media machine has dug in it's claws and sucked you in. Another victim of our need as humans to define our existence through suffering. How we marvel and gravitate towards drama in many forms. It's almost like a shiny trinket mesmerizing it's target. Fear not my dear Yoni, for you are doing exactly what "they" want you to do. Keeping you watching the left hand while the right hand goes about it's business. While your out there enjoying your "flicker" please pick the current edition of your favorite rag detailing the latest alien impregnation while munching some cool ranch Doritos, consume, consume, consume.................enjoy the show. E Login to Reply

Carolyn Devonshire Date: 6/28/2009 9:55:00 AM Yoni, you describe well the addictive effect of soap operas. I've been hooked on "As the World Turns" for years, and I often find myself "yelling at the flickering box," too! Things like, "How can Meg do that to Dusty??" These characters take on a life of their own, don't they? Love you! Carolyn Login to Reply

Constance La France Date: 6/23/2009 12:07:00 PM ..I am hooked on some tv shows also, in fact, to the point that even sometimes, I arrange my activities around them, so as not to miss an episode, of course this is ridiculous, but these characters can become pretty darn familiar, and hey, there is nothing more relaxing than a cozy couch, and a flickering tv, and nothing wrong with stepping away from reality for a bit. As long as you have a grasp that it is entertainment, I find nothing wrong with a little "flicker" Login to Reply