curious as to why? I have some opinions (i also dislike TV), but interested in your viewpoint
I think their reason was that watching TV is a brainless activity, and they preferred me to use my brain. They were fine with me, say, teaching myself BASIC. It wasn't an aversion to technology in general.
They also carefully monitored the content, there was plenty of stuff they'd rather we didn't see.
Why did I thank them? Because they gave me an appreciation that life is to be lived, not wasted away watching some idiot spouting nonsense that isn't relevant 5 seconds later (if it ever was).
I wasn't the only one in my class like that (though we were a minority). But you could see the difference in those who did and those who didn't - in intelligence, manners, energy levels, and generally being better human beings.
Decades later, you sound jaded and bitterly overconfident in the idea that television sucks the life out of people and renders them simple minded lesser humans.
> "Because they gave me an appreciation that life is to be lived"
Denying a kid television doesn't automatically fill the void with quality life experiences. Kids will get bored, and throw a ball against a wall for hours. Nothing was learnt that day. The brain did some low-level hand-eye coordination, that's it.
There's rubbish on TV but also quality shows, including educational shows. Even when confined to entertainment, it's enriching for children to see actors, characters and stories that communicate ideas.
Is that a situation you have worried about during your own life? It seems unusual for you to push that apparent observation onto someone else.
(you may have a point that some parents can be overly-protective; I'm just not sure that you chose the most effective way to communicate that)
To call propaganda "highly entertaining" is a bit overstreched.