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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hkJyCct7lE

"Unplug the Signal" is a campaign to turn off televisions across the country. It draws attention to the gross manipulation of reality that is broadcast by the six major corporations controlling the content of television. The television has been used as a weapon of mass deception for the last half of a century as it manages society and culture through such techniques as perception management, predictive programming, and crisis creation. Unplugging the Signal is of urgent concern for the television remains our greatest threat to individual sovereignty and the largest obstacle to becoming a truly informed individual.

Media is an ISA...
What's new?
People never make their own mind up. We are defined by what influences us.
IMO This campaign has a lot of BS but their goals are fairly admirable...
Getting people to look for different views is a good idea but that won't start by just turning off the TV...

But we gotta do it another night because "So you think you can Dance" is on at eight ......

No.

Haven't watched television in months. I just can't sit there and watch it. I can't just ''sit'', I always have to be making/creating/etc all the time.

..Runs in the family

I usually play on the computer rather than watch TV. The amount of commercials on TV is just atrocious so I stopped watching.

...where'd my tin-hat go?

Goddard wrote:...where'd my tin-hat go?

It's next to the TV remote.

So we need to campaign because TV is trying to manipulate our views? I assumed that was part of life. Try and find anyone who is truly unbiased. We are subject to people trying to control our views every second of the day, in all media and during personal interactions with others. Getting angry with TV providers is pointless the problem doesn't lie with the providers but with lazy people who won't question what they see and just believe every word they are told.

I've not had a television for about 4 years now. Don't miss it at all, I watch all I want to on DVD. So, all you guys who don't want to stop watching, don't worry, I've got you covered.

This campaign is going to be a wash. People am like tee vee.

It's true, TV is most definately a mind-control device...


Last time I had a Sunday off work, at 4pm I realised I had spent since 10am watching Man vs Food and did nothing else that day (except for eating).

Although strictly speaking, I only watch TV if I REALLY want to watch a TV show, I can't just turn it on and watch whatever crap is on a random channel.

I never understand the thinking that says that if one doesn't watch a show on a television set they aren't watching TV. That somehow watching Doctor Who on a computer monitor is somehow purer, and not TV.

Unplug my TV? I've been doing that for years, the only time I ever watch it is when eating dinner and even then I'll walk off regardless of if the program has ended or not.


I personally agree with Purplefood, its a gakky notion, but getting people to look at different views is indeed a good idea.

The Voices in my head say 'No' to unplugging.

Ahtman wrote:I never understand the thinking that says that if one doesn't watch a show on a television set they aren't watching TV. That somehow watching Doctor Who on a computer monitor is somehow purer, and not TV.

I see a difference between watching a show and watching TV. One being watching the content just for the content, just the show and then ones you have actively selected. Whereas watching TV would be flicking through channels to find something worth watching and all the inherent trailers and adverts. I don't consider one to be somehow morally superior or more intelligent, though. That's just stupid.

You can't stop the signal, Mal.....

htj wrote:

Ahtman wrote:I never understand the thinking that says that if one doesn't watch a show on a television set they aren't watching TV. That somehow watching Doctor Who on a computer monitor is somehow purer, and not TV.

I see a difference between watching a show and watching TV. One being watching the content just for the content, just the show and then ones you have actively selected. Whereas watching TV would be flicking through channels to find something worth watching and all the inherent trailers and adverts. I don't consider one to be somehow morally superior or more intelligent, though. That's just stupid.

You can be just as selective with what you watch on a television set as you can by streaming/downloading/dvd's on a computer. Either way you are still watching a television show. Saying you don't watch Doctor Who (I'm going to keep using that as my example and no one can stop me) on a television set but that you watch it on a computer monitor means you aren't watching TV is a bit weak don't you think? And really, why go through all the mental gymnastics to be able to say you don't watch TV? Do you win a prize if you pretend you don't watch any television shows?

If someone were to ask a person if they watch TV and the other person says "No, I don't even own a TV", then goes home and watches Season 5, sorry, Series 5, of Doctor Who does that mean they are delusional or just a liar (either to themselves or others)?

Ahtman wrote:I never understand the thinking that says that if one doesn't watch a show on a television set they aren't watching TV. That somehow watching Doctor Who on a computer monitor is somehow purer, and not TV.

Well, computer monitors tend to have higher resolutions than televisions, so there is that.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

htj wrote:Whereas watching TV would be flicking through channels to find something worth watching and all the inherent trailers and adverts.

Legally watching television on the internet usually involves being exposed to advertisements.

I don't really watch tv and when I do it is pretty much always bbc so I don't care.

Ahtman wrote:

htj wrote:

Ahtman wrote:I never understand the thinking that says that if one doesn't watch a show on a television set they aren't watching TV. That somehow watching Doctor Who on a computer monitor is somehow purer, and not TV.

I see a difference between watching a show and watching TV. One being watching the content just for the content, just the show and then ones you have actively selected. Whereas watching TV would be flicking through channels to find something worth watching and all the inherent trailers and adverts. I don't consider one to be somehow morally superior or more intelligent, though. That's just stupid.

You can be just as selective with what you watch on a television set as you can by streaming/downloading/dvd's on a computer. Either way you are still watching a television show. Saying you don't watch Doctor Who (I'm going to keep using that as my example and no one can stop me) on a television set but that you watch it on a computer monitor means you aren't watching TV is a bit weak don't you think? And really, why go through all the mental gymnastics to be able to say you don't watch TV? Do you win a prize if you pretend you don't watch any television shows?

Well, no you don't. Which is kind of what I said. I didn't use that exact wording, but I thought it was quite clear that it's my opinion that there is nothing superior in not owning a television.

Ahtman wrote:If someone were to ask a person if they watch TV and the other person says "No, I don't even own a TV", then goes home and watches Season 5, sorry, Series 5, of Doctor Who does that mean they are delusional or just a liar (either to themselves or others)?

I think it's more to differentiate from how they view these shows. Most people in the UK spend most of their evenings watching television, and will just switch between channels without the discrimination you previously mentioned. Rather than selecting shows to watch individually, they watch television and will find a show that is distracting enough to keep them entertained. So it's more watching television for the sake of watching television, rather than picking out shows you like, watching them, then turning the TV off.

A lot of people think that not owning a TV makes you somehow a special, magical creature. This simply isn't the case, nor was I implying as such. But I do see a difference in the viewing habits of people who buy things on DVD only, and people who watch television on a regular basis.

dogma wrote:

htj wrote:Whereas watching TV would be flicking through channels to find something worth watching and all the inherent trailers and adverts.

Legally watching television on the internet usually involves being exposed to advertisements.

I was talking about buying DVDs rather than watching stuff online, but this is true, yes.

htj wrote:
I think it's more to differentiate from how they view these shows. Most people in the UK spend most of their evenings watching television, and will just switch between channels without the discrimination you previously mentioned. Rather than selecting shows to watch individually, they watch television and will find a show that is distracting enough to keep them entertained. So it's more watching television for the sake of watching television, rather than picking out shows you like, watching them, then turning the TV off.

I think that the process, as you've described it, has more to do with being entertained for the sake of being entertained, with television simply supplying readily available entertainment.

Haven´t watched TV for 8 years now. Only thing I ever watch is discovery channel and now even they are without bias.

Feels wonderful to actually think for yourself.

Watch TV on the PC certainly makes it easier to selectively watch. I personally don't watch much and i'm fine selectively watching on a TV but I know people who plan to watch one show then end in front of the screen for hours.

It's possible to be selective about what you watch with a TV but it's harder and most people just don't bother.

Pyriel- wrote:Haven´t watched TV for 8 years now. Only thing I ever watch is discovery channel and now even they are without bias.

Feels wonderful to actually think for yourself.

There's no reason you can't watch TV and think for yourself, whatever that is.

Originality is the result of superfluous information.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

4M2A wrote:
It's possible to be selective about what you watch with a TV but it's harder and most people just don't bother.

That doesn't seem to be borne out by the number of people claiming that they do exactly that.

dogma wrote:

htj wrote:
I think it's more to differentiate from how they view these shows. Most people in the UK spend most of their evenings watching television, and will just switch between channels without the discrimination you previously mentioned. Rather than selecting shows to watch individually, they watch television and will find a show that is distracting enough to keep them entertained. So it's more watching television for the sake of watching television, rather than picking out shows you like, watching them, then turning the TV off.

I think that the process, as you've described it, has more to do with being entertained for the sake of being entertained, with television simply supplying readily available entertainment.

I don't think I follow, could you elaborate a bit? On the surface it makes sense, but I don't understand the significance of the differentiation.

4M2A wrote:Watch TV on the PC certainly makes it easier to selectively watch. I personally don't watch much and i'm fine selectively watching on a TV but I know people who plan to watch one show then end in front of the screen for hours.

It's possible to be selective about what you watch with a TV but it's harder and most people just don't bother.

This is what I was trying to say, but in a less roundabout, convoluted fashion. Thanks 4M2A!

ok,but ill need it back in a few months when falling skies comes back on.wait...doctor who is coming back soon..ill need it back when that starts then.

I usually switch from Discover, History & NatGeo and have it on in the background while I do other stuff. From watching those 3 channels I learned the Alaska is probably the best place on earth, since there's like 27 different shows about it.

There's no reason you can't watch TV and think for yourself, whatever that is.

Originality is the result of superfluous information.

Of course you are correct. I was being a little sarcastic about the thinking part

But it sure helps when you arent a slave to mtv or big brother anymore...

This is interesting, however, I think Dakka is not really the kind of place that needs to see this. I'm sure few enough people here watch much TV anyway. Part of the problem is that the people who are the ones watching TV are the ones who probably won't see this. Mr. and Mrs. Sixpack and Johnny Middleschool are probably the target audiences for this kind of movement. And they don't care. They say, "Yup, probably," and then they go on about their lives as if nothing was new.

I mean, think about it. People are dumb, but they're not stupid. On some level, people know all of this stuff. They know that too much TV is bad for them. They know it's manipulating them. What did our parents say? "TV will rot your brain!" I think that is part of the problem. If people didn't actually know how manipulative and 'bad' the media was, then there would be more of a reaction; perhaps even outrage, but they've become desensitized to it, so they just shrug and plug themselves back in.

It's like Google. I know Google tracks my every movement through my phone, my searches, my email, and G+, but the tradeoff is worth the sacrifice. Does it bug me? Yes. Does it bug me that it doesn't bug me enough to stop it? Yes, but that still doesn't change the fact that I still go running for the phone every time I get an email, like a slave to his master's call.

To all the Americans responding:

Don't worry, this isn't about us. Our television is open to competition, so the invisible hand of the market will guarantee we get unbiased, quality television.

This is a campaign for the UK. You see, in the UK, every television channel is operated by the government as state-run propaganda tools. It's basically a communist dictatorship over there. They even have a Queen!



(Yes, this post is meant to be humorous. It is not factual. Please don't get upset. Stiff upper lip and all that.)