IDIOT BOX

Or is it? The humble television used to be referred to as such but I wonder if it could still be so.
It used to be called this because the programs were quite low quality and viewers just watched without any great deal of emotion, and conversation suffered; much like robots, they just looked on.

But TV has changed. And visual equipment has come into its own as it were, thanks in no small part to a famous naturalist by the name of Sir David Attenborough.

His Life on Earth series, for example; a more spectacular show one would be hard pressed to find. And if it wasn't for TV none of us would see such images. From the mighty killer whales self beaching themselves to catch an unfortunate seal, to the image of Sir David sitting with the gorilla family as they seem totally unfazed by his presence, these images are far from idiotic. Where else are we going to see such a sight? In a zoo? Wildlife Park?

What has appeared to slide into the position of idiot box, however, is the attachment of computer games to the television - when kids spend all day in front of it zapping bugs and living a virtual life instead of being outside running around. Normally stuffing cakes and buns down their willing gullets, and we wonder why we're all so fat?

I love TV, except for the most part Australian free to air TV which is dire and actually DOES deserve the title of idiot box, so full of crap the programming is. DO NOT even get me started on that Big Brother fiasco. Reality TV my arse!

Nope! Modern TV is far from a medium for idiots. It has progressed to an entertaining, educational and informative medium and is almost a staple of most of us. Visual entertainment is a multi-billion dollar industry that has now become interactive.

Idiot box? I think not.