TV vs. The Net - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

maverick · 28th Jan 2011, 04:51 PM

So, it seems to me a lot of major cable channels are putting their media online for free (with advertising) so you can easily see all of your favorite television shows without actually needing a TV or cable.

Do you guys watch TV on a TV, or do you watch it online? I have cable for the first time in over a year and a half, but I still do most of my TV viewing online, where I can find back-episodes of pretty much anyone show I'd ever want to watch. At this point, I'm like, why wait for something you want to watch to come on when you can pull up anything you'd want to watch online?

I'm just curious to see to what degree people are turning to online media these days versus classic television viewing.

Z3ni · 28th Jan 2011, 05:00 PM

Well I rather watch everything on t.v., coz its nice and cozy on the sofa xD

QuantumBoi · 28th Jan 2011, 05:12 PM

I watch regular cable most of the time, especially if there is nothing in particular I want to watch right then. However, if I have an idea to watch something available online, like Desperate Housewives, I might turn to the awesome Hulu.

Zontar · 28th Jan 2011, 07:14 PM

I do not watch many television programs. Most of my media is consumed via the Internet and radio talk shows. When I move out, I do not plan on subscribing to either cable or DBS television.

**Owen** · 28th Jan 2011, 07:46 PM

In the months leading up to me leaving for college, I went from watching broadcasted television to watching the On-Demand material almost exclusively. This was the start of my giving up television, because made me lose patience for waiting for shows to air and making time to watch them. When I did leave for college, the roommate who brought the tv didn't hook it up to the cable properly, so we get about ten channels, none of which were any good. So I took to the internet, my studies, and my newly expanded social life to occupy my new surplus of free time. The rest is history.

A year and a half later, I don't miss TV. Oh sure, when I go home, I'll watch some of my favorite shows on my parent's on demand, but at this point, the customizability of my internet experience (i.e. the fact that I choose exactly what I want to experience, and there is much more diverse media to chose from), combined with the fact that everything on here is available when I ask for it has soured me to tv permanently. I don't even seek out episodes of tv online anymore due simply to the fact that I don't find many tv shows to be worth watching these days.

roborama · 28th Jan 2011, 08:36 PM

still with a tv, not suprising though. just got a omputer this year and i listen to records, like the big black things that nobody knows how to play ahaha soooo yeah

starfish · 28th Jan 2011, 09:12 PM

I canceled my cable TV service a year ago.

I still do all my TV watching on my TV. I have a PS3 that I use to watch Netflix on demand. I use a TiVo to record the over the air stuff. I also have a PC attached to my TV that I use for Hulu and the torrents of Top Gear that I download. I also buy Burn Notice on iTunes and use my AppleTV to view it.

Between all of those I don't miss cable TV one bit. Best part is that I am only spening $20 a month instead of $100 a month and I get exactly what I want.

It won't belong until telephone and TV service is completely carried over the Internet. It is too expensive to maintain 4 separate physical infrastructures. Landline phone, mobile phone, TV, and Internet.

ok455 · 28th Jan 2011, 11:06 PM

I still watch tv i like the noise and stuff i only watch foreign tv shows online.

Darkwing65 · 28th Jan 2011, 11:12 PM

I'll watch T.V. occasionally, but most of my viewing happens online. Even the current shows i watch i don't catch on the air, i'll usually stream them later.

Black Cat · 28th Jan 2011, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z3ni

Well I rather watch everything on t.v., coz its nice and cozy on the sofa xD

Me too. I'm a fan of traditions, so I like sitting on the couch with my tea and a snack to waste time in front of the TV. And plus, I don't like the whole 'on demand' thing, I think getting what you want when you want it sort of spoils everyone - even when it comes to TV.

Beertruck · 29th Jan 2011, 12:25 AM

I like to sit down and watch TV. I really like the idea of every Thursday (when I'm not doing anything social) sitting down to watch Community, The Office, Parks and Rec, and 30 Rock as they come on. There's something thrilling about it being revealed to everyone all at once, isn't there?

I'm also one of those crazy people who loves to go see movies in the theater instead of at home or on my shitty laptop.

partietraumatic · 29th Jan 2011, 01:10 AM

It's useful to be able to catch up on things online if i miss them, but i still prefer the tv. It's a much more communal activity than watching something online.

But then in may aspects I am more old fashioned than alot of my friends, i prefer tv to internet, i prefer cd to downloads, i prefer the cinema to watching at home.

MIJ VI · 29th Jan 2011, 01:21 AM

I stopped watching TV/formulaic pap in Mar. '08.

"Television – a medium. So called because it is neither rare nor well done."
— Ernie Kovacs

Idonteven · 29th Jan 2011, 09:20 AM

only thing I watch on TV now is sports. (go Pack!) everything else I watch is online. I like to watch what I want when I want to watch it.

mnguy · 29th Jan 2011, 04:48 PM

I'm still watching on TV. I like the surround sound system I have and haven't taken the time to figure out how to get that from my computer into the receiver. I also like to flip around the channels when commercials come on or listen to radio during them. I've watched some movies on my laptop from Netflix, but the sound is too quiet (probably my computer) and it's not as nice as up on the big TV so I prefer getting the DVDs still. I get free online use from Comcast, but haven't tried it yet so I don't know if it's any good. I also like that I can watch a show on TV, surf the net, and eat all at once

theJosephDean · 29th Jan 2011, 05:11 PM

I really only watch real TV (like now) when I just want to go sit in the living room and get a change of scenery (now that we have our furniture back from our old apartment). A lot of times though, I'll have Hulu/Netflix/VLC-playing-something snapped to one side of my monitor and whatever I'm working on at the moment snapped to the other (yay for big scene). Also, it's easier to cuddle in bed to watch movies than it is on the couch

Markio · 29th Jan 2011, 09:09 PM

I have a personal computer but not a TV. There are TVs around my school's dorms, but people tend to be inconsiderate when someone is trying to watch TV in a public space, so I just stay in my room to watch shows.

**TheEdend** · 30th Jan 2011, 01:00 PM

I do like watching TV for certain things and I use the comp for most other shows.

I just like having a set time and day when the whole family drops what they are doing and we all just watch a show together. I know, super corny, but its something that I really enjoy doing

---------- Post added 30th Jan 2011 at 04:01 PM ----------

Oh and documentary channel <3

excuseyou77 · 30th Jan 2011, 04:19 PM

I prefer TV and watch TV more but watching shows online and downloading them still has its perks for me. Online/digital downloads are a great way for me to sample shows and in some instances it works out because there are certain channels, like Logo, that I don't have, so to watch their programming I go on their website.

28th Jan 2011, 04:51 PM	#1
maverick let watchers become warriors Full Member Gender: You tell me. Orientation: Hey good lookin'. wink Out Status: It's pretty obvious. Location: Alabama cue banjos Age: 26 Posts: 2,118 Join Date: Nov 2010	TV vs. The Net So, it seems to me a lot of major cable channels are putting their media online for free (with advertising) so you can easily see all of your favorite television shows without actually needing a TV or cable. Do you guys watch TV on a TV, or do you watch it online? I have cable for the first time in over a year and a half, but I still do most of my TV viewing online, where I can find back-episodes of pretty much anyone show I'd ever want to watch. At this point, I'm like, why wait for something you want to watch to come on when you can pull up anything you'd want to watch online? I'm just curious to see to what degree people are turning to online media these days versus classic television viewing. __________________ Shelter me oh genius words, just give me strength / to pen these things, and give me peace to well her wings / and oh, oh carry on, all you minstrels of the world, we will catch our lady's ear, we will win for us the girl.

28th Jan 2011, 05:00 PM	#2
Z3ni Ec's ADD Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gayish Out Status: My Twin Location: England, Manchester Posts: 3,082 Join Date: Oct 2008	Re: TV vs. The Net Well I rather watch everything on t.v., coz its nice and cozy on the sofa xD __________________ Through pain, lies success.

28th Jan 2011, 05:12 PM	#3
QuantumBoi EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay, Kinsey 6 Out Status: Out to whoever asks. Location: Asheville, North Carolina, USA Age: 21 Posts: 350 Join Date: Jan 2011	Re: TV vs. The Net I watch regular cable most of the time, especially if there is nothing in particular I want to watch right then. However, if I have an idea to watch something available online, like Desperate Housewives, I might turn to the awesome Hulu. __________________ "I can't believe that you and me were falling out of love. And everybody used to be so envious of us. Chemistry like apple and cinnamon. . .what we had was just too good- good to last." -- Utada Hikaru! ~,~'<3

28th Jan 2011, 07:14 PM	#4
Zontar Mister Funny Man Full Member Gender: Male Location: Binghampton, NY Posts: 1,534 Join Date: Oct 2010	Re: TV vs. The Net I do not watch many television programs. Most of my media is consumed via the Internet and radio talk shows. When I move out, I do not plan on subscribing to either cable or DBS television. __________________ Get up and open your eyes...Don't ever let yourself ever fall down... Get through it and learn how to fly...I know you'll find a way...today. -Days of the New, "Dirty Road"

28th Jan 2011, 07:46 PM	#5
Owen Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult EC Admin Gender: Agendered dude Orientation: Panromantic androsexual Out Status: Everyone and their mother Location: Massachusetts, USA Age: 21 Posts: 2,872 Join Date: Jul 2007	Re: TV vs. The Net In the months leading up to me leaving for college, I went from watching broadcasted television to watching the On-Demand material almost exclusively. This was the start of my giving up television, because made me lose patience for waiting for shows to air and making time to watch them. When I did leave for college, the roommate who brought the tv didn't hook it up to the cable properly, so we get about ten channels, none of which were any good. So I took to the internet, my studies, and my newly expanded social life to occupy my new surplus of free time. The rest is history. A year and a half later, I don't miss TV. Oh sure, when I go home, I'll watch some of my favorite shows on my parent's on demand, but at this point, the customizability of my internet experience (i.e. the fact that I choose exactly what I want to experience, and there is much more diverse media to chose from), combined with the fact that everything on here is available when I ask for it has soured me to tv permanently. I don't even seek out episodes of tv online anymore due simply to the fact that I don't find many tv shows to be worth watching these days. __________________ "Stand firm for what you believe in, until and unless logic and experience prove you wrong. Remember, when the emperor looks naked, the emperor is naked. The truth and a lie are not sort of the same thing. And there is no aspect, no facet, no moment of life that can't be improved with pizza." -Daria Morgendorffer

28th Jan 2011, 08:36 PM	#6
roborama EC's Teenage Grandma Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Fluid Out Status: Out to everyone Location: MA Age: 17 Posts: 397 Join Date: Jan 2011	Re: TV vs. The Net still with a tv, not suprising though. just got a omputer this year and i listen to records, like the big black things that nobody knows how to play ahaha soooo yeah __________________ Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself. Harvey Fierstein

28th Jan 2011, 09:12 PM	#7
starfish This space for lease. Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: I like guys Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Hippie Town, Alberta of the US Age: 31 Posts: 2,108 Join Date: Nov 2008	Re: TV vs. The Net I canceled my cable TV service a year ago. I still do all my TV watching on my TV. I have a PS3 that I use to watch Netflix on demand. I use a TiVo to record the over the air stuff. I also have a PC attached to my TV that I use for Hulu and the torrents of Top Gear that I download. I also buy Burn Notice on iTunes and use my AppleTV to view it. Between all of those I don't miss cable TV one bit. Best part is that I am only spening $20 a month instead of $100 a month and I get exactly what I want. It won't belong until telephone and TV service is completely carried over the Internet. It is too expensive to maintain 4 separate physical infrastructures. Landline phone, mobile phone, TV, and Internet. __________________ All the problems of the world could be settled easily if men were only willing to think. The trouble is that men very often resort to all sorts of devices in order not to think, because thinking is such hard work. --Thomas J. Watson Last edited by starfish; 28th Jan 2011 at 09:16 PM..

28th Jan 2011, 11:06 PM	#8
ok455 EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Some people Location: Can't tell L!O!L Age: 24 Posts: 437 Join Date: May 2005	Re: TV vs. The Net I still watch tv i like the noise and stuff i only watch foreign tv shows online. __________________ http://209.50.252.116/smile.gif

28th Jan 2011, 11:12 PM	#9
Darkwing65 El Comandante Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Bisexualish. Out Status: A few people Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Age: 24 Posts: 470 Join Date: Oct 2009	Re: TV vs. The Net I'll watch T.V. occasionally, but most of my viewing happens online. Even the current shows i watch i don't catch on the air, i'll usually stream them later. __________________ CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO! ‎"Puede salir cuando quiere, Pero nunca yo partir"

29th Jan 2011, 12:25 AM	#11
Beertruck Drunk Homosexual Full Member Gender: bro Orientation: bromosexual Out Status: bropen! Location: new jersey Age: 24 Posts: 420 Join Date: Nov 2010	Re: TV vs. The Net I like to sit down and watch TV. I really like the idea of every Thursday (when I'm not doing anything social) sitting down to watch Community, The Office, Parks and Rec, and 30 Rock as they come on. There's something thrilling about it being revealed to everyone all at once, isn't there? I'm also one of those crazy people who loves to go see movies in the theater instead of at home or on my shitty laptop.

29th Jan 2011, 01:10 AM	#12
partietraumatic A gay heteropolitan? Full Member Gender: Male Out Status: Enough for now Location: Oxford and Birmingham, UK Age: 20 Posts: 1,300 Join Date: Jul 2008	Re: TV vs. The Net It's useful to be able to catch up on things online if i miss them, but i still prefer the tv. It's a much more communal activity than watching something online. But then in may aspects I am more old fashioned than alot of my friends, i prefer tv to internet, i prefer cd to downloads, i prefer the cinema to watching at home. __________________ 'Im not your toy and this isn't another girl meets boy'

29th Jan 2011, 01:21 AM	#13
MIJ VI Banned Gender: Male Orientation: Not Gay. Queer. (I can't stand disco.) Out Status: I'm a blip on everyone's gaydar. Location: Earth Age: 55 Posts: 280 Join Date: Nov 2010	Re: TV vs. The Net I stopped watching TV/formulaic pap in Mar. '08. "Television – a medium. So called because it is neither rare nor well done." — Ernie Kovacs

29th Jan 2011, 09:20 AM	#14
Idonteven Enigma Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: England, United Kingdom Age: 21 Posts: 535 Join Date: Jan 2011	Re: TV vs. The Net only thing I watch on TV now is sports. (go Pack!) everything else I watch is online. I like to watch what I want when I want to watch it.

29th Jan 2011, 04:48 PM	#15
mnguy EC Regular Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: People likely assume Location: MN Age: 36 Posts: 895 Join Date: Nov 2006	Re: TV vs. The Net I'm still watching on TV. I like the surround sound system I have and haven't taken the time to figure out how to get that from my computer into the receiver. I also like to flip around the channels when commercials come on or listen to radio during them. I've watched some movies on my laptop from Netflix, but the sound is too quiet (probably my computer) and it's not as nice as up on the big TV so I prefer getting the DVDs still. I get free online use from Comcast, but haven't tried it yet so I don't know if it's any good. I also like that I can watch a show on TV, surf the net, and eat all at once

29th Jan 2011, 05:11 PM	#16
theJosephDean Nothing but the rain. Full Member Gender: 男 Male Orientation: Kinsey 5 Out Status: Om nom nom. Location: Johnson City, TN Age: 20 Posts: 1,633 Join Date: Jun 2010	Re: TV vs. The Net I really only watch real TV (like now) when I just want to go sit in the living room and get a change of scenery (now that we have our furniture back from our old apartment). A lot of times though, I'll have Hulu/Netflix/VLC-playing-something snapped to one side of my monitor and whatever I'm working on at the moment snapped to the other (yay for big scene). Also, it's easier to cuddle in bed to watch movies than it is on the couch __________________ Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn.

29th Jan 2011, 09:09 PM	#17
Markio EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Family, friends, and staff! Location: California Age: 21 Posts: 1,139 Join Date: Oct 2008	Re: TV vs. The Net I have a personal computer but not a TV. There are TVs around my school's dorms, but people tend to be inconsiderate when someone is trying to watch TV in a public space, so I just stay in my room to watch shows. __________________ Celebrate diversity!

30th Jan 2011, 01:00 PM	#18
TheEdend Hope will never be silent EC Moderator Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Extended family still doesn't know Location: Orlando, Florida Age: 21 Posts: 2,831 Join Date: Mar 2010	Re: TV vs. The Net I do like watching TV for certain things and I use the comp for most other shows. I just like having a set time and day when the whole family drops what they are doing and we all just watch a show together. I know, super corny, but its something that I really enjoy doing ---------- Post added 30th Jan 2011 at 04:01 PM ---------- Oh and documentary channel <3 __________________ “You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result” -Gandhi

30th Jan 2011, 04:19 PM	#19
excuseyou77 EC Addict Regular Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: my mom, few friends Location: Duluth, GA Age: 26 Posts: 834 Join Date: Oct 2007	Re: TV vs. The Net I prefer TV and watch TV more but watching shows online and downloading them still has its perks for me. Online/digital downloads are a great way for me to sample shows and in some instances it works out because there are certain channels, like Logo, that I don't have, so to watch their programming I go on their website. __________________ "I am human and I need to be loved, just like everybody else does."