Thanks for your responses, everyone. I see now that because I live in a university town, the pressure is going to be higher to watch TV (especially sports), and thus the reactions are more skewed in that direction. When I am teaching classes I realize that even though the students are maybe 8 years younger than me at most, they grew up in an era where the TV was established and the internet was already becoming a dominant force... whereas I was running around building tree forts and such up through high school.
So I guess I don't know how to relate as well to them, in the mass-media sense?... anyway.
I don't think I "advertise" this fact, btw... it's only when people ask me in particular about a TV show, and I just use a blanket statement that I don't watch TV. I like fresnelly's idea about downplaying TV in general, rather than stating that I don't watch it... might lead to a more interesting discussion. And yes, since coming to grad school in 2003, the internet has become a big part of my life, so maybe it's just a substitute for TV.
Good responses, all... thanks for the insight.
