[Anonymouse]

Originally Posted by Chris

That said, on the assumption that all of those households *should* have a TV licence (and I’m sorry folks but as I’ve been saying on this forum for more than 20 years now, I simply do not believe people who claim they never, ever, ever, watch any as-broadcast TV at home

Believe it. I'm one of them. I have over 100 DVDs, over a thousand books (some also on my Fire tablet, portability and convenience offsetting extra cost), and games on my tablet. Plus several films downloaded by torrent. Plus I write fanfic and browse the Internet. I don't need a TV. Ironically TVL themselves killed all desire for such.

To explain:

In 2000 my Mum was recording stuff for me to watch when I visited on weekends. But her VCR died on her - and a favourite program (Daria, for the record) was being shown the next day during the week. Not to worry, I was gainfully employed at the time. The plan was to buy a VCR in the interim, to tide her over until she could afford a new one. Then I would take that one to my flat and buy a TV (PLUS a licence, because I'm a good little boy) to use it on. But since it would be going to my flat, it made sense to buy it using my own name & address, in case of maintenance or whatever.

Then, though I didn't find out why until later, TVL (who were still, wrongly, calling themselves TVLA at the time - they were never an "authority") started harassing me over my lack of a TV licence. I blew my top (<rueful>doesn't take much, I admit - my Dad was a redhead and in some ways I am my father's son</rueful>). I sent them a sarky letter saying why I didn't need one. The threatening letters continued, as indeed they still do...though I have never received the threatened visit. I was in Little Lever nearly 10 years, I've been at my current address for over 16 years, and nothing. I'm "Legal Occupier".

Let 'em come! I almost wish they would!

The plan was aborted. The VCR never made it to the flat. Any plans I'd had to buy a TV card for my PC were abandoned - I'd since found out why I was being hassled. Some years back Bolton At Home sent me a letter offering a free upgrade of my aerial to digital. I ignored it. So I don't think I could connect a modern TV if I wanted to.

Some of us manage perfectly well without a TV. There's nothing I want to watch...or if there is, I'll watch it via downloads and/or Amazon Prime - neither of which I need a licence for because they're not live.

There should be a 'raspberry' emoji.

"Hey, Ive, I think there's something really screwed-up about me."
"I wanna say this in just the most loving way, but there is NO way this is just occurring to you now."

- Harley Quinn, "Being Harley Quinn"

"Jane. On a school team. That's pathetic. Hey, if she's the pathetic one, why am I talking to myself? And more importantly, why am I waiting for a reply?"

- Daria, "See Jane Run"

"So no texting, no talking, no shopping in 48 hours."
"Which makes her either dead or over 40."

- Lost Girl, "Oh, Kappa, My Kappa"

"You might want to put those [Cameron is topless] back in their holster."

- The Sarah Connor Chronicles, pilot