I remember this one so well from its original incarnation in the first published collection, because my mother was always telling me to sit back from the TV or I’d ruin my eyes. I knew nothing about any potential hazards, but I’d always scoot up to about 2 feet from the set and did just fine. But I wouldn’t have wanted to sit as close as Linus!
Apparently in the early 60s, GE sold some new color sets that emitted 100,000 times the radiation that federal officials considered safe. According to Scientific American, GE recalled and repaired the sets, but the myth (like vaccinations and autism) never died. Per the New York Times, TV sets before 1950 also emitted higher levels of radiation which might have affected the vision of some people. But technology improved, and “Watching television, even at a distance that might make a parent cringe, will not damage your eyesight.” (Anahad O’Connor, NYT, 6/7/2005)
There is actually an idea distance to sit from a TV and oddly enough it has gotten less as time has gone on and TVs have gotten bigger because resolution has also improved. In the 1950, when the TVs were effectively 480P resolution, the optimal viewing distance for a 20 inch TV would start at about 7 feet away. Any closer and you see the pixels/lines of resolution. For a modern 1080P set 7 feet would be ideal for a 55 inch TV and you could look at any 4K TV up to 100 inches from that distance and not be at the ideal location.
Lee Cox about 7 years ago
And in my day, sitting that close to the TV would also have been a no-no. Linus just showed us why.
Templo S.U.D. about 7 years ago
how hypnotic
Professor W about 7 years ago
Lucy is like the jade scorpion
The Old Wolf about 7 years ago
I remember this one so well from its original incarnation in the first published collection, because my mother was always telling me to sit back from the TV or I’d ruin my eyes. I knew nothing about any potential hazards, but I’d always scoot up to about 2 feet from the set and did just fine. But I wouldn’t have wanted to sit as close as Linus!
Apparently in the early 60s, GE sold some new color sets that emitted 100,000 times the radiation that federal officials considered safe. According to Scientific American, GE recalled and repaired the sets, but the myth (like vaccinations and autism) never died. Per the New York Times, TV sets before 1950 also emitted higher levels of radiation which might have affected the vision of some people. But technology improved, and “Watching television, even at a distance that might make a parent cringe, will not damage your eyesight.” (Anahad O’Connor, NYT, 6/7/2005)
GROG Premium Member about 7 years ago
He looks like something out of a science fiction movie or TV show.
Cronkers McGee Premium Member about 7 years ago
Lucy is trying to help.
guenette.charlie(BozoKnows) about 7 years ago
Linus turned into a zombie of the vast wasteland of television.
Charlie Tuba about 7 years ago
The days of black and white TV.
Charlie Tuba about 7 years ago
The days of black and white TV.
Charlie Tuba about 7 years ago
So that’s why he later wore glasses.
bigcatbusiness about 7 years ago
Lucy found a way to keep him from bothering her it seems.
bmckee about 7 years ago
There is actually an idea distance to sit from a TV and oddly enough it has gotten less as time has gone on and TVs have gotten bigger because resolution has also improved. In the 1950, when the TVs were effectively 480P resolution, the optimal viewing distance for a 20 inch TV would start at about 7 feet away. Any closer and you see the pixels/lines of resolution. For a modern 1080P set 7 feet would be ideal for a 55 inch TV and you could look at any 4K TV up to 100 inches from that distance and not be at the ideal location.