What are couch potatoes?

Couch Potatoes

 

 

When I think of a couch potato, somehow an image is formed in my brain of a potato of odd shape and size, sitting intently on a couch watching television from 6 PM until 6 am. Does such a being really exist? Well, I read some time ago read where the National Couch Potato Convention met. This group met in Lincolnwood, Illinois to share secrets and try to perfect their skills of couch potatoism. One lady was quoted as saying that she was not ashamed to be there. She stated she wanted to learn how to improve her couch potato ways. However, many spuds did say that it was extremely difficult to pry themselves away from their couch and television. Several games were used at this convention of about 500 potatoes. One of interest was the free-form sofa flop. Here, the participants jumped on a couch, trying to land in television viewing position. Grace and sloth graded them. The purpose of the convention overall was to assist these spuds into becoming the best potatoes they could be.

I wonder if the different types of potatoes, such as the sweet potato and the Irish potato were discussed. Maybe the sweet potato would be the one that is overly sweet, too agreeable, and downright disgusting. They have that reddish look, also. Maybe they are redneck potatoes. They are shaped differently, with more of an even distribution of weight and longer than the Irish one. On the other hand, the Irish is a big lump with no particular shape – kind of ugly with several eyes located on different parts of the body. So, as one can see, there are some interesting ways to describe potatoes.

Recently, an acquaintance of mine told me that in the 60s, couch potatoes would have been called lounge lizards. I saw a lizard the other day on our deck. He certainly was lazy never even looked up or moved as I approached him.

As you can see, whether we are discussing lounge lizards or couch potatoes, they are usually thought about in some negative ways. This problem may sound rather humorous but there is some seriousness to this discussion. Many people are addicted to this life style. It is possible that this person could have started their couch potato ways as a child when they felt rejected for whatever reason. Now as an adult they continue to feel unloved and unwanted with no real purpose for their lives.

There are definite reasons for this sort of addiction. Whatever the cause, the next time you encounter someone who fits this description, be kind to him or her. Even if you don’t agree with their couch potato ways, remember they are lounging for a reason.