The Great TV Debate!

Hi guys! You know, I was talking to a fellow work-at-home-mom today, and we somehow ended up on the topic of TV. Everybody has an opinion on it. Some advocate certain networks for children, stating that they are, in fact, a valuable resource for them education and entertainment-wise. On the other hand, some hardcore moms are adamantly opposed to TV in any form. There are so may aspects to this argument - commercials, content, education value, etc. So what are we supposed to think? Should we take the advice of others or should we, as rulers of our own remotes (and for some, that's NOT an understatement! :), spend some time researching the topic on our own and come to our own conclusions? Well, that's what I did.
The first step in figuring out what is going to be the most beneficial route for your family is this - map out exactly how the television currently affects your life. That includes, of course, TV shows you watch, but there are plenty of other ways the TV indirectly affects your family.  Do the commercials influence you? Do you tend to stay up too late because you just can't miss the end of the show (and maybe the next one, too)?  Do you leave the TV on when you're not really watching it? I admit - I am incredibly guilty on this one! The TV is almost constantly on in our home. Whether it's simply for background noise while I am busy with different tasks, or I leave it on for Paili to watch if she wants to take a break from the toys or books (which isn't often), it's on mostly with no one really watching it. So my question is - is this really as horrible as everyone says it is?
When I was very young, we had cable service. One day, out of the blue (or at least thats the way it seemed to us kids), my dad cancelled it. His reasons were very legitimate to him, though. First and foremost, he thought that the attitudes of the children on TV were becoming increasingly bratty and he didn't want his children emulating them. Secondly, (and he had a definite point here!) it just reminded us kids what the newest and coolest stuff was that we didn't have! Another reason was cost - he reasoned we had enough pre-approved VHS tapes to last us our entire lives (which we did!), and why pay for the same type of entertainment? The last reason, and definitely the most important to him, was the general laziness the "boob tube" produced in our home. We were supposed to be kids, running around outside, building forts and making mud pies! Needless to say, that was the end of TV in our house, and for the most part it died a quick and painless death. Oh sure, for a while we missed our favorite shows and would occasionally complain, but there were always other things to fill our time with. I am, in retrospect, grateful to my father for (literally) pulling the plug on our TV habit.
Now, a whole new question emerges. Yes, the TV is on A LOT in my house. But, as I explained, it was mostly nonexistent in my childhood. Does that mean I am more pre-programmed to be attracted to TV as an adult or less likely? My daughter Paili is almost two, and to be honest, she's not that into TV. She will pay attention only in certain instances, like when she sees Elmo or somebody is doing some loud, obnoxious singing and dancing, and then she'll want to get in on the action. What I am wondering about is, because she sees the TV as a regular, ordinary thing, will it hold less appeal for the rest of her life? And, on the other side, perhaps because I experienced TV as a child and then felt deprived when it was taken away, the television has always garnered my undivided attention and respect. So....what is better? To expose your child to TV,  make it seem commonplace, and hope that they will always see it that way? Or limit or completely ban the television from your home, create a longing to watch this forbidden, awesome thing called TV akin to the longing children have for Christmas, and hope that as soon as they are out of the house they don't crave it like a smoker who has quit craves a cigarette when she's around only her smoker friends? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 2 hours of television a day for children over two, and for no more than 20 minutes at a time. I don't know a single mom who makes her child stop watching a show two-thirds of the way through! Are those moms even existent? I'm certainly not trying to debunk or put down advice from such a trusted source. I am simply curious as to how many moms actually  follow their advice. Seriously now, every single time you turn on the TV? My guess is that I, and other moms like me, are not as alone as we think we may be. Moms are reluctant to share this information with others because, as always, they are scared of being labeled as a "bad mom". Well - here's my closing thought on The Great TV Debate. You have to do what works best for your family. Now, use your common sense about it! If you see an obvious effect the television is having on your family, like your six-year old who can't stop watching Spongebob long enough to come eat dinner, some restrictions might be in order! Every once in a while, gauge the situation again and adjust accordingly if needed. Only you know your personal answer to this debate - leave it on or turn it off - c'est la vie!