My ex-wife knew that college football and a comfortable chair would put me to sleep. But my favorite for naps is the show about real life murders called Forensic Files. The narrator of the show has such a soothing voice!
People call it “background noise” because it’s basically the equivalent of “background music” - it’s on, you’re not giving it your full attention but you will if you catch something interesting. For example, right now my husband is watching a baseball game and I’m paying just enough attention to know when one of the teams scores. I’m not looking at the screen but I’m also not completely ignoring it.
The Black Rock rangers at Burning Man are supposed to help keep the event from being too fatal but one of our many mottoes is Safety Third. One of us contemplated, “What could be more dangerous than Lawn Darts? … Flaming Lawn Darts.” A bit later he’d brazed some fins on pointy brass rods, wrapped the pointy ends in some Kevlar, and at the event doused the Kevlar in white gasoline and ignited it – routine stuff when you have fire spinners handy for consulting.
At the event there was a plush Barney the Dinosaur available so after another application of gas, it became the target about ten yards away. First thing we learned was once the tip was ignited, keep your arm moving as the flame wanted to go straight up. It took a while but Barney’s eventual immolation was most satisfactory.
And that’s fine. Modern TVs don’t use much power, and people should be free to do have a TV on in the background if they want and aren’t bothering anybody else.
What I don’t get is the judgmental attitude about it. Live and let live, for goodness sake!
My grandfather watched a lot of TV in his later years as he didn’t have the energy to do much else. After he died, my grandmother left the TV on all day. Otherwise the house was just too quiet and empty.
Last week, I was helping a new hire (mid-20s) clear out her new desk. It was full of stuff from the last 10 years worth of cubicle occupants. In the top drawer, with the stapler and some paper clips, was a metal letter opener. She had no idea what it was, and when we told her, she had no idea of why you would need one.