Americans watch 8 hours of TV per day on average?

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by yads

I wonder if they count 2 people watching 2 different TV shows on 2 different TVs for 1 hour as being 2 hours. I'd imagine they would. In that regard, it would be pretty easy to rack up 8 hours per household.

That could be one way to explain it. But then, that really doesn't make the stat all that incredible. A more interesting stat would be how many hours the average house hold watches divided by the number of people in that household (hours per person).

If I come from a big family (9 people) and we watch an hour of the news a day, that is 9 hours per household. ZOMG!!!1! Americans are so stupid!11! When in reality, the only thing that's stupid is the study.

[3 Justin 3]

I call shenanigans. 8 hours a day is 1/3 a day. That'd mean, sleep for 8 hours, go to work for 8 hours, and come back home and watch tv for 8 hours. It is America however, so...

I watch maybe an hour of tv a night now. All that is on is crap. Unless the Flames play, or it is Monday and I get to watch my 4 shows (which equals 2 hours), I only watch 30 minutes of sportscenter before I go to bed.

[troutman]

American households watch the box for over eight hours a day on average, twice as long as anyone else.

Not 8 hours per person, but 8 hours per household.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by KTown

So let me get this straight you post on a "hockey" forum and you don't watch hockey, that seems odd.

I don't even own a TV. Haven't for years. I listen to games on the radio mostly. If I do want to watch the game I go to the pub.

Am I still allowed to post here?

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

I watch maybe an hour of tv a night now. All that is on is crap. .

Maybe if you weren't so damn ignorant, you would realize that there is plenty of quality programs on TV......there is a very big share of crap, but what you said above is just ignorant.

[worth]

Ahhh, that difference between household and individual is the kicker here.

8 hours isn't that much if you have a family of 4 and you all sit down to watch 2 hours of TV every evening. There's your 8 hours right there.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Maybe if you weren't so damn ignorant, you would realize that there is plenty of quality programs on TV......there is a very big share of crap, but what you said above is just ignorant.

There is NOTHING on TV cooler than actually doing things. We are blessed to live in a beautiful part of the world with four distinct eco-systems within a six hour drive. Get out and explore. Eff TV.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

There is NOTHING on TV cooler than actually doing things. We are blessed to live in a beautiful part of the world with four distinct eco-systems within a six hour drive. Get out and explore. Eff TV.

When did I ever say TV was better than doing things?? Believe me, I would much rather be outside playing tennis than watching it. But there definitely is a time and place to kick back, sit on the couch and just relax. I was only arguing that there are some quality shows on TV. That's it.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

There is NOTHING on TV cooler than actually doing things. We are blessed to live in a beautiful part of the world with four distinct eco-systems within a six hour drive. Get out and explore. Eff TV.

Thanks but no thank you. I'm honestly only active so that I don't become a fat slob. I exercise regularly because I need to, not because I like it. I can honestly say that to me, nothing beats a relaxing evening or weekend in front of the TV, or sitting reading a book. I absolutely LOVE my do nothing days.

What can I say, I guess I don't find much appeal in a lot of physical activities. I love watching sports, but absolutely hate participating in it.

[starseed]

Originally Posted by KTown

So let me get this straight you post on a "hockey" forum and you don't watch hockey, that seems odd.

I used to be a couch potato. Right after school I would sit in front of the boobtube and stay there until bedtime, and you could not get me off the couch on the weekends. When I hit 20, I grew a fear of sitting down and watching TV for some reason. The only time I sit down in front of the TV now is if there is the occasional televised Flames game, or the Brier/Scott tournament of hearts, or the Olympics. I get all my news online, and I watch my scifi and daily show programs online.

Detaching myself from the television has led to me exploring Calgary and area a whole lot more. I never knew about Elbow falls, Johnston Canyon, etc etc. I also dont think I would have been nearly as connected with Calgary's gay community if I had spent all my time watching TV like I used to.

Now I just have to curb my growing internet addiction

[Jedi Ninja]

Originally Posted by troutman

American households watch the box for over eight hours a day on average, twice as long as anyone else.

Not 8 hours per person, but 8 hours per household.

Average household size is identical in Canada and US, 2.6 persons. So you still have 8 hours / 2.6 = 3.07 hours per person. Believable, but still a lot of hours.

Here are the household sizes for other countries, Japan is the real shocker here:

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/pe...-of-households

Here is the obesity rate by country. If you were to convert the hours watched per household to per person and do a regression against obesity, I'd bet there'd be a fairly powerful correlation there:

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/he...health-obesity

I'd love to see a study that does a regression of obesity against the 3 variables of hours of TV, vehicle miles driven, and number of fast food restaurants, to see which ends up being the biggest factor.

[starseed]

I would not have expected Japan to have larger families than Canada... that is surprising.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

When did I ever say TV was better than doing things?? Believe me, I would much rather be outside playing tennis than watching it. But there definitely is a time and place to kick back, sit on the couch and just relax. I was only arguing that there are some quality shows on TV. That's it.

Opening the post with "Maybe if you weren't so damn ignorant, you would realize that there is plenty of quality programs on TV..." sounds a lot like a knee-jerk reaction to a deep-seeded realization that TV is crap and you know it. Brain activity when watching TV is lower than sleeping!

TV is a drug. It is addicting, habit forming, and terrible for your health and well being. It slams you with messages of inadequacy and woe that can only be solved by buying a product, even if the product is a way of thinking! But of course its all lies.

And I'm sure you consider yourself intelligent and not affected by such messages. Conciously you are correct, sub-conciously not so much. Regardless of your mental fortitude, hearing the same messages of inadequacy over and over again can and will affect you.

"If you're going to tell a lie, make it big, and keep on telling it over and over and over and people will eventually believe it." - Hitler

EDIT: I know the quote isn't exact, can't find the original wording right now.

[Jedi Ninja]

Originally Posted by starseed

I would not have expected Japan to have larger families than Canada... that is surprising.

Actually, we're talking households here, not fertility rates, so there may be more adult people living with their parents, etc., there, due to cultural difference and the high cost of real estate.

[worth]

Originally Posted by Jedi Ninja

Average household size is identical in Canada and US, 2.6 persons. So you still have 8 hours / 2.6 = 3.07 hours per person. Believable, but still a lot of hours.

Here are the household sizes for other countries, Japan is the real shocker here:

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/pe...-of-households

Here is the obesity rate by country. If you were to convert the hours watched per household to per person and do a regression against obesity, I'd bet there'd be a fairly powerful correlation there:

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/he...health-obesity

I'd love to see a study that does a regression of obesity against the 3 variables of hours of TV, vehicle miles driven, and number of fast food restaurants, to see which ends up being the biggest factor.

hahaha "weighted" average

and oh yeah, in japan, nearly everyone is skinny. it's quite unbelievable. the difference is noticeable for sure.

[worth]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

I don't even own a TV. Haven't for years. I listen to games on the radio mostly. If I do want to watch the game I go to the pub.

Am I still allowed to post here?

Hah, I actually don't watch hockey anymore either, and I even have a TV.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

It slams you with messages of inadequacy and woe

Like your lectures.

[JohnnyFlame]

Originally Posted by starseed

I saw that earlier, I have a very hard time believing that.

I probably watch an average of 1 hour of TV a month.

Nevermind I see you answered above that you do watch Flames games.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by starseed

I get all my news online, and I watch my scifi and daily show programs online.

You're still watching TV, but on the internet now.

[starseed]

Originally Posted by Jedi Ninja

Actually, we're talking households here, not fertility rates, so there may be more adult people living with their parents, etc., there, due to cultural difference and the high cost of real estate.

Ah yes, Japan has a fertility rate about 1.2, and Canada is about 1.6.