Chris Saul's Blog

Friday September 14, 2007

The curse of flatscreen TV

I wouldn't describe myself as a luddite, considering I work for an high-tech company, but the wonder of LCD and Plasma TVs is exhibiting a cursed dark side.

It's great to have small TVs with high quality screens. Mrs Saul has given permission for one to be bought if we more into our new flat and I'm looking forward to a crisp picture in a nice package. Unfortunately, these conveniently sized boxes are sprouting up everywhere I go.

One of the nearby cafes in Dubai where we often have breakfast now has one in the corner. Instead of customers chatting away and enjoying their meal, with attentive staff catering to their needs, everyone gawps at the telly and the atmosphere is destroyed. Even if you don't want to watch it, you can't help yourself as it flickers away in the corner. You can't get the waitresses' attention as they're all transfixed.

The hotel I'm in this week has little TVs all over the place and so do the pubs and bars in Dubai and other cities.

If I wanted to watch X-Men during my breakfast, with the sound turned off, I'd stay at home and do so. If I wanted to watch CNN with the sound turned off I'd stay in my hotel room.

It's probably a boon for people who want to practise their lip-reading, but I can't see any other advantages. If there's a match on, or a special event, fine, but otherwise I wish people would turn the things off.

Am I turning into a grumpy old man? Do most people really want to stare blankly at the TV, watching bits and pieces of programmes they can't hear?