I don't watch enough TV to notice any special trends, et cetera!

What drew you to the discussion?

Et cetera

Television Viewing Time and Mortality

Television viewing time independently pr...C Norfolk Study

I do know of one summer TV trend. It's the re-run.

So did you look those up before or after I asked the question?
Not that I'm disagreeing with anything said in those reports. I am quite well informed on the subject. I do find it fascinating, sometimes amusing, when people are asked questions and, instead of answering, they post links to published materials that appear to support the point these people try to make. Although I do recall one instance where such a person posted an article that had one line that supported his point of view, but the rest of it contradicted other things this young man had said. He conveniently dismissed the parts of the article that disagreed with him.
Honestly, it doesn't take a person spending several hours per day with a hand gripped to a remote to have a clue about what's on TV. You may be surprised with what a person can absorb simply by observing, having a decent memory and listening once in a while.

I'm one who believes that gadgets such as TVs, smart phones, video games, and even computers are leading to the actual demise of observing, having a decent memory, and listening once in a while.

I respectfully disagree because people are tuning in to their gadgets and tuning out to reality.

It's not the gadgets. It's the people.
Just because the tech gurus make a new device that does everything short of butter your toast doesn't mean everybody has to rush out and get one, or that those who do get them have to have them plugged into their ears 24/7.
Too much time spent on any one thing is not good for anyone.

You're not lying about people's fascination with their gadgets. It seems like everyone on the VRE train is playing with their iPads on their commute to work.

To say nothing of the idiots who text while driving.
And my music producer friend who had a Bluetooth in his ear during the entirety of a Dreamgirls rehearsal (he had the role of Jimmy). He almost forgot to take it out before one performance.

I think specifically teenagers (and many adults) are FAR too pre-occupied with their gadgets and texting. And I get tired of hearing parents say "I don't care if my kid has 15,000 texts per month, she gets good grades so she can do what she wants." Such a lazy cop-out. I'd rather have a kid that got B's and C's but was more prudent with their time and a better face to face communicator. It can't possibly be healthy to spend 80-90% of one's waking hours in front of some sort of media device.

Our gadgets are really just like anything else we do, when used in moderation and for the right purpose that can be helpful even useful. When over used and abused they become a danger.

I am with you on the texting issue, but I will admit I do text a great deal myself. I probably use my cell to text as much if not more then I use it to actually talk on. But having said that I do think that we in the danger of losing the art of conversation if we are not careful. Our kids at work are on the phones all the time because of the east of sending a text, but that does get to be a problem when the texting begins to replace working. Again it is the abuse of the gadget that gets in the way, not the gadget itself.