Evening star., 1954-08-09
Problems Today
-.
7 elevision
Can Breed
DisCourtesy
BY MurieI Nissen

DEAR MISS NISSEN: What
is your opinion Of TV? Mine
is not very high as I've seen so
much rudeness since its advent.
When entertainment becomes
an excuse for bad manners. I
think the amusement angle has
been carried too far. Whenever
I call on friends, they have far
more regard for the program
on the screen than for my COM
pany. though If we meet OUT
side our homes they are warm
and friendly.
I used to enjoy visiting my
daughters home, but since they
acquired a televiSion set. it's
anything but a pleasure to be
with the family. My son-in-
law can't drag himself away
from the set even to say hello:
the children are squabbling over
what program they will see and
even my daughter seems to re-
gard my visit as an intrusion.
What is the world coming to
when human beings are rele-
gated to the background in favor
of figures on a screen?
ANTI-Tv.
ANSWER: You are thor
oughly justified in your COM
ments on TV-or rather on the
conduct of the people who watch
it. 1t has indeed given rise to
an outbreak of diScourtesy that
often turns to downright boor-
ishneSS. When the set is located
in the living quarters of a small
house or apartment, escape is
impossible. Either the tele-
vision enthusiasts must forego
their programs in respect for
the visitor, or the outsider must
resign herself to watching what
ever the family favors. BY all
dictates of etiquette, the caller
should receive consideration. But
if she arrives unannounced, it's
difficult to make all members
OF family accept her presence
with grace.
The ideal solution, of course,
would be to tuck the intruding
set in room, or nook, where
those who wish to watch may do
so, while leaving some quiet in
the abode for conversationalists.
This ideal. unfortunately, isn't
feasible in most homes. For those
who, like the writer of the above
letter, are fed UP with the boor-
ishness of TV owners, the only
recourse is to stay away. There
is one consolation-as famili-
arity breeds contempt, so over
familiarity with television pro-
grams eventually breeds safety
that makes the former enthusi-
asts very happy to welcome flesh
and blood people into their lives
again. About all you can do is
wait for this happy moment.
DEAR MISS NISSEN: My
aunt had bitter quarrel with
her cousin last winter. Now she
expects everybody in the family
to stop talking to the cousin.
They live next door to each
other and usually when we visit
one, we visit the other. My aunt
resents our visits to the cousin.
I think my aunt, who is 10 years
old. is acting childishly TT.
ANSWER: It would be .ridicu-
1ous for you to carry on with
someone else's quarrel. Perhaps
your aunt has lapsed into second
childhood. At any rate, do your
best to patch up the difference.
DEAR MISS NISSEN: Since
my marriage I have been attend
ing church with my husband,
but as a result of lack of religious
training in the past. find it
quite difficult to comprehend and
cope with the religious training
I am now getting. I have built
UP my own ways of believing
and though they are not in keep
ing with formal precepts I find
1t hard to change. -Rosalie L.
ANSWER: Prayer, application
to the training you are now re-
ceiying and an earnest desire to
learn and understand will see
you through this difficult period
Take your doubts to your pastor,
or to a religious center, for
further Qualification. Take as
your motto: II Timothy 2:15.
Write Muriel Nissen for free
leGfet D-12, "A ConSiderGte
Approach" In all cases, be
sure to inclose a stamped. SELF
addressed enUelope and send
request to her, care OF The
Euening Star. Washington 4.
ID. C..