Going Without

Well, I’ve been in my latest apartment for six months now, and that means I’ve been without cable for equally as long. Upon moving, the finance and I decided to forgo all things good about television, hoping to use any cash saved toward our impending nuptials. I also saw it as a good way to spend significantly less time sitting on my ass watching three episodes of Law and Order a night. I figured the Walden-esque aspects of going without cable would push me toward greater productivity. You know, write more, read more, think more. The usual. And it’s partly true. I do read a lot more. But going without cable also showed me that, due to the miracle of modern technology, the human capacity to waste time borders on limitless.

First of all, we’ve got the Netflix. And we love it. Where else can you rent Gangs of New York in March, still have it sitting, unwatched, on your entertainment center in the middle of August, and not feel guilty about it? Even better, Netflix offers a shitload of TV shows, allowing me to watch TV on DVD during the time I used to watch TV on cable. The problem now is that every night is a marathon and I’m completely powerless to stop them. You’d think it’s only true of series television, where one episode leads right into the next, but no, it’s just as bad with stand-alone, episodic television. In that case, just the right amount of predictability exists to keep me from hitting stop—I have an inkling of what’s coming next, but not an exact idea. Guess I’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

PlayStation doesn’t help either. I find the most banal excuses for using it. I’m too tired to read or watch an entire movie but not tired enough to go to bed. What to do? The only answer, of course, is to fuck up a bunch of Triads and steal a bunch of cars. Fortunately, I find it rude to use game systems in the presence of others, so this vice only takes root in the dead of night, when the rest of the house is asleep. Still, I generally like being alone to write, so why don’t I do it then? Laziness you ask? Or maybe just the undeniable joy of wreaking death and destruction vicariously?

The Internet. My Ipod. The list goes on and on. Granted, on the nights I keep from popping in a DVD or going online to find out what’s happening with the Peace Mom’s vigil, I do read more. And, thanks to all the substitutions available, I miss cable less than I thought I would. But, in the end, is reading for pleasure any different than watching TV? Is any activity anything more than just a way to pass the time?