Television is now playing a very important part in our life. But television, like other things, has both advantages and disadvantages. Do the former outweigh the latter?
In the first place, television is not only a convenient source of entertainment, but also a comparatively cheap one.For a family of four, for example, it is more convenient as well as cheaper to sit comfortably at home, with almost unlimited entertainment available, than to go out in search of amusement elsewhere. They do not have to pay for expensive seats at the theatre, the cinema, or the opera, only to discover, perhaps, that the show is disappointing.All they have to do is press a button, and they can see plays, films, operas, and shows of every kind, not to mention political discussions and the latest excitlng football match. Some people, however, mainrain that this is precisely where the danger lies. The television viewer takes no initiative. He makes no choice and exercises no judgment. He is completely passive and has everything presented to him without any effort on his part.
Television, it is often said, keeps one informed about current events, allows one to follow the latest developments in science and politics, and offers an endless series of programs which are both instructive and entertaining. The most distant countries and the strangest customs are brought right into one＇s sitting-room. It could be argued that the radio performs this service just as well; but on television everything is much more living, much more real. Yet here again there is a danger. We get so used to looking at it, so dependent on its flickering ＇pictures, that it begins to dominate our lives.
There are many other arguments for and against television. The poor quality of its programs is often criticized. But it is undoubtedly a great comfort to many lonely elderly people.And does it corrupt or instruct our children? I think we must realize that television in itself is neither good nor bad. It is the uses to which it is put that determine its value to society.
電視的利大於弊嗎?
電視在我們生活中正起著十分重要的作用。但像其他事物一樣，電視有利也有弊。它的利大於弊嗎?
首先，電視不僅是一種方便的娛樂資源，而且比較便宜。比如，對四口之家來說，舒舒服服坐在家裏，有包羅萬象的娛樂節目可供選擇，，當然比外出到別的地方尋找娛樂活動花錢少而且更方便。他們不必花錢買昂貴的戲劇院、電影院或歌劇院座位票，也許到了最後才發現演出是那麼令人失望。他們只要按一下按鈕就能看到戲劇、電影、歌劇以及各種各樣的演出，至於政治討論和最近進行的令人興奮的足球賽就不用說了。然而，有些人認為危害恰恰就在這裏。電視觀眾沒有發揮主動性。他不作任何選擇，不用腦筋進行推理判斷。他完全處於被動狀態，一切呈現於他眼前，自己不費任何努力。
人們常說，電視使人了解時事，讓人跟上科學和政治方面的最新發展，提供無窮無盡的既富於教益又給人娛樂的系列節目。最遙遠的國度、最奇異的風俗被直接送到人們的起居室。也許有人爭辯說，無線電台也能提供這種服務；可是在電視上，一切都更加生動逼真，更加真實可靠。不過這裏又存在危險。人們如此習慣於看電視，如此依賴它的閃爍不定的圖像，以致它開始支配我們的生活了。
還有許多其他贊成看電視的依據，也有不少別的反對看電視的理由。電視節目質量差常常受到批評。但對許多孤寡老人而言，電視無疑是一種極大的安慰。電視使孩子們道德敗壞還是給孩子們以教益呢?我想，咱們必須認識到：電視本身無所謂好壞，電視對社會的價值是由人們對電視的具體使用狀況來決定的。
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