I enjoyed reading Nicolai Brown’s column (“TV just makes you fat, lazy and useless,” Jan. 31), and it brought back memories of my college days when I was happily addicted to television.

Like most married college students, my wife and I lived paycheck to paycheck, and when our TV broke down, we found we were too poor to replace it. First, we denied that our TV had actually died, and just let it sit in our apartment for several days.

As the reality sunk in, I truly (pathetically?) wondered how I would spend my evenings without watching “Cheers,” Letterman, “Seinfeld,” “ER,” college football, etc.

We both suffered uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms for several weeks (common TV withdrawal symptoms include sitting around the kitchen table in a quiet apartment late at night, desperately trying to start a meaningful conversation, but not getting much farther than “Well …” or “So …”).ÿ

Eventually, the withdrawal stage passed. We never replaced the TV, and I now look at that episode as a genuine blessing. Our thoughts, attitudes and mental and spiritual health are all affected by what we feed our minds, and if we step back and think about it, most television probably isn’t enhancing those aspects of our lives. I don’t think Nicolai or I am trying to tell people how to live their lives, but merely pointing out an unhealthy addiction that most of us have succumbed to at one point or another. I know numerous people who are TV-free, and I have yet to meet someone who regrets not watching television. Turn off your TV and find a good book.

Geoffrey Friesen

Assistant Professor

Finance