We’re Drowning in Entertainment, and it Must Stop

We’re drowning in entertainment, and it must stop.

Entertainment is fine, good even. It can amuse, refresh and inspire us. On the other hand, entertainment in excess kills true amusement, true refreshment and true inspiration. Humor no longer packs a punch if one views life as a game or always funny. The mental vacation that entertainment provides feels exhausting or stressful if used to avoid responsibilities and the inspiration that flows from a good book or movie comes out dull.

There’s a sad disconnect if someone wants to see change but decides to binge-watch a series rather than work on making that desired change. Grand or small, change doesn’t occur without action, and action can’t occur if we are constantly connected to screens or other fountains of entertainment. It’s tragic to complain of injustice or a societal weakness only to dive straight into the lullaby of endless noise and entertainment.

Much good can happen if people would only choose to make changes in the real world. Yes, escape is good, but the ills of the world don’t disappear or improve without the will to act or be an ambassador for good. We’re drowning in entertainment, and it must stop.

We’re over-entertained and underactive. Aside from the health issues linked to inactivity, look at the external impact. What would the world look like if everyone made their own hunger for comfort and entertainment their primary goal?

It’s not hard to imagine that. One could argue the world isn’t far from that. Still, in a self-focused world, positive change stands as the desire of many people.

Elevate Branson is a nonprofit in Branson, Mo. Elevate Branson focuses on serving the community in various ways.

Elevate Branson Founder and CEO Bryan Stallings made a statement for this article regarding leaving a positive impact. “Get out and serve,” Stallings said. It’s that easy.

That’s not to say service isn’t sacrificial. The truth is, it’s not service without sacrifice.

Whether it’s time, money or other resources, service always comes with sacrifice. At the same time, one doesn’t need to do something dramatic to serve.

So, what is the point?

We are drowning in entertainment. Entertainment isn’t all bad, but it’s poisonous if it blocks or hinders good change or the service of others.

None of what I’ve said means that one can’t enjoy entertainment. We can and should enjoy it, especially if it’s refreshing, amusing or inspiring. On the other hand, there’s one thing that we should avoid as best as we can.

We must avoid serving or entertaining ourselves only to later complain about or feel broken about a problem we have no intention or will to try to remedy. With that said, there’s something to remember.

What Does Ridding Ourselves of Excess Entertainment for the Sake of Helping Look Like Realistically?

Ridding ourselves of excess entertainment to focus more on helping better the lives of others won’t solve every issue. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by great needs and thus feel helpless and remain inactive.

We can’t save the world, but that isn’t the goal. The goal is to help in the ways we can; the goal is to glow with hope and compassion in a hopeless and selfish world. We can’t help everyone or address every problem.

However, everyone can help someone somehow. We can all address an issue, whether it feels big or small. We don’t have to give up entertainment all of the time, but we should give up entertainment some of the time to help someone with our time.

It’s about using our time and money to help those we can when we can. Buying less could mean more money used to help a cause for positive change or help someone in real need.

Less time spent on entertainment could mean more time spent engaging with problems or people in need and doing what we can, large or small to advance positive change. We’re drowning in entertainment, and it must stop for the sake of ourselves and those around us.

We can’t settle for overindulgence in entertainment, or we will not see the real problems that hurt real people. Entertainment consumed in excess isn’t entertainment. It’s selfishness. We need something better.

We don’t need to stop enjoying entertainment, but we need to consume it less.