I never watch TV, not at home and not while camping.
Most programs turned into garbage about 15 years ago and that's when we stopped watching TV.
Life is great without it. Satelite radio and newspapers give me all the news I need.
We moved up from tents to a TT last year too. We took a small tv along on our two week trip and it was turned on once to check the weather for a trip to Seabreeze Amusement Park. I told the kids when we were packing for our trip that the tv was only going to be used on rainy days.
Since I actually have 4 kids and camp a lot the TV won't hurt a bit and they'll find more interesting things to do aroud the campground. Like my DW always says,"You need to pick your battles" and this is not a battle worth fighting.
I have the same issue with kids/tv/dvd. I think when the weather goes bad and everybody is inside, you will need to have sometype of distraction. It could be a tv/dvd, board game, or card game.
I gave in to, but for the DH.
It not only works great for keeping the kids occupied when it is raining, but also when you have early risers. My nephews would get up way before most camps woke up, so we would put a DVD in for them and it would keep them quite so they would not wake the whole campground.
Aridon wrote: Why is having a DVD player a bad idea? Good lord you people are acting like she gave them a bag of weed, told them to go smoke it and tell their parents to kiss their a$$.
Get a grip.
Having options is not a bad thing. Maybe I don't want to sit for 10 hours reading a book if its a really bad rainy day. What is the big deal with watching a few movies at night? Do I have to sit outside every single night with a campfire or am I going to be arrested by the camping police if I want to catch an episode of Dirty Jobs?
Something are really worth getting worked up over. This isn't one of them.
Great post! And don't you love all the people DEFENDING the fact they have a tv in their RV's equipped with microwaves, refrigerators, heaters, indoor plumbing, etc? We only use it on Tuesdays, when it's raining, during a new moon. Sheesh...
My kids can play outside, read, play video games, watch tv, whatever. We're camping. When it's family time, we do whatever we decide as a family. And that may include watching a movie. Maybe on a warm Saturday I'll grab my ice chest, my smokes, my tv and a comfy chair and watch baseball ALL DAY!!! while the rest of the family is doing whatever they want. And that may include WATCHING THE SECOND TV WE BRING!!!
The kids wanna go on a hike, we go on a hike. Maybe we go four-wheelin'. Maybe we ride into the nearest town for pizza and Starbucks. We wanna go fishing, we go fishing. What the heck does anyone care how anyone else camps?
Don't you worry now folks, we won't be disturbing you on your tiny little asphalt pad and your 30x30 foot piece of dirt you paid $30 a night for. We almost exclusively boondock in the wilderness so we don't bother all you folks with your rules and preconceived notions about what camping is supposed to be.
You tv-phobic folks crack me up. Thanks for the chuckle I got while writing this. Happy camping.
68 Me & DW
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I don’t think having Luxuries on board is a bad thing, hey I’m all for the “Condo on wheels” scenario.
I am sure some can relate to the following statement that we heard a million times from our parents, “Go outside and play its beautiful”.
I think a good portion of individuals feel that if you are around beautiful scenery, hiking trails, fishing areas Natural areas and many other things we don’t usually see on an every day basis, that you should try and enjoy that before the typical luxuries most of us enjoy at home.
I have no problem kicking back and having some snacks and watch a movie with the kids, but not in place of enjoying the surroundings and what the area has to offer.
I also have ordered Take out on my cell phone for pickup…it’s pretty hard to get a delivery guy to deliver at a campsite, but I will try next time out.
Short Story
For about 12 years I would go on an annual fishing trip in April with anywhere from 10-15 other guys to our hunting cabin in Waterville Pa, they never fished, we would hang out and drink beer and play horseshoes all day…ok that wasn’t so bad but then over the last 5 or so years that I have gone, they all decided the bar down the bottom of the mountain was better than hanging out and playing horseshoes.
So we would sit in a smoky bar for about 6-8 hours a day…this I tired of real quick.
I haven’t been on that trip in at least 6 years.
I could not se me driving 240 miles to sit in a bar when I can walk to one around the corner from my house. I grew to dislike the trip; however the other guys still love it!
Now I plan a fishing trip every year and we actually fish, hell we party too and enjoy the camaraderie and yes we watch movies.
Heres a Blog of our recentl trip
http://assateagucampingtrip2008.blogspot.com/
The key for me is to Prioritize
My point is, “Enjoy your Family/Friends”, “Your Surroundings” and your “Luxuries”…in that order. Or all at the same time.
To each his own, that’s what makes this a great forum, people sharing their opinions.
I think it depends on if you have children, their ages, and what the specific situation is. My 4 yr old is nicely distracted at times (like rain) and at night before bed to settle down. They do not and are not allowed to watch tv in the day when it is nice out. Nor do they want to. I use for them when we are traveling in the truck for 8- 10 hours. again one of many ways to distract them from getting antsy. I think it is a matter of personal opinion and of course everyone is entitled to their own.
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Beautiful Wife
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1 Boy (12)
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We camp with a 19" TV/DVD combo and a portable DVD player. The boys use the portable DVD player to watch movies in their tent when everyone is quieting down for the night. The TV/DVD combo will get lots of use this summer to watch the Olympics which start during our biggest camping trip of the summer.
If my boys wanted to do nothing but watch TV, then I might have a problem but usually that is the last thing they want to do. If we had internet while camping, that would be another thing entirely! I would have to beat them away with a stick! LOL!
Shannen (and hubby Rick)
2 sons, ages 15 and 19
2 dogs, "Duncan" (mini schnauzer) and "Libby" (lhasapoo)
1996 GMC Yukon
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I think your solution is reasonable and makes sense, but there is a deeper issue involved. . . my wife and I read this book when we were in premarital counseling at our church, and I'd recommend it to anybody.
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