BINGED

Confession time: I binged.

Prior to this weekend I'd only watched (I think) about 2 TV episodes and only a few movies (and those were with friends). This weekend however, I had a dangerous mix: a pinch of free time, a dash of mindless jobs around the house to do, and a heaping spoonful of scary assignments that I wanted to avoid. All these concocted in a way that overpowered my self-control and had me drinking in episode after episode of the West Wing.

In my defense, the Vice President had just resigned, the president's daughter was captured, there was a serious terrorist threat, and Donna was asked if she loved Josh. It seemed my patriotic, and personal obligation to see each of these things through to the end.

But even as I was watching the show I couldn't help but wonder, "What is it about TV Shows in a time of stress and inactivity that makes it hard to click the red x in the corner of my browser instead of 'Next Episode'?"

1) I think TV is just so accessible. It's easier to keep watching than it is to stop so it becomes the default rather than the reverse.
2) It's enjoyable! As much as I love writing papers and the intersection of Resilience theory and Shakespearian literary criticism, TV is like candy-- so sweet and immediate. I feel emotions readily instead of feeling as emotionally blank as a word-document essay draft. The stories are designed to be stimulating.
3) The West Wing in particular fulfills my patriotic desires. It quenches my intellectual thirsts, and strangely, cathartically satisfies my need to watch people drink coffee while reading the newspaper.

I love the West Wing, and I have yet to learn who the new Vice President will be. But I know, after a relatively unproductive weekend, that enjoyable though it may be, the urge to watch more episodes needs to be bridled and tempered.

Moderation in all things!