The End Will Not Be Televised

It's nearly time. It's nearly time for Ireland's almighty analogue TV switch off. For months now, we've been blasted with the ads urging us to prepare for the switch to digital. "Get your Saorview approved box now, or doom shall seek ye out." "Protect yourself against the Mayan apocalypse!" "You must get the box, for without the box, your life will be meaningless." "Relax citizen, and continue to consume RTE programming." "Programming gives you strength".

I don't bother with Irish media these days. I was never a big TV fan but I've started to cut out Irish radio now too, and my outlook on life has improved, immensely  Any time I do catch a glimpse of it, it's always the same: "household tax" "horrendous budget" "worsening crisis" "pay now or go to jail" "political corruption but ah sure grand" "In other news, a person died from shit health care today". It's been the same old shite for the past 6 years now, and nothing will to come of it. Ireland has no sovereign leadership, we're just bumbling along as Europe sees fit. So there's no point keeping up with it, especially not when every news bulletin is governmental fear mongering.

I'm also not interested in listening to the likes of overpaid/under-worked Marian Fucknukan cough her lungs up as she talks about RTE's brand of "world politics". World politics in Irish media means America. If they do branch out on a different country, it's always on a tangent from an American point of view. Heaven forbid that "neutral" Ireland might have media that makes up it's own mind. No. And increasingly we see arseholes given air to talk about how we should change our education system to help fulfil job vacancies in American companies situated in Dublin. When was Ireland sold to America exactly.

It's not that I have anything against televisions as devices, but their mainstream content is a different story. If they're not trying to shape your opinion, with outlandish lies and propaganda, their turning it to mush with mindless cackFactor "reality" shows, and Big Wank Theory shitcoms. And people just gobble it up. They rush home from work to watch some jumped-up maggot, ejaculate into their minds. This type of television programming stops you from thinking your own thoughts; it anaesthetises the mind. A complete photonic opiate, an effect that you'll often see being used by parents, desperate to pacify an unruly child.

When the switch off comes on the 24th, do yourself a favor: don't switch it back on. (not that it matters anyway, most get their viewing material from third parties, like the Rupert Murdochs).

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