It is a frequent topic of discussion. It has become one of life's enduring questions.  It is so integral a part of our culture that it has come a cliché.  Men hog the remote.  Why?  Many theories have been put forth.  But only the Cyberphilosopher, one he who is capable of such depth of thought as Guy Medicine and Happy Fat Economics, who is wacky enough to turn physics on its ear, not once, but twice...only he who could conceive of using avoidance of personal embarrassment as a parenting tool could cut through the Gordian knot of myth, mystery, and conjecture which surrounds this ubiquitous and annoying habit.  

 

Why the big build up?  Because the answer is so simple.  Men hog the remote because they don't have to adjust the reception anymore.   A bit of history for those of you who do not remember that cable television is a  *very recent* occurence:

Back before the invention of cable, there was something know as broadcast television.  Rather than a direct connection to a clean, sharp, picture, one had to get the television signal out of thin air, much the way you do with a radio or cellular telephone.

Getting the sharpest possible picture out of thin air was part art, part voodoo, and all the job of the "man of the house."  Whether it was adjusting the antenna attached to the television or fiddling with a larger antenna on the roof, getting a quality television picture was man's work, and woe betide the foolish child  who inadvertently knocked the antenna after the set had been tuned...the punishment was having to sit for about 20 minutes watching your dad's butt as he tried once again to achieve the tuning perfection he had previously attained.  

Anyone who was alive at that time will agree that television tuning could consume an enormous percentage of the time actually set aside for television watching.   Because of this, the stations which had the best early programming on any given night could be assured of attaining the highest ratings on that night. Why?  Because once the set had been tuned for one channel, it was insanity to let dad loose on the TV again to try and get another station tuned in.  Why do you think CBS was #1 for so long?  They had the best drawing evening news program.  No one turned away after they'd tuned in for Walter Cronkite for fear that they'd never be able to tune in any other channel again.  

 

So what does this have to do with remote hogging?  Plenty.  The advent of cable television effectively removed the antenna from the hand of the male, and placed in that empty hand the tv remote control.  Until something else comes along for the man to fiddle with, that's just where it's going to stay.  

 

See it differently?  Let me know about it