Since the public dispute between Viacom and DirecTV has left many viewers without their favorite networks like MTV, VH1, [BET], and Logo TV, I have come up with a list of things that a person could do to pass the time. I know many of you missed the rachetness that is Love & Hip Hop Atlanta last night, and somehow I think that’s God’s way of saying, “black people, do better,” even though most of you made numerous phone calls to friends and relatives to burden them with your presence to use their TV for your enjoyment while live tweeting all the niggerdom that ensued. Well, since this disagreement between the companies seems like it will not be ending any time soon, do these five things instead:

Watch YouTube 

I remember back in 2007 when the writers of our major networks had their strike. This forced me to find ample things to occupy my time since I was an only child and didn’t have much money to go out. I spent most of my time watching YouTube videos, and this how I came across popular collab channels and vloggers like B Scott. There are a tone of original programming on YouTube like Awkward Black Girl, Orangey & Purple, and Got 2B Real. The last two shows are full of shade done well. It should be a nice substitute to the weak reads most of the women on VH1 are known for. And at least these shows are fiction, and not full of a bunch of black women with no dignity trying to claw at relevancy by any means necessary. Issa Rae is trying to uplift our community and black women on TV are winning leaving her in the shadows. I blame the viewers.

Read

Most of us could use a good book every now and then to inform us and expand our minds. People like Lil Scrappy really need to retain this part. Daily on Twitter it becomes more obvious that people don’t read anymore. And not even just books. They don’t read the news stories that fall into their timelines. They often rather have the title of the post sum everything up for them without clicking that link.

I don’t know what made Scrappy think DirecTV didn’t like black people, but I’m sure it’s the result of not reading. Like, when did VH1, Nickelodeon, and MTV become “black” channels (before DirecTV cut them off)? We have too many people going throughout this world not know what they’re talking about, but they keep on speaking and some of us just keep on listening. I mean, isn’t this the same man that said “gay is the gateway to AIDS. It’s a scientific fact,”? Yet we can’t wait to watch him put the paws on Stevie J again. Once again, I blame the viewers.

Work

I’m sure most of you spend a lot of your time in front of the screen trying to profile in life like you have the bank account of some of these housewives. And let’s be honest, most of them digits come from divorced husbands, but let’s not get into that.

DirecTV and Viacom are making it pretty clear they don’t give a damn about you, though. All this “we have your back” business is just a way of getting you to fill their pockets. You forego rent and food to pay for cable, but girl, your lights aren’t on. If you went out and worked and prioritized, your money wouldn’t go to waste. But again, no one wants to go without seeing Joseline Hernandez ruin the English language because she just arrived in America 4 months ago on the back of a mule. So go out there and pay those cancellation fees and go get Comcast or FiOS, if it’s in your area. I know you’re itching to.

Spend time with children

I’m sure most of you have neglected your children in some form by watching so much TV. Or at least have avoided them by placing them in front of the television to watch their favorite shows. But now that Viacom has stripped both adult and child of their favorite programming maybe they can finally spend quality time together. People don’t understand that some times we let the TV raise our child, and that’s when we get kids that aspire to be like the girls of 16 And Pregnant or the Tami Roman’s, Evelyn Lozado’s, or Joseline Hernandez’s of the world. Even their own children dislike what they portray on TV. Do a parent’s job and parent. You allow your child to watch such things, yet disagree with the attitudes being portrayed. That’s so backwards.

Create Friendships 

I’m sure most of the friendships you now have are with people that enjoy the same shows as you do. If you’re not laughing AT the characters, but forming alliances and arguing with friends about who was right in whatever scenario, you need to reevaluate your life. Maybe with Viacom gone, those friends will soon leave you as well and you’ll begin to have some intelligent and productive conversations about the real world.

My point is, there is so much more to do without constantly making these trashy shows win. Has anyone realized there are no positive [black] women role models on TV? They all have hustles, but if it’s not being sexy or because of a man, then it’s nothing. Can we just get some more Khadijah James’, Maxine Shaw’s, and Clair Huxtables on TV?

I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of it.