Life without TV
Ethan Frank, forced to live TV-free, speaks out in an amazing true life dialogue with the mom who deprives him.
Ethan Frank, photo by Krista Weidner
Mom: Ethan, tell the truth. What's it like - childhood without TV at home?
Ethan: It's annoying.
Mom: This is not exactly what I hoped you would say. How come it's "annoying?"
Ethan: Because sometimes I might want to watch a baseball game at home and I can't.
Mom: Okay. I can see that. But I told you we could get cable if you would pay for half.
Ethan: Right.
Mom: And that would be $5 a month.
Ethan: Right.
Mom: How much do you have saved up right now?
Ethan: Quite a bit.
Mom: But TV isn't worth $5 a month.
Ethan:No way.
Mom: How come?
Ethan: Because I wouldn't watch it that much.
The TV in Ethan's living room doesn't work. It is an objet d'art.
Ethan Frank: This picture of Ethan, age almost 11, was taken at a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game.
Objet d'art: French for art object, in other words, something useless but ornamental.