By John Matonich
I was watching the boob tube the other day and saw a commercial that caught my attention. It was advertising a milk company, but I think there was also a cool lesson as part of the ad.
It was in the morning and a dad was sitting in his kitchen having a cup of coffee while watching TV. The screen showed a news program in the typical fashion of news programs these days. There were three split screens and the individuals were all trying to get their points across in very loud voices. The screenshot lasted about a half a second when all of a sudden the channel changed to a cartoon.
Dad was a little startled until he saw his young son had cozied up in the seat next to him and was responsible for the channel change. You could see dad was a little torn as to what to do, but he watched his son fill up a cereal bowl with the milk of the sponsor and began to laugh at the antics of the characters in the cartoon. The son obviously felt his show was more entertaining than what was previously on.
Next thing you know, dad made his own bowl of cereal and began laughing as well while watching the cartoon. As the commercial ended, dad and son continued to share a laugh while enjoying their bowls of cereal filled with the sponsor’s milk. I had to smile at this commercial and the lesson I got out of it.
While I am a fan of TV, I am not a fan of news commentary programs. To me, they are all crap. I don’t care what channel they emanate from, I have never seen anything on them that is worthwhile to watch. They play to two types of viewers. One set of viewers are fans of the propaganda and watch to become even more set in their feelings. The other set of viewers are totally against the program’s propaganda and watch so they can find things they can poke holes in. Both sets of viewers then find enjoyment in posting their views on Facebook because if it is on Facebook, it has to be true.
I am glad people have a viewpoint on what’s happening in the world today, but I don’t need to hear it. What you believe isn’t going to change how I feel about something one iota, so I apologize if I choose not to watch, read or listen. I am fairly certain that with all that gets spewed it rarely, if ever, changes anyone’s mind.
If I were king, I would require everyone in my kingdom to watch funny cartoons at least for 30 minutes each day. Maybe it would help some folk’s perspectives and we could find a little more common ground instead just 2 ends of a spectrum. I would also ban cooked vegetables since I don’t like them (except for corn), so maybe I shouldn’t be king.
And that’s the situation as I survey it.
After a 35-year career downstate livin’ amongst da trolls, during which he built a successful engineering and surveying business, John Matonich is back home in da U.P. His column will appear here occasionally, don’tcha know. His book “Surveyin’ Da Situation” is available on Amazon.com.
John,
I read your columns, I enjoy them.
I watch CNN, ABC, and FOX news commentary shows because I enjoy them.
You bring a point of view, CNN brings a point of view, ABC brings a point of view, and FOX totally distorts all three of you with their point of view.
I read and watch you all, it is entertaining.
Your columns are no different than what is on the news commentary programs.
You comment on various topics from your point of view, the commentators on TV do the exact same thing.
The only difference is you are in print and no one in typing over you.
I appreciate your comments. I don’t feel any of my ramblings are as caustic as many of those on the channels you mentioned. I am more interested in humor…
Humor………. yes, that is one of your writing qualities.
Yes…… that is one of the reasons that your articles are so enjoyable to read.
I do not think you ramble and you are far from caustic, keep up the good work.
Thank you… really appreciate that
I had to chuckle at your 5th & 6th words while still seeing the image above. 🙂
But seriously, 30 minutes of cartoons a day could be good medicine for what ails us.
I think some cartoon watching and laughing would be great for all of us…
I would love to watch 30 minutes of cartoons daily but I want them to be old school cartoons. I want politically incorrect cartoons with explosions, acme anvils, exaggerated accents, unsafe Wile E Coyote devices, shotgun blasts from Elmer Fudd, and more! Modern day cartoons mostly make me want to change channels.
I like the old cartoons as well… looney tunes always had double meanings …
I don’t have any desire to watch the news, except for the occasional local news, whereas my husband would watch CNN all day if he could. I would rather watch cartoons, Friends, or the Game Show channel all day. They are more upbeat and funny than those news channels!
Love reading your articles, John! Keep up the great wotk!!
*work
Thank you Tina….appreciate the comment
John.
I agree, more time for cartoons……and less vegetables, except for corn and asparagus!
Bob Sibilsky
Agreed….
We always appreciate your articles-this one included.We have see the ad you refer to-the son is correct and the dad is wise to enjoy the cartoons with his son. It is a smart ad and fun to watch .
I agree that is a smart Dad….
Maybe give up the TV entirely, except for horse races and baseball games. I recommend you get a canoe, and get your brother to help you paddle. Get away from TV as often as possible.
https://lengthofthegrand.com/
I am trying but like “Parking Wars”
Parking Wars is almost as good as the cartoons. Some pretty funny characters on that show!
Oh, you guys, friends: I have never seen, do not know anything about, “Parking Wars.” I seems preposterous, based on what you say. Better, probably, not to waste your time on it.
It is a good show to make anyone smile…or least shake their head…
You are right just a mindless show to pass the cold winters and crappy springs. But funny in its own way.
My day begins and ends with Fox News. If I want 30 minutes of cartoons, I switch to CNN. JUST KIDDING!!! I trust none of them. They are all agenda based instead of news based. My dad gets all of his news from Steven Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel, which probably satisfies the news element and the comedy element simultaneously. I’m just going to resign from all cable news and follow a much more trustworthy source: Roseanne Barr’s tweets!
Good article, John.
Thanks, Craig…appreciate it