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by spacelamb 1658 days ago
Another anecdote: an undergraduate at a top university I knew, with publications, leadership positions, and strong research experience at the time, was also into reality television, and specifically avoided dramas/prestige television (e.g. Mad Men, Breaking Bad).

In addition to not requiring thinking, I remember he also mentioned that it's harder to get "hooked" and end up binge-watching episodes.

The perspective is plausible to me. I do feel more drained or emotionally spent absorbing intense television series, or even accomplished for understanding them, when I could've spent that on real work. That said, I do think low-quality media affects the way I think and write in a negative way (by contrast, when I spend a lot of time absorbed with high-quality writing, it actually does positively affect my speech and writing for the next few days).

1 comments

mad men, breaking bad are trash as far as I am concerned.
I don't disagree, but the former set up AMC to green-light Halt and Catch Fire and the latter resulted in Better Call Saul.
I only watch the Netflix fireplace channel.
good for you
don't you want to know what I think good shows are?
So I have to think up a dismissive one-liner? Nope, thanks
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