I think I regretted the decision (which wasn’t mine) for like a week.

I’ve been without cable since then. It’s never been a consideration for me. It doesn’t even come up. It’s exactly like how I never even think to wear a strapless dress to the office.

I still have a nice-sized set, DVD player, a sizable collection of discs, and Netflix (so I can even participate in certain worthy television shows like LOST or The Office—albeit a year late). I try to avoid restaurants that have screens as part of the decor (or at least seat myself so the screen is not in sight-range), as I’m not accustomed to the frenetic barrage of images that commercial television proffers. It tends to hit me somewhat like that scene with Malcom McDowell’s character in A Clockwork Orange when they have his eyes peeled open and are reconditioning him. I don’t think it makes me more violent, but I do find television disorienting, not be conditioned to accept it.

Whenever I go to the gym and they have the news on I feel violent; I actually want to punch the screens because of the inane chatter that passes as “news” and the chillingly subversive commercials that are played in between the chatter. Strangely enough, I think I might be MORE violent now that I’m off TV…hmmmmmm.