Stuff I learnt whilst not watching TV
So I noticed my partner's younger brother (13) gets asked questions like, "Are you on the computer again?" and other naggy-like comments as he will spend a lot of time at the computer playing video games. I don't think there is anything wrong with this, he is engaging his brain, socialising and having some fun at the same time.Â
This got me thinking as I experienced the same sort of nagging when I was a child at home living with my parents. They would complain about the amount of time I spent at the computer and the amount of time I invested in video games - in fact they still do this. This is totally understandable, as hacking around on a PC and playing video games isn't for everybody so I wouldn't expect anything else. I feel the same way about TV; I do not understand the draw it has and wonder how people can sit and watch so much television.
So from whatever age I was when my parents first brought home a games console, and brought home a PC I was hooked on hacking, learning and gaming. As I grew older, I spent a larger portion of time at my PC learning new skills and leveling up - and this has continued right up until now. I don't regret any of it, not one bit.
So here is a list of some of the stuff I learnt and did whilst not watching TV (in no particular order)
Played Final Fantasy VII three times (possibly one of the best gaming experiences ever)
Learnt how to make visualisations for Winamp
Learnt Python (£££ this now pays my bills)
Learnt PHP (this does not pay my bills)
Learnt to write Javascript and later use awesome libraries like jQuery
Learnt about servers, how to build websites and services (£££)
Discovered loads of awesome music using last.fm
Played with and discovered many distributions of Linux including Fedora, SuSe, Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo
Maintained and improved a private Bit-Torrent tracker website
Learnt how to configure, maintain and modify various game server software
Played Chess with Chinese people
Learnt how to build a computer from a set of components
Learnt about disk partitioning - sounds boring but incredibly useful
Learnt to administer Linux and Windows systems
Leartn to compile from source (used to be very important a few years ago, almost never do it now)
Played Phantasy Star Online (maybe the first MMO on a console?)
Played Crazy Taxi (a lot)
Learnt how to sample, create waveforms, tempo match, and use a tracker to create music
Improved my questionable guitar skills by downloading tabs
There is loads more, but this is the stuff at the top of my head. Of course I have learnt a lot and done a lot of other stuff whilst away from the computer in this time but I am just writing to say I am sooo glad I didn't watch TV and beer is good.