The answer most readers here might offer would be along the lines of: "Yes. Duh." But Peter Lawler at No Left Turns raises the question -- pointing to an essay by Mark Shiffman that argues the negative -- and the discussions in the comments sections of both sites are spirited and interesting. Writes Lawler: "Reflections like these, at first, make me feel guilty, but finally I'm just annoyed. 'You think you're better than me,' I think, 'just because you don't have a TV.' How much of this reactionary crunchy complacency can one person take?"
A few years ago, I would have been more comfortable in Shiffman's camp, having wasted so much time in front of the idiot box. Now I tend to agree with Lawler that "maybe I'm just a restless American in the midst of prosperity, envious of those content without electronic stimulation." Probably should be reading more. (Or writing for money, as opposed to blogging for nothing...)
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