Not Watching/Reading The News

Mr. Charlie · 08-26-2015, 02:35 PM

I imagine most people watch/read the news. Mainly because it's rammed down our throats. Also because it gives us something to talk about. And maybe it's easier to think about what needs to be done about Islamic fundamentalism, or the economy, or Iran, rather than concentrating about how to solve our own personal issues. But have you ever considered not watching it?

I stopped watching/reading the news maybe six or seven years ago now, and I feel better for it. Much happier. More focused on the here and now. Not a care about things happening thousands of miles away.

It's not without it's downside, mind. Whenever someone mentions the news, I have absolutely nothing to say. And when asked my opinion on the news, I have to tell them I don't watch it, and then their face screws up and they look at me funny.

The philosopher, Alain De Botton, puts it well:

Does anyone else not watch/read the news? Do you feel better for it?

Does anyone love the news? Wish they could watch more of it?

**Frownland** · 08-26-2015, 02:37 PM

I manage to focus on personal issues and issues going on outside of my immediate sphere quite well.

Mr. Charlie · 08-26-2015, 02:45 PM

Good.

This ain't no 'people who don't watch the news are better than those who do' thread. Nobody think that!

grindy · 08-26-2015, 02:49 PM

I don't watch TV or read newspapers.
I am generally aware of what is going on in the world through headlines on the internet though.

**Exo** · 08-26-2015, 02:49 PM

With the shooting today in Virginia, I hope nobody tunes into the news when they plaster this psychos picture all over the TV for the next five days. It glorifies violence and gives future psychos reason to carry out their bullsh*t cause they know they'll be the talk of the world.

Mr. Charlie · 08-26-2015, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exo

With the shooting today in Virginia, I hope nobody tunes into the news when they plaster this psychos picture all over the TV for the next five days. It glorifies violence and gives future psychos reason to carry out their bullsh*t cause they know they'll be the talk of the world.

That's one of the things that turned me off watching it. Images of people about to be beheaded, videos of hostages pleading, videos of bombs being dropped, all that kinda stuff. I don't like or want that stuff in my head.

~~John Wilkes Booth~~ · 08-26-2015, 03:01 PM

usually the news is covering **** that is more interesting than the crap that happens in the life of your average person/MBer

think about it this way... if you were visiting the statue of liberty on a trip to ny with a bunch of other tourists, and suddenly you saw a 747 crash into a skyscraper across the river in manhattan.. would you be like "oh ****!" and turn your attention toward the burning building, or would you go right back to looking at some boring ass statue with your boring ass family?

**Frownland** · 08-26-2015, 03:03 PM

Plot twist: you're also related to the person manning the plane.

Mr. Charlie · 08-26-2015, 03:03 PM

I'd watch the 747 because it's happening right in front of me.

~~John Wilkes Booth~~ · 08-26-2015, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Charlie

I'd watch the 747 because it's happening right in front of me.

so then the only reason you wouldn't watch it on tv is cause it's on tv?

what if you lived in the bronx and heard about it on tv? would you then go outside on the roof of your building and try to see it from there, or would you say "nah i didn't see it happen right in front of me so who cares?"

08-26-2015, 02:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mr. Charlie Shoo Thoughts Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: These Mountains Posts: 2,308	Not Watching/Reading The News I imagine most people watch/read the news. Mainly because it's rammed down our throats. Also because it gives us something to talk about. And maybe it's easier to think about what needs to be done about Islamic fundamentalism, or the economy, or Iran, rather than concentrating about how to solve our own personal issues. But have you ever considered not watching it? I stopped watching/reading the news maybe six or seven years ago now, and I feel better for it. Much happier. More focused on the here and now. Not a care about things happening thousands of miles away. It's not without it's downside, mind. Whenever someone mentions the news, I have absolutely nothing to say. And when asked my opinion on the news, I have to tell them I don't watch it, and then their face screws up and they look at me funny. The philosopher, Alain De Botton, puts it well: Does anyone else not watch/read the news? Do you feel better for it? Does anyone love the news? Wish they could watch more of it?

08-26-2015, 02:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	I manage to focus on personal issues and issues going on outside of my immediate sphere quite well. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

08-26-2015, 02:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
grindy . Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: . Posts: 7,201	I don't watch TV or read newspapers. I am generally aware of what is going on in the world through headlines on the internet though. __________________ *A smell of petroleum prevails throughout.*

08-26-2015, 02:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
Exo All day jazz and biscuits Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,359	With the shooting today in Virginia, I hope nobody tunes into the news when they plaster this psychos picture all over the TV for the next five days. It glorifies violence and gives future psychos reason to carry out their bullsht cause they know they'll be the talk of the world. __________________ LastFM SUPREME POO BAH MODERATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE*

08-26-2015, 03:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	Plot twist: you're also related to the person manning the plane. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

08-26-2015, 02:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mr. Charlie Shoo Thoughts Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: These Mountains Posts: 2,308	Good. This ain't no 'people who don't watch the news are better than those who do' thread. Nobody think that!

08-26-2015, 03:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
~~John Wilkes Booth~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 2,235	usually the news is covering ** that is more interesting than the crap that happens in the life of your average person/MBer think about it this way... if you were visiting the statue of liberty on a trip to ny with a bunch of other tourists, and suddenly you saw a 747 crash into a skyscraper across the river in manhattan.. would you be like "oh **!" and turn your attention toward the burning building, or would you go right back to looking at some boring ass statue with your boring ass family?

08-26-2015, 03:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mr. Charlie Shoo Thoughts Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: These Mountains Posts: 2,308	I'd watch the 747 because it's happening right in front of me.