Author Topic: Daytime Television (Read 1897 times)

lauraelizabeth · « **on:** April 23, 2013, 07:48:21 AM »

oh WOW, I have been keeping my grandmother company while my aunt is away on vacation and only just yesterday was I tortured with a FULL DAY of this garbage. I can't believe what I saw: :devil2: grown women in their bras and underwear, women swearing like sailors, girls talking about 'bedroom toys', women (if you can even call them that) gossping about EVERYONE, slander, girls as young as 13 making sɛҳuąƖ innuendos, pornographic books, burlesque dancers, jokes about ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖ acts, how it makes women feel 'independent' and 'empowered' to pay for their boyfriends dinners......... :devil2:

.....................and for the record, I have definitely known sin....so I feel as though even I am incredibly desensitized (but THIS.....)

I feel like such a coward because I am failing to say the truth to her. I never have a problem speaking to my peers, but with my relatives is different. They think I am "overreacting" "extreme" or "self-righteous". So instead of speaking to her outright, I just say "that is foul" or "that is horrible" and I try to read and pray. I want to speak up to her without her feeling attacked. Please pray for me to have courage, I really do need it. Even if you can spare one Hail Mary.......I will be so thankful.

*I asked God for trials this morning (in order to gain patience)............
and now I'm not so sure I am pleasing Him.

Solus Deus. <3

Mithrandylan · « **Reply #1 on:** April 23, 2013, 08:01:31 AM »

Ask God for trials and He will oblige you!

This is your grandmother? Shame. You'd hope the elderly would retain some sense and duty towards decency but it sounds like your grandmother doesn't find any of this to be a problem, and if she doesn't now then she probably hasn't for a while. She's probably been rooted thinking this for at least 25 years, maybe even 50 or more. Sounds like you're doing the right thing. Keep calling it filth and keep praying.

Matthew · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2013, 08:19:31 AM »

Anyone who sits around watching such crap all day doesn't deserve to be that "retired".

It doesn't get any lower than sitting around all day on the couch, LITERALLY watching soap operas and eating junk food.

How does such a person justify their actions?
"It's not as though I sit around ALL DAY and watch soap operas...wait a minute, that's exactly what I'm doing. Carry on."

Exilenomore · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2013, 08:44:18 AM »

Some who leave their televisions on when you are present, knowing that being exposed to that filth is an unspeakable torment to you, will simply not care. I do not say that this will be the case with your grandmother, mind you, as I do not know her. I am just stating a personal observation of mine which is relevant to the subject of this thread.

Some people truly do care more about that instrument of malediction standing in their living rooms, usually in the center of it, where a Sacred Heart image should have been enthroned, than their own kindred which they either torment (if they execrate worldly filth) or corrupt (if they consent to it) by exposing them to that hell of impurity and error.

Regarding your personal situation, I hope that Our Lord will bring your grandmother to reject watching that garbage through you.

MrsZ · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2013, 09:21:50 AM »

I can imagine how difficult this is for you. My grandmother lives very far from me and I only visit with her on the phone, anymore. But she and my grandfather began leaving the t.v. on all day every day about 35 years ago when they retired from the public school system. They didn't have a remote control and just left it on one channel and whatever came on they watched. Back then the news and talk shows weren't as bad as they've become ... but there were still plenty of time wasters and trashy soap operas (are there any other kind? :thinking:

She is very very old now and that t.v. is on day and night. Mostly she watches Fox News ... but that channel has tons of questionable stories and images on it just as much other channels do. She's a prisoner to the machine.

What did old people do before t.v.'s kept them in a false sense of "being informed" ?

I wonder if you can think of other things you can do with your grandmother? can you take her out somewhere? Can you cook something together? Is there any ruse you can come up with to either leave the t.v. or turn it off to do something else?

Good luck and God Bless.

momofmany · « **Reply #5 on:** April 23, 2013, 09:37:58 AM »

Ugh! My reply was eaten.

The short version.

Classic movies on DVD
Books on tape
Journal (video or written)-ask her about her childhood, her stories, her memories....

The TV is usually on because they don't know what else to do. She probably is desensitized to it. If you can get her to turn it off more, when she does turn it on she'll realize just how awful it is.

Don't lecture her. Be polite and ask her if you can watch/do something else because x,y,z really makes you uncomfortable. provide her with something else to do. Don't expect her to go from watching The View and Price is Right to praying 15 decades and reading Confessions. Slow and steady wins the race.

lauraelizabeth · « **Reply #6 on:** April 23, 2013, 09:55:03 AM »

My paternal grandfather and my maternal grandmother are alive. Both of them are in care of their children, which is good, but unfortunately TV is what they turn to for "easy entertainment". And that's awful. My grandfather is only 0.5 miles from my house. He had many strokes and cannot even stand on his own. Yet, we manage to get him into a wheelchair and out of the house! My cousins have a john deere gator so we can drive him around our family's land, let him sit in the sun and visit (although he is preeeettttty deaf =), eat meals outside, go on drives in the cars......many things! He, too, watches a lot of t.v. but the filth is NOTHING compared to what my grandmother watches. He watches religious movies, westerns, and children movies most of the time,, but sometimes he turns to a vulgar game show or something with scandalously-dressed women. That gets me so sad, but I take solace in the fact that I can get him out of the house in the nicer weather. (also, he is the one whose books got me into +lefebvre so he understands what the Truth is.)

With my grandmother, however, she can WALK (with a lot of difficulty, but she still can) and still she sits in a chair all day long. It gets me to despair because I asked if I can take her out and she said no. My relatives don't take her out either.....except to go to the doctor (ie. to go on MORE medication)
I make meals and try to talk with her about wholesome things and then she will bring up "ghosts" or "spirits" and I really don't know what to say. Even though she is only 1.5 hours away, I avoid coming here because of this.
I feel as though I am even acting "self-righteous" now....because I am talking down about her.......but really I am only talking down on satan! I really do care for her eternal happiness. All I think of are the saints who only lived to save souls.......and I feel as though I am failing at that.

Nadir · « **Reply #7 on:** April 23, 2013, 10:09:55 AM »

Quote from: lauraelizabeth

All I think of are the saints who only lived to save souls.......and I feel as though I am failing at that.

Take courage, Laura! Many of those same saints would have felt just like you do at one time and maybe even at the end of their lives.

Showing your Gran that you care for her and her eternal salvation will pay off. If she is into "ghosts" or "spirits", she obviously has a "spiritual" bent and thoughts of death. By God's grace this may be turned around.

Keep up the good work. We will pray for her and for you.

jen51 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 23, 2013, 10:11:57 AM »

Quote from: lauraelizabeth

My paternal grandfather and my maternal grandmother are alive. Both of them are in care of their children, which is good, but unfortunately TV is what they turn to for "easy entertainment". And that's awful. My grandfather is only 0.5 miles from my house. He had many strokes and cannot even stand on his own. Yet, we manage to get him into a wheelchair and out of the house! My cousins have a john deere gator so we can drive him around our family's land, let him sit in the sun and visit (although he is preeeettttty deaf =), eat meals outside, go on drives in the cars......many things! He, too, watches a lot of t.v. but the filth is NOTHING compared to what my grandmother watches. He watches religious movies, westerns, and children movies most of the time,, but sometimes he turns to a vulgar game show or something with scandalously-dressed women. That gets me so sad, but I take solace in the fact that I can get him out of the house in the nicer weather. (also, he is the one whose books got me into +lefebvre so he understands what the Truth is.)

With my grandmother, however, she can WALK (with a lot of difficulty, but she still can) and still she sits in a chair all day long. It gets me to despair because I asked if I can take her out and she said no. My relatives don't take her out either.....except to go to the doctor (ie. to go on MORE medication)
I make meals and try to talk with her about wholesome things and then she will bring up "ghosts" or "spirits" and I really don't know what to say. Even though she is only 1.5 hours away, I avoid coming here because of this.
I feel as though I am even acting "self-righteous" now....because I am talking down about her.......but really I am only talking down on satan! I really do care for her eternal happiness. All I think of are the saints who only lived to save souls.......and I feel as though I am failing at that.

That's great to hear that your grandpa isn't quite so much into the filthy t.v. channels. As an elderly person, I could see how he could get sucked in, with not much to do. Since you live so close to him, maybe you could visit him frequently and read to him? I used to do that with my grandpa, but not nearly enough. Now that he is gone, I wish I had done it more because it pleased him so much. Maybe you could read to him the lives of the saints, and other edifying books. You could ask God to clue you into which books would be best for his soul at this stage in his life.

I would hate for you to think that you are failing, lauraelizabeth. Your concern for their spiritual welfare is evident in your writing. Just keep praying and asking God for wisdom on what to do. And be brave!

PerEvangelicaDicta · « **Reply #9 on:** April 23, 2013, 11:52:41 AM »

Lauraelizabeth, there are so many good and holy thoughts provided to help you!

Truly you are kind and humble, but perhaps a bit too soft? Put on the armor, dear soldier.
Speaking from experience:

1. Do not under any circuмstances, not even for a minute, not even for family or friends, subject yourself to sin. Ever. They choose to wallow in evil, unrepentant. And they are unapologetic about subjecting the innocent to this.
Just sweetly and gently (I can tell this is your disposition) tell them you will be in the kitchen, baking a cake - if they'd like to join you. Or in the yard, gardening, or ... fill in the blank. Or continue inviting them to go out, etc.
Whether it be an occasion of sin, or a grievous insult to your state of grace to be forced into this evil situation as a condition of visiting, on this you cannot compromise.
"shake off the dust from your feet." -Mt 10:14

Also from St. Matthew Chap 10, DRBO:

"[35] For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Challoner notes: [35] I came to set a man at variance: Not that this was the end or design of the coming of our Saviour; but that his coming and his doctrine would have this effect, by reason of the obstinate resistance that many would make, and of their persecuting all such as should adhere to him.

[36] And a man' s enemies shall be they of his own household. [37] He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. [38] And he that taketh not up his cross, and followeth me, is not worthy of me. [39] He that findeth his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for me, shall find it. [40] He that receiveth you, receiveth me: and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me. "

2. Pray. As we know, prayer is our mightiest tool and can topple kingdoms.

I had a stark light bulb moment that no dignity remains in the elderly when I read an outrageous statistic about the rate of STD at "The Villages" in central Florida - a huge retirement town. It sickened me.

So many souls, so little time.

ServusSpiritusSancti · « **Reply #10 on:** April 23, 2013, 03:19:25 PM »

I will pray that your grandmother distances herself from watching that filth.

I'd say that about 98% of the stuff on tv is absolute trash. It isn't called "satan's box" for nothing.

That's why the SSPX never allowed television. As Archbishop Lefebvre said: "The tabernacle is our television".

Frances · « **Reply #11 on:** April 23, 2013, 04:25:42 PM »

There hasn't been any "trash your tv" talk in the SSPX for maybe a year and a half, at least not that I've heard. I do not know of anyone in my chapel who doesn't have a tv--there may be some as I don't know everyone! I'd be frank with grandma and tell her that the show is trashy, then immediately pull out a game, photo album, decent movie on cd, SOMETHING else to do, then start doing it. Don't show anger or disgust. Be kind, but firm, "matter-of-fact." If that doesn't work, spend lots of time in the w.c. BTW. I do not own a tv, haven't since 1978.

John Grace · « **Reply #12 on:** April 23, 2013, 04:32:06 PM »

A sad reflection of the modern world. A memory my own father has is his grandmother giving him a spoon so he could walk the roads after dark. The spoon would reflect the lights of any car. Innocence you might say but importantly, she did something else. She would sprinkle everyone with holy water after they going to bed. She would go room to room.

How many do this today?

John Grace · « **Reply #13 on:** April 23, 2013, 04:48:18 PM »

Both my grandmothers are still living. Both watch television. Regarding television, I spent most of my weekends and holidays in my teens on a farm. The television would never be on until the evening and they only had two television stations and no remote control. My grandfather would say, you can only watch one channel at anyone time any ways.

Sometimes at 1pm the television would be turned on to hear the news or get the weather forecast. Shows like 'The Beverly Hillbillies' or 'Jake and the Fatman' wre shown at lunchtime so I would remember watching episodes of that.

After the dinner it was out to the fields for several hours work.

There would be no television again until about 6pm when my uncles (bachelor's in those days) returned home from work.

My grandfather would watch a match. If Ireland was playing or a GAA match.

My paternal grandmother still watches television. 'Deal or No Deal' is a quiz show. Other programmes also. She is 91 but still goes out of the house.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #14 on:** April 23, 2013, 04:51:04 PM »

Quote

There hasn't been any "trash your tv" talk in the SSPX for maybe a year and a half, at least not that I've heard. I do not know of anyone in my chapel who doesn't have a tv

As Father Pfeiffer says, the SSPX is in more trouble than it thinks. That is to say, it's in decline, and I have a feeling the decline could easily become fairly rapid.