I agree, but there still is a qualitative difference between an active an a passive activity.

Sitting on your butt and controlling a toy truck just barely qualifies as active.

I'd say if you're watching something on DVR and fast forwarding the commercials you're 50% there.

I can't tell if you're being serious or not...

He designed and built the system. It's not a question of how many calories he burned, but the difference between creation and consumption.

OTOH, he's mostly doing consumption now, after the initial creation.

Now he's creating a hole. He has to plan and make decisions at every step of the way, his will guides the progress of the activity, in contrast to TV which is a passive. I'm not making a value judgement based on the relative merits of the two activities, but the distinction still exists.

Meh, there's better stuff in real life.

So you never watch any movies, read any books, play any games or listen to any music or anything because "there's better stuff in real life." right?

What a ridiculous attitude.

False dichotomy.

I was blown away by Breaking Bad and can't wait for the next episode. I really enjoy it and it can be inspiring. But I don't kid myself into believing that I'm doing something productive.

What is productive? I remember someone here being really pleased with themselves because they'd cut down on the time they "wasted" gossiping, and learned Chinese instead. But they never said anything about actually using the Chinese.

I enjoy making things too, but I don't kid myself into believing that I'm doing something "better" than watching TV.

As elemenohpee pointed out above, it's really a difference between creation and consumption. Always be doing.

If I need to just relax, instead of coding non-stop, instead of watching TV and melting my brain, I"ll just play guitar, or sketch, or grab the camera and go for a walk around town and see if there's anything interesting to photograph. (although I'll admit, it's much easier to do in a somewhat urban environment, that's walkable, and people are about, suburbia kills, man) Playing guitar is especially nice, cuz I can mindlessly do it for hours, and let my brain wander around while I"m just strummin out random chords. On top of all that, who has time for TV? After work there's always something goin on, Tuesdays it's the running club, Wednesday the pub 2 blocks down has $1.50 pints, Thursday is bowling league (actually more fun than you'd imagine, especially when you becomes friends with all the randos in the league.) Weeks are for travel (SKI TRIP) You gotta fill your life up to the brim, not spend it inside with the curtains drawn, and boobtube glowin! Why live vicariously though a screen, when you can do it for real. I hate watching other people have fun and build relationships, when I'm not. That's exactly what I see, and what I'm not doing, when I watch TV.

TV shows are fine every now and then, but I'm not a regular to any one show. My GF can't stay up through an entire movie (narcolepsy city), so maybe we'll watch an episode or two of Glee on Sunday night, but that's about it. I love books, and always try to read for a bit just before bed. I think that stimulates the imagination a bit more than tv though.

Now I'm not saying TV is evil, and you shouldn't watch it, I'm just putting my alternative point of view out there. To each his own.

edit: I didn't downvote you, I don't believe in doing that on disagreements, I think you bring an interesting case.

You're not the only one with this viewpoint.

Here's some of what I do during the week:

Monday: go to a classical concert or opera. And it's free as I live near IU.

Tuesday: go to contradance, and an awesome Scottish bar afterwards.

Wednesday: can do multiple things: contradance, hackerspace (only 1 in Indiana), or heavy rapier fencing. And they're all at the same time.

Thursday: Renaissance dance or musician for dancers (I do both).

Friday: was in jazz quartet that fell apart. Looking for group who's willing for a C-Mel player. (note: it's a key of c saxophone that was made back in '27. Conn quit production in '34.)

Saturday: I work on my projects and hackeries that interest me. That ranges from arduino work all the way to lapidary and silversmithing to woodworking and bladesmithing to glassworking.

Sunday: more fighter practice, blended with calligraphy, illumination, leatherworking, and other completely random stuffs.

Note that I also work a crappy 3rd shift job ('be glad you have a job', they say). So many things that occur when I would sleep are unavailable to me.

I perhaps watch an hour of tv a week, maybe more. And it's always watched via bittorrent.

IU, eh, it's a gorgeous campus in my opinion. I was there once for a race (in college), and the only thing I remember (or don't remember) from that weekend is playing sink the biz at Nick's. In fact, I still have the mason jar beer mug I "liberated" from them.

Man, sounds like me before I got married. Though to be honest, my wife keeps telling me I should get out and do more stuff, so I can't blame it on her/kids.