The document critiques Marie Winn's essay, arguing that television addiction is not equivalent to harmful addictions like alcohol or drugs. It highlights the benefits of television, such as education and stress relief, and suggests that it should not be viewed negatively. The author asserts that individuals control their television consumption and can choose to engage in other activities as well.

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Jonathan Davila
Professor Dougherty
English 67
29 July 2010
Technology Drug
Many people have heard of alcohol and drug addiction as harmful, but
television addiction is a completely different matter. In Marie Winn’s essay
“Television Addiction,” she argues that television is a harmful addiction,
because people stay glued to the television and do not interact with others. She
is incorrect in saying that television is addicting, because it does not have the
same devastating effects as alcohol and drugs, such as family problems and
even death. Furthermore, television has benefits such as educating us and
relieving stress.
Everyday we hear about people who are faced with personal issues
who turn to drugs and alcohol to solve their problems. There are many stories
on the news that show people who overdose on drugs and cannot keep their
mind focused. Winn states that, “A heroin addict, for instance, leads a
damaged life: his increasing need for heroin in increasing doses prevents him
from working, from maintaining relationships, from developing in human
ways” (Winn 93). Although she tries to give examples on what defines an
addiction, she does not give us concrete evidence of why she believes
television is like an addictive drug. Alcohol addiction is a totally different
matter and is a problem faced everyday in the lives of many people. Winn

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explains that, “an alcoholic’s life is narrowed and dehumanized by his
dependence on alcohol” (Winn 93). Although alcohol and television have
nothing in common, she explains how both television and alcohol shut out the
real world, and make us view the world in a completely different way, but she
is incorrect in saying that television is a harmful object that can change the
way we live. Television should not be seen as a harmful object, because it
gives us many benefits that could be used in life, and it can relieve us from
stress.
In today’s society many people use television as a way of gaining
knowledge. Television gives us the advantage of learning new things and also
changing the way we view the world. Winn states that we are, “passing up the
activities that lead to growth or development or a sense of accomplishment”
(Winn 93). She is wrong in saying this because television helps our mind
develop new ideas and also influences many people to strive for a better life.
We learn many things from television such as history, life, cooking and news.
However, Television should not be considered bad, because it is very helpful
in many ways.
Television nowadays is used as a good way of relieving stress after a
tough time at work or after a long day at school. It allows us to relax and
forget our problems that affect us in our daily lives. Winn states that, “The
worries and anxieties of reality are as effectively deferred by becoming
absorbed in a television program” (Winn 93). Winn gives us the idea that
many people use when watching television, in which people use it as a way of

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relieving themselves from worries and problems they may be facing.
Television should be considered as a good thing because it allows the viewer
to relax and have a good time without the thoughts of daily problems in life.
In reality we should not let television control our lives, but instead live
our life on our own terms. Winn tries to teach us different examples of how
television is a harmful addiction, but should consider looking into the good
side of television and how it can benefit us in many ways unlike alcohol and
drugs, which harm us mentally and physically. Next time people say their
addicted to television they should ask themselves, are they really addicted or
are they too lazy to do other things besides watching television? In the end
people are the ones who control the television and can make their own
decision to turn the power off.
676 Words

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Work Cited
Winn, Marie. “Television Addiction.” A Pocketful of Essays, vol. II. Ed.
David Madden. Fort Worth: Harcourt, 2001. 92-94. Print.