What bad effect? TV has done a lot<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesians are talking (again!) about the bad
\neffect of television on our lives, especially on children's
\nlives. Television programs are accused of being the source of bad
\ninformation that leads to crime. They are also said to discourage
\nchildren's interest in reading and studying. The main concern of
\nthe social observers is the fact that people spend too much time
\nin front of their televisions. Housewives leave their kitchens to
\nwatch telenovelas and children are reluctant to do their homework
\nbecause there are so many programs on TV.<\/p>\n
Everybody feels the urge to talk about this phenomena.<\/p>\n
When these people are in this kind of commotion, watch out. As
\nalways, seminars, discussions, sarasehan and the like, are
\neverywhere. Conference rooms, either in cities or in mountain
\nresorts are fully booked. Hotel occupancy soars and the
\nactivities of favorite speakers are in full swing.<\/p>\n
While they are at it, I am tempted to participate. But,
\ninstead of sitting in a seminar, I decided to go down to where
\nthe television programs are said to cause the worst effects: the
\npoor. I choose one subject that is spoken most, the children's
\nlack of interest in reading which is due to the impact of TV
\nprograms. Just like a local researcher, I asked pointed
\nquestions. And, did I get answers!<\/p>\n
A sarcastic one came from an uptight mother. "What bad
\neffects? Television has done a lot to the cleanliness of our
\nenvironment. Every time a TV crew comes to cover their
\nactivities, people here suddenly become devoted social workers.
\nThey clean ditches, cut fences or wash the bus shelters."<\/p>\n
A bus driver added, "The traffic attendants become friendlier
\nwhen television crews are around."<\/p>\n
That answer sure didn't satisfy me. I wanted evidence of what
\nthe experts are bitching about. I then interviewed a father of
\nsix children. "Television helps people in birth control," he
\ncommented. "Instead of going to bed early and do "that thing" we
\nstay outside our bedrooms until late and go to bed only when we
\nneed some real sleep. Had it not been for television, I could
\nhave had thirteen children."<\/p>\n
Again, this is not what I was looking for. These people seem
\nto take the impact of TV for granted. As far as they are
\nconcerned, television has made their life more enjoyable. "Our
\nchildren know more things than we did when we were their age," is
\ntheir general opinion.<\/p>\n
Thinking that they were avoid talking about their children's
\ninterest in reading, I tried to be more specific. "But television
\nhas made children reluctant to read. They're nailed to the TV
\nscreen all the time. They do not read which is good for the
\ndevelopment of their imagination. Don't you think you need to
\nencourage them to read?"<\/p>\n
One lady, a mother of three teenagers, stood akimbo and
\ncommented hotly. "So, that's what you're on about! Now, tell me
\nwhere the said books are. You may not know, or pretend not to
\nknow, how difficult it is to find a good book for children. Even
\nif there are, the prices are sky high. We can't afford them."
\nAfter a pause, she continued with a lower tone. "If you want to
\nencourage children to read, then make the books available at a
\nreasonable cost. Don't just talk."<\/p>\n
Now it was my turn to be speechless. With the uncertainty in
\nthe price of paper and its availability, I cannot promise
\nanything to the lady. Can you?<\/p>\n
-- Carl Chairul<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/what-bad-effect-tv-has-done-a-lot-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }