I have this recurring nightmare (not very often) where I can't shut off an appliance like the television. It stays on even if I turn it off or pull the plug. I feel terrified.

This sort of just happened in real life. Something happened to the on/off button on my Pocket PC and I can't shut it off. It's not scary at all because really, what would be scary about it?

Isn't it odd the way emotions work ìn dreams? I suppose the dream is all symbolic.

The choices of symbols (A TV in this case) our subconscious uses to express emotions or tell us something can seem very odd sometimes. The subconscious is very childlike in a lot of ways, seeing things in a very black and white, straightforward way; probably choosing the TV as a symbol because it's one of the things it recognizes as something that is switched on and off a lot, at will. Maybe trying to tell you that you can't do the same thing with your feelings/emotions, no matter how much you try?

P.S. I'm jealous that you have a pocket PC; I want one!

I've always thought it had to do with feeling like I don't have control over things.

My pocket pc is very slow (I have to shut off graphics) and using the stylus is a bit difficult. I get annoyed with it very easily. But it is nice to have.

If that's what you think it means, it probably does; dreams like that are usually trying to tell us something, like you don't have control over things (as you say) but there's nothing you can do about it... the TV might represent a part of your life that you'd like to switch off or control, the dream would then be telling you that it's impossible to do that. You could look at it in a really down-to-earth way; what would you do in real life if your TV did that, if it wouldn't turn off? I'd probably get someone in to have a look at it or, if it was really driving me crazy, throw it away, get rid of it.

Dreams aren't always deep and meaningful though, you might be subconsciously sick of watching the same old TV... Ah, now I've said that it's got me thinking all kinds of things about what a TV could mean, especially being sick of watching the same old picture every day... still, it could just mean you need a new TV.

It's a dream I've had since childhood, after having lived through many TV's, radios, etc., so I'm pretty sure it's about more than just the TV needing repair.

That's why I thought of it when my Pocket PC turned weird. Because it reminded me of a dream I've had many times.

Another dream I've had many times is I have to call someone on the phone and I just can't get through because there is something wrong with the phone; the numbers on the keypad are all wrong or something. I think this dream is also about not having control.

Or maybe I just need to live in a the house in the woods, away from electronic devices

Oh, it's funny, I was typing this thinking as though I'd just had the dream; but actually I haven't dreamed it in ages. My Pocket PC just went mad last night, which is reality, not a dream.

I didn't really think it was because you needed a new TV, you should get one though; they're great!

Still, the other stuff I said can be true, the dream may reappear during times when you are feeling more out of control; we are especially out of control as children because adults tell us what to do and where to go, even physically picking us up and placing us in specific places where we wouldn't always want to go.

I've been meaning to ask: How is your new TV?

Silver and lovely, like my new bed.

About two days ago i had this dream of a girl i like, we were just going out like a normal boyfriend and girlfriend in my school. The next night I was planning to ask her out but i chickened out at the last minute. I dont know what this means.

Do you mean the next night in your dream or in waking life when you chickened out? More likely than not you are playing out the scenario in your sleep as a kind of practice run for when you are awake; if you chickened out in your dream it just means that you think you might chicken out when you actually try it, whether you do or not is up to you. Dreams don’t always have to mean something as such, often they are just reworking what you are already thinking about when you are awake.