In all its grace and glory, the very first TV ever to reside in the rural community of Waucanda, Washington was displayed at the general store.  Photo taken 1995.

Out of 500,000 entries, only 10 finalists could be chosen. This means your chance of being "truly accepted" in this life are only 1 in 50,000. Hitting the jackpot at Las Vegas is more likely. You are not worth anything to us because we deal with so many artists each day. You will be happy to know that our trash compactor liked your contribution.

Now the 10 finalists will be able to stand on our grand stage and sing to all the rest of you 500,000 people.  If all 500,000 of you tried to sing, there would be too much noise.  We couldn't control it and you couldn't pay attention to all 500,000 people.

Next time we suggest you try the internet.  Then all 500,000 of you could have your own little stages.  Your own web pages!  You could each sing to audiences of 10 people, or so maybe many more.  There could be room for all you performers.

The American dream, "a dot.com in every pot."

Some of you worry that the quality of the performances might go down, now that every "Joe Idiot, like yourself," can get their own stage.

This may be a factor, but the quality may also go up. When the audience gets 500,000 performers, rather than just 10, to choose from there is something for everyone.  The information can be more relevant to each viewer's life.  Maybe your friend will be on. 

When the audience is more interactive, it can become a true community again.
 

Warning given to big time editors:  "Do not take unsoliceted candy from strangers with out agents."

Cartoon about television

The internet better than network TV 
Audience fragmentation is good

1995

Some people worry that the internet causes people to interact with machines instead of one another.  Don't worry, television has already done this.  Instead of talking with one another, neighbors all sit home and watch TV.  What is the difference a computer monitor or a TV screen?  At least the internet is more interactive.  Internet's more sophisticated level of technology may bring back some of the sense of belonging that Television destroyed. 

Remember the 1960s when there were only 3 (or counting PBS) 4 channels?  Every channel had to be run by a humungus corporation with audiences in the millions.  Then came cable and more channels.  Now we have the internet.

The average person finds it easy to watch TV, but ever try to say something back to the television?  No way, one must be a big time celebrity, have several agents, have loads of money or be real lucky to say something to that audience of millions that watches the network.

On the internet, it is easier to participate.  One doesn't have to be a big Hollywood star to have a home page.  One doesn't even need to appeal to an audience in the millions to justify their space on a channel.  Even if you are just reaching an audience of 6 people, the internet lets you speak.  It brings back small group interaction.
 

Remember when one could only get maybe 3, or 4 counting PBS, TV stations with this on the roof?

Don't kill your television

June 1998

The phrase "kill your television" is on a few bumper stickers. I agree with the sentiment, but killing the TV continues to buy into a value system of sensationalism that is prominent on TV.

If I were designing a slogan, it would simply say, "turn off your television." Turning off the TV is a mellow and non violent solution.

Killing the television continues to be a TV style solution to the problem. One usually has to shoot a gun or do something sensational to be noticed by television. The simple off switch would never qualify one for a spot on the evening news. Nothing more than the off switch makes one a "nobody" in the eyes of television, but we should not have to live our lives under the dictates of what would qualify us for a spot on the evening news.

One usually must have a really loud message, or, at least, millions of dollars in advertising money to communicate with one's neighbors through the medium of national television. There are other mediums and smaller scale audiences where the sensible person can get noticed. Let's turn off our televisions and start noticing one another for a change.