this post was submitted on 01 Nov 2024
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Very unique and unpopular opinion, I know, but I hate watching ads during a show. Fuck the advertisers; I refuse to pay attention.

Rather than doom scroll, I'd love to hear what you think I should do when ads are on.

To make things challenging:

*often I'm pinned to the couch by my senior dog who I'm loathe to move unnecessarily, so getting up and doing squats is often out

*loud activities are probably out, see above

*be specific, 'I play games on my phone' - but what can you play casually, for 30s at a time (for example) and then happily go back to watching your show?

*use adblockers bla bla, not always possible and not in the spirit of my request.

That being said, all suggestions are great - I'm sure we'll all get something from it. Stick it to the man!

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[–] [email protected] 51 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Sail the high seas and never see an ad again. Make your time your own.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 days ago

Seriously. Ditch your streaming providers; ditch cable. Just get Stremio + Torrentio + Real-Debrid. And SmartTubeNext. All the video content you could ever need on your TV can be streamed instantly through these two apps. Every movie; every TV show; all of YouTube. All ad-free. Buy an antenna for local channels/sports and you're set for life.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Learn a language. Ad breaks are long enough for one or two lessons in Duolingo and probably other apps as well.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 5 days ago (4 children)

Oh gosh I've tried Duolingo so many times over the years and never gotten far. I'm impressed with people who keep it up.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

For me, the key was finding a regular time during the day when I do the lessons. That's why I recommended you do it during the ad breaks.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago

Reached my 1700 day streak today

Send help

The owl has my family

[–] DScratch 4 points 5 days ago

Exercises like Duolingo are only half the battle. You need to have some immersion in the language you’re learning. Watch tv and listen to podcasts in the target language, you won’t understand (at first) but your brain will start recognising the sounds and structures.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

An ex-coworker of mine recommended Mango Languages, which is supposed to be much better and also if you have a library card, you can usually get a subscription for free through them! The lessons are probably a little longer than 30 seconds, but not too much longer. I'd say a minute tops.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 5 days ago (1 children)

If you're watching something on TV, record it and watch it later instead of when it airs. Even starting it 15 minutes later would probably let you fast forward through many of the ads.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

still valid for streaming services--makes good use of the analog hole!

[–] [email protected] 22 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Meditation/mindfulness/breathing exercises

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

Lol Exuberation

[–] [email protected] 17 points 5 days ago

Lovingly hold the dog and do dog-weighted squats

[–] [email protected] 18 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

make a grocery shopping list (or any to-do list)

Stretch your legs by raising them straight (still sitting down) and rotate your feet

Stretch your arms up and move your neck, rotate your shoulders

Think what went well today

[–] RIPandTERROR 13 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Install Firefox and unlock origin

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

Not an option for OP - think they're talking about TV

[–] [email protected] 14 points 5 days ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 days ago

Already muted compadre

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

Better then muting - pause and then fast forward.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 days ago

It should be just enough time to call your cable provider and cancel. We're not in the 2000's anymore

[–] [email protected] 12 points 5 days ago

Offline Chess, Minesweeper, Sudoku etc. on your phone?
Using an RSS reader and catching up on news?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 days ago

Stretch, focus on muscle groups in your hands or arms or shoulders or neck if you can't get up, back or hips or calfs or ankles if you're standing

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Have you ever played on boardgamearena? It's a website where you can join a bunch of board games with people around the world. When it's your turn, you have a certain number of hours or days to make your move (kinda like old timey chess by mail) and then go back to your life. You can be in many games at a time.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago

Oh that's cool, I'll check it out - thanks!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

You could ponder the meaning of life, the universe and everything

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Get a little sketch book or tablet. Every time an ad comes on, draw an object (or dog! Or person!) in the room with you. Try to do the whole sketch over a single ad break, focusing on the biggest, most important shapes first. You'll learn to draw very quickly.

If you already know how to draw, draw. Use it or lose it!

Disclaimer: am artist, possibly biased. Doing art for its own sake is fun for me, so it doesn't need to have a 'point.'

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 days ago

I think this is my favourite suggestion. I can draw but like most people have placed my hobbies in the 'oh I need time to sit down and do that' which is rubbish really (I doodled through decades of office work and meetings) so that's certainly something I can do!

I'm also guilty of hoarding little notebooks, moleskins etc that are easy to keep on hand.

Cheers!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I don't have any ad breaks.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 days ago (1 children)

That's cool. How was your day otherwise?

[–] [email protected] 12 points 5 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 days ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 days ago

This comment was brought to you by ublock.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

The way I try to approach these threads is to try and pretend there's a bunch of people sitting around having a conversation.

If you're familiar with the dynamic, and you emulate it here, you might enjoy yourself more. Or you could do this I suppose?

Each to their own.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 days ago

If we're in a room, and we're comfortable enough to carry out a casual conversation, I'm gonna tease you for clinging to a bad take.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

They said during ad breaks. I think OP still wants to watch the show

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

You can play 1 blind during an ad break. Whether or not they have the self control to is another question

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

I suppose that goes for most suggestions, including my own. Balatro feels like such a 'one more turn' kind of game I'd have a hard time pausing during a run

[–] TheSlad 6 points 5 days ago
[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 days ago

If you watch it with an Arr there will never be advertisements but my guess is just play something good like slay the spire that you can quit and come back without losing a lot of progress

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 days ago

Do the dishes. Make it a challenge, you touched the lava floor if you dont finish in time so take on only what you know you can squeeze in just in time

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Lift hand weights. Boardgame apps on your phone. Cat lady or any of the clever games spring to mind.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Can you tell me more about the games you like? I have lots but I'm pretty bored with most of them.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

Sure! Can you give me some examples of games you're board with?

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago
[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 days ago

Keep a musical instrument nearby. I have an acoustic guitar an arms length away. That might not work for you due to your lap dog. A harmonica or jaw harp would work better

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Watch YT shorts during the ad break. Use a laptop + Firefox + uBlock origin to block the YT ads. If you prefer to use a tablet or a phone, it’s also possible to block the ads.

The shorts are bad, but still better than TV ads, but the good thing is, they can be interrupted as soon as the ad break ends. Watching longer videos is also an option, but there will be uncomfortable interruptions.

Now that you have an alternative video source competing with old school media, you can start to think about which one you actually enjoy more. Maybe you’ll find yourself watching more YT than whatever fake reality BS is on TV.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Tbh you can play 0h h1 on your phone. A simple level takes 30 some seconds

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Drink water and walk around your living room. Stay hydrated and get a little exercise in. I also sometimes play mini crosswords because they can be done in less than a minute. Shoutout to [email protected].

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