What bad effect? TV has done a lot

What bad effect? TV has done a lot

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesians are talking (again!) about the bad
effect of television on our lives, especially on children's
lives. Television programs are accused of being the source of bad
information that leads to crime. They are also said to discourage
children's interest in reading and studying. The main concern of
the social observers is the fact that people spend too much time
in front of their televisions. Housewives leave their kitchens to
watch telenovelas and children are reluctant to do their homework
because there are so many programs on TV.

Everybody feels the urge to talk about this phenomena.

When these people are in this kind of commotion, watch out. As
always, seminars, discussions, sarasehan and the like, are
everywhere. Conference rooms, either in cities or in mountain
resorts are fully booked. Hotel occupancy soars and the
activities of favorite speakers are in full swing.

While they are at it, I am tempted to participate. But,
instead of sitting in a seminar, I decided to go down to where
the television programs are said to cause the worst effects: the
poor. I choose one subject that is spoken most, the children's
lack of interest in reading which is due to the impact of TV
programs. Just like a local researcher, I asked pointed
questions. And, did I get answers!

A sarcastic one came from an uptight mother. "What bad
effects? Television has done a lot to the cleanliness of our
environment. Every time a TV crew comes to cover their
activities, people here suddenly become devoted social workers.
They clean ditches, cut fences or wash the bus shelters."

A bus driver added, "The traffic attendants become friendlier
when television crews are around."

That answer sure didn't satisfy me. I wanted evidence of what
the experts are bitching about. I then interviewed a father of
six children. "Television helps people in birth control," he
commented. "Instead of going to bed early and do "that thing" we
stay outside our bedrooms until late and go to bed only when we
need some real sleep. Had it not been for television, I could
have had thirteen children."

Again, this is not what I was looking for. These people seem
to take the impact of TV for granted. As far as they are
concerned, television has made their life more enjoyable. "Our
children know more things than we did when we were their age," is
their general opinion.

Thinking that they were avoid talking about their children's
interest in reading, I tried to be more specific. "But television
has made children reluctant to read. They're nailed to the TV
screen all the time. They do not read which is good for the
development of their imagination. Don't you think you need to
encourage them to read?"

One lady, a mother of three teenagers, stood akimbo and
commented hotly. "So, that's what you're on about! Now, tell me
where the said books are. You may not know, or pretend not to
know, how difficult it is to find a good book for children. Even
if there are, the prices are sky high. We can't afford them."
After a pause, she continued with a lower tone. "If you want to
encourage children to read, then make the books available at a
reasonable cost. Don't just talk."

Now it was my turn to be speechless. With the uncertainty in
the price of paper and its availability, I cannot promise
anything to the lady. Can you?

-- Carl Chairul