Better off without the news?

[Thistle]

I was brought up being told that it is important to understand what is going on around the world and to keep up with the news. Recently I've realised the more I read and hear the more I get bummed out and dislike people.

From murders and rape, animals being hunted as well as the environment being destroyed, to corruption and wars. I'm beginning to think I would be happier not knowing.

Can anyone else relate or stepped away from the news?

 

[Gough]

You should never just turn your head because you don't like what you're seeing, if you feel strongly enough about something, speak out.

 

[quickstraw]

Agree. We have to face some of the things we don't like in order to have a grounded reality.

 

[courtjester]

It's a good thing to give yourself a break from the constant negativity that is drip fed to you, especially thru commercial media outlets.

 

[Gough]

It's a good thing to give yourself a break from the constant negativity that is drip fed to you, especially thru commercial media outlets.

I don't watch commercial news a whole lot, but I would argue that news is a lot more confronting through independent news outlets than than it is through commercial ones. Commercial news is about ratings,nobody wants the Taiji dolphin hunt or the Syrian civil war on while they're trying to have dinner, even worse one their kids might ask about it and force them to confront the issue themself. Much eaiser to stick to house/bush fires, car crashes and junkies sticking up servos.

 

[JUBJUB]

I was brought up being told that it is important to understand what is going on around the world and to keep up with the news. Recently I've realised the more I read and hear the more I get bummed out and dislike people.

From murders and rape, animals being hunted as well as the environment being destroyed, to corruption and wars. I'm beginning to think I would be happier not knowing.

Can anyone else relate or stepped away from the news?

You could move to Intercourse Pennslyvania and join these people




Problem solved

 

[Rod Stroker]

Excellent question. A mate of mines wife fell into depression as a result of the constant bad news that is just everywhere; TV, radio, print, online, etc.
She stopped actively watching the news and her condition improved, although she's also on meds to help.

 

[Gough]

This is not a new problem.

 

[BC9_]

Better off without complaining about it.

Edit- Poor choice of words there but what I mean is that you're better to just accept what you read/hear/watch and not think about it too much when it bothers you.

 

[Barry_Badrinath]

I'm more concerned by the fact that the top story is "OMG the Biebs is going to jail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[Illinois Nazi]

I rarely watch any sort of news, and I don't think I'm missing anything vital.

 

[Scotland]

I flicked over to Channel 7 news the other night during the innings break of the T20. Always used to watch it as a kid but haven't tuned in in years.

I feel dumber for that 20 minute period of my life.

 

[Big Bryza]

I rarely watch the news but when I do I realise that most of what they report isn't even news. It's mostly just pure crap.

 

[little graham]

Mainstream media is political, not factual. your better off without it.

 

[Silent Alarm]

From murders and rape, animals being hunted as well as the environment being destroyed, to corruption and wars. I'm beginning to think I would be happier not knowing.

Ever since I've moved out of home, I've not watched the news. But it's definitely good to escape the agendas of the ABC (the only news I ever watched) and the shit they peddle and the inane information they trot. But not watching something because it's how the world works see like a cop out. I mean come on, this is a real part of humanity and something that happens. Blissful ignorance isn't really that blissful.

 

[Jackfrost]

Definitely. Just ask my Nanna who informed me that there was never peadophiles around in her day.
Tried telling her that there was no reporting if it and paedos were just moved around but: nope, categorically, there were none.

 

[Scotland]

I wasn't really shocked by the political agenda (It's Channel 7 Perth news FFS), but by the sheer crapness of the stories/presentation.

It's like watching Today Tonight or A Current Affair except each segment about 'foods in your kids' lunchboxes that could be killing them' lasts for 20 or 30 seconds rather than 5 minutes.

 

[Gasometer]

Ever since I've moved out of home, I've not watched the news. But it's definitely good to escape the agendas of the ABC (the only news I ever watched) and the shit they peddle and the inane information they trot. But not watching something because it's how the world works see like a cop out. I mean come on, this is a real part of humanity and something that happens. Blissful ignorance isn't really that blissful.

...you've been listening to Lena Dunham...

 

[Run n Spread]

I was brought up being told that it is important to understand what is going on around the world and to keep up with the news. Recently I've realised the more I read and hear the more I get bummed out and dislike people.
?

I agree it is important to be aware of what is going on around you. However that and what is in the news can be very very different things. Look at what gets reported. There are literally thousands of stories that could make the cut. The ones that do are for the purpose of generating ratings and sales. Ergo those that illicit maximum emotional, mental or psychological response. Basically trying to drive a topic/trend and getting exposure off that.

 

[FootyJunkie]

News on SBS - tragic news of the world
News on Ch 7 - dog on a surfboard

 

[Run n Spread]

Ever since I've moved out of home, I've not watched the news. But it's definitely good to escape the agendas of the ABC (the only news I ever watched) and the shit they peddle and the inane information they trot. But not watching something because it's how the world works see like a cop out. I mean come on, this is a real part of humanity and something that happens. Blissful ignorance isn't really that blissful.

If you recognise the agenda pushed thou and what is not been said/reported, compare it to other sources you eventually form a truer picture of what is really going on. Tend to watch the news more so for the headlines (as in this is the event) rather for its factual in depth reporting. Any further investigations need a different source.

As for ABC Leigh Sales on 730 has done a pretty good job since taking over. Probably the pick of the bunch in the shallow pool that is current affairs.

 

[Partridge]

I was brought up being told that it is important to understand what is going on around the world and to keep up with the news. Recently I've realised the more I read and hear the more I get bummed out and dislike people.

From murders and rape, animals being hunted as well as the environment being destroyed, to corruption and wars. I'm beginning to think I would be happier not knowing.

Can anyone else relate or stepped away from the news?

The most important thing is the source of the news. Which means immediately ignore all commercial television. They have decided to turn news into entertainment. So you have to have something or someone to cheer for, you have to worship celebrities irrespective of who they are and what talent they have (which is mostly none), you have to mindlessly cheer for everything "Strayan" no matter what, and so on.

There are some half decent websites around that do actually present news. But they're rare of course.

The world is actually safer and better than ever. But you can't host a news service saying "Well it's now 68 years since the last World War" and so on. If it bleeds, it leads, and that is all networks care about.

 

[Illinois Nazi]

Remember also that a pub fight in Wagga Wagga is a bigger story than a massacre of millions - if you have video footage of it.

 

[Mofra]

News on SBS - tragic news of the world
News on Ch 7 - dog on a surfboard

SBS: "We leave you tonight with some pictures of children burning"

 

[Dont be a lemon]

News is certainly worth paying attention too but which media groups you use play a big part.

If you watch Seven, Nine, Ten and on the internet Herald Sun you'll probably never learn a ****ing thing.

ABC, SBS, and Fairfax (inb4leftwingconspiracy) are good on the actual national stories they do (aka politics).

World news is often the most interesting though, best to go straight to foreign groups for that NY Times, Al Jazeera amongst a lot of others. Usually newspapers from the area concerned. If it's from the actual country where it's happening you'll get more interesting detail rather than the wire version here or the Australian London correspondent talking about something in I don't know east Ukraine.

SBS World News shits me because it runs serious stories but throws in weak ABC America consumer news shit. ABC News 24 shits me sometimes because it runs dull local news instead of interesting world stuff. Bushfires up a tree and a loser crashing their car gets boring fast.

TL;DR: Watch this it's interesting http://www.aljazeera.com/watch_now/