kurtiss.org | giving is receiving

Josh says he’s unplugging his.

I wish there were more people in my life, specifically in the physical-o-sphere, who would challenge me with such charisma.

Right now, I’m watching more TV than I have since I was in middle school. I think it has everything to do with the drudgingly predictable routine that only a day job could inspire.

In my defense, though, I’m forced to be very strict about those shows I watch and those I don’t. I already spend an average of two hours per evening checking e-mail, catching up my various aggregators, and attention queues. You can add another hour if I’m compelled to much writing. It’s not uncommon for me to start popping my DVR queue around midnight.

There are a couple points I’d add to Josh’s statements.

…after I’m dead, no one is going to remember me for how many Larry David arguments I’ve sucked down nor how well I can recite the words to Chef’s Chocolate Salty Balls…

While I think that’s correct, I think that humans also tend to focus on the quality of their relationships, not just the quantity. Because of this, they seek out ways to deepen their connections through shared experience. Doing something memorable is a sure way to broaden your connections, but not necessarily deepen.

When I was watching less TV, I found I’d often be left out of conversations. Perhaps, dear reader, you’re in a situation where you can afford to prematurely stifle relationships. If so, I envy you, since I absolutely can’t afford this. Even though I’d like to connect on a much deeper level than relating Jack Bauer’s most recent terrorist-gibbing adventures, I find attempting to do so often drives people more often than it draws them near.

In order to be as gutsy as you, Josh, I’d need a deep network of hardcore folks, who share our ideal. I used to have more strength to fight for those ideals, but I began to realize just how unhappy I was for trimming my social bushes.

My formula for picking shows to watch defines a complex relationship between the following factors:

• Perceived Quality
• Connection Depth
• Connection Breadth

And here are the shows I watch and my justifications:

• 24 – I have more conversations about this show than any other show on the air. I really only liked the first two seasons. I started watching it because of Daryl, Scott, and Steve.
• House – I enjoy this show, because of Greg House’s character. I started watching it because of Scott.
• American Idol – I hate this show, for so many reasons. I still watch it, though, usually while doing something else. This is a real winner for connection breadth. I watch this show because of my mom.
• Lost – I really enjoy this show. There aren’t many mainstream shows I really dig, but this one is up there. I started watching because of Scott and Matt.
• The Daily Show, The Colbert Report – These shows aren’t the same, but I watch them for the exact same reasons. Great connectors for people my age. I usually enjoy them, too.
• The Sopranos – I love this show. I’ve invested alot of time in the characters. I started watching it because of Steve.
• Big Love – This is a brand new HBO series, and I have to try every new one they produce, because I’ve liked so many of them.
• The Simpsons – Chalk it up to nostalgia and routine. I pretty much don’t like this show any more. It used to be a VERY important connector for my friends.
• Family Guy – I barely like this show. I know it’s blasphemy, along the same lines as my dislike for South Park. I watch them because I have to connect with people that talk about them all the time.

More than TV, MMOs scare the beelzebub out of me. Some of my current friends find World of Warcraft to be an appropriate lunch topic. I’ve been so ostracized by their jargon, that I’m seriously considering playing. I don’t want to, but I might.

Josh, you’re Hi-Hardcore. I can only afford to be Lo-Hardcore. :)

Please don’t make me play WoW. Please.