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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Tim Courtney wrote:
> In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Dan Boger wrote:
> > On Thu, Oct 28, 2004 at 04:06:38PM +0000, Tim Courtney wrote:
> > > My dad told me about this a few days ago, and Jake just blogged it.
> > >
> > > http://www.tv-b-gone.com/
> > >
> > > I can't wait to get mine. I hate those dang idiot boxes.
> >
> > I saw it... and yet... Yes, I can understand hating TV. But in your
> > own home, you have your own remote, so you don't need this. In a public
> > place, isn't it the proprietor's privilage to choose what, if anything,
> > is on? Can you imagine the riot (as in violence) if someone used one of
> > those at some sports bar last night in Boston?
>
> I wouldn't use one of these in a sports bar, but then again, that's one reason I
> don't go to sports bars. I'm mostly concerned about public places -- city buses,
Your city buses have TVs?
> cafeterias,
Are cafeterias in general public places? Most of the ones I've been in are
privately owned and operated, where the requirement that you ask permission
first seems paramount.
I've never yet been turned down when I asked to turn a TV off in a cafeteria.
> airports,
The TVs I have seen in airport concourses seem to be hardwired to the CNN
Airport News product with little or no changeableness. And the other TVs tend to
be in places like bars and airport lounges, where the requirement that you ask
permission first seems paramount. (in fact in airport lounges the staff are
usually happy to chnage to whatever channel the majority of patrons want, or
none at all. After all, the patrons are all paying members of the airport club!)
> and the like. I'm prepared to take an active stance to
> protect myself from TV, and I think it's wrong to force TV on people in public.
I agree. But I'm not sure most of your examples are "public"... most seem
privately owned. And the one example of a public place you gave (regrettably,
most major airports in the US are publicly owned) has TVs that can't be changed
and can't be turned off, at least not with a remote.
> Read the FAQ - there's been almost no reaction in places the inventor
> has used it.
If I were writing a FAQ to promote my product I may well decide not to emphasise
negative reaction, though.
> If you turn the bug zapper off, the mosquitoes will go about their business.
I sort of don't get that analogy, can you elaborate?
> Not going to cede to someone else the control to pollute my mind,
> and not going to hole myself up in my house to avoid it either.
> And I'd venture to say neither are many other citizens.
You may want to consider working to foster private ownership of the facilities
you frequent that are not already private so that you can vote with your
dollars, and for those that are private, ask permission for the TV to be turned
off, and if refused, give the management feedback that you are not happy and are
considering taking your custom elsewhere.
Where I think this device has a great deal of value is AFTER you ask and secure
permission. When the person you asked says yes, you just "click" and it's done.
He or she is saved the need to go dig up the remote or ask the manager to do it.
And therefore he or she has more time to devote to giving service to you and the
other patrons, which he or she will surely appreciate.
++Lar
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: TV-B-Gone
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| (...) I wouldn't use one of these in a sports bar, but then again, that's one reason I don't go to sports bars. I'm mostly concerned about public places -- city buses, cafeterias, airports, and the like. I'm prepared to take an active stance to (...) (20 years ago, 28-Oct-04, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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