The Viewing From Across the Room
A turning point in the history of America came with the invention of the TV remote. Suddenly we went from being a people who worked together to build a great nation to a collection of hedonistic, egomaniacal sociopaths. The so-called "Me Generation" was a direct result of the small gadget that allowed one person in the family to dominate the viewing choice of everyone else, and it got worse from there. Originally it wasn't too bad, most places in the country only had two or three selections Even in New York we were limited to 7 channels, and it was a good bet that at any given time there were at most two shows on that anyone had any interest in seeing, like Milton Berle or Yankees baseball. Now, of course, there are hundreds of possibilities, and he who owns the controller owns the world. The rest of the family is reduced to fighting for it like starving lions battling for a piece of carrion. The whole presidential campaign comes down to this, who's going to get their hands on the remote?
posted by John M Crowther @ 7:46 AM
10 Comments:
Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy, what are we going to do with this boy? My sympathy mounts for his mother. This is definitely one that every child inside us wishes that they could do to someone at some point. Well done, John C.
Yeah, back in my day kids used to run away from home (for a couple of hours). Now they just zap mom or dad.
I can say with complete honesty that there is no one in my life that I wish I could turn off.
I learned a long time ago if you just look at the person who is bugging you, and say, "I know this sounds rude, so please don't take offense, but you are driving me crazy and if we keep talking my eyeballs are going to explode, so would you please leave?"
Of course they are immediately taken aback, and they look to see if I'm kidding. I just smile. And whoever it is leaves. After a few years of this, you find people will leave you alone. Except kids. It usually takes me jumping up and down and screaming, "Ahhhhh, go away!!!" And they take the hint and find someone else to torment. Extremely immature, but effective.
I( said it before and I say it again. Jeremy is going to be Travesty when (and if) he grows up! roger
Don't think I agree with that.
Jeremy's relationship with his mother is far too normal.
No way will I believe a chain smoking alcoholic misogynist like Travesty comes from such an uncomplicated background. Obviously at least one of Travesty's parent's was some piece of work, and did a real number on his head.
I agree with Kate on this. I think Jeremy would more likely grow up to be Travesty's son, interrupting a reunion with his long "lost" father and an introduction to the lady in his life to take a business call.
Have to agree, John C. Jeremy will never be a Mr. Travesty. Thank heavens (but he might be president one day)
Gosh, that's a harsh condemnation of poor adult-Jeremy.
At the risk of sounding banal, you reap what you sow.
Travesty was an absent, and uncaring father. Why expect anything else from his son?
Another banality: The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
That sounds good, but in actuality the apple falls very fall from the tree. The genetic variation in apples is so great that you can plant six seeds from the same apple, and end up with six trees whose apples are completely different from the original apple. That's why apple trees are not grown from seeds, but are grafted from trees that are known to bear good fruit.
End of today's botany lesson.
For tomorrow's lesson, we'll discuss, why then, Johnny Appleseed was revered throughout the land when he planted seeds whose trees bore sour apples that were usually inedible. I'll give you a hint; it had to do with what the early settlers of the US made with the apples, and I'm not talking about applesauce.
Hamm.... and here we are back to Travesty.
And you thought that was random, didn't you?
Gosh, Kate, I started reading thinking that I was going to comment on your comment, but who could top that?
I have no doubts that you can top anything I, or anyone else may have any time you want.
You're just being nice.
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