general Avoiding the news

[Member Berry 1,218]

"News is bad for you--" Do you know what else is bad for you? Ignorance. True, whatever is out there isn't usually pleasant, but I, personally, think ignoring it isn't the right way to deal with it. I'd much rather value the truth than my own bliss.

What am I meant to do with all that information though? Why do I need to know? Me knowing that ten people got shot or whatever won't effect anything. Me not knowing won't effect anything either.

[Once In A Blue Moon 896]

 

 

What am I meant to do with all that information though? Why do I need to know? Me knowing that ten people got shot or whatever won't effect anything. Me not knowing won't effect anything either.

 

Knowing that might affect a person's stance on gun control / legislation. And especially when you reach / reached voting age, what you think matters as it affects how you vote.

 

Usually the more you know about a subject, the harder it is for someone to pass off false or misleading information about it to you. Also keep in mind that although every information source will have some degree of bias, that does not automatically invalidate it as a source - understand the bias rather than avoid the information.

[Castle Bleck 19,440]

Knowing that might affect a person's stance on gun control / legislation. And especially when you reach / reached voting age, what you think matters as it affects how you vote.

 

Usually the more you know about a subject, the harder it is for someone to pass off false or misleading information about it to you. Also keep in mind that although every information source will have some degree of bias, that does not automatically invalidate it as a source - understand the bias rather than avoid the information.

 

Yes, but the overwhelming majority of the time, your vote is simply a drop in a sea of statistics anyway.

 

Knowledge without power is Hell; ignorance can be freedom.

Edited March 16, 2016 by A.V.

[Once In A Blue Moon 896]

 

 

Yes, but the overwhelming majority of the time, your vote is simply a drop in a sea of statistics.

 

The problem with that argument is the preconception that your view is unique. In truth you are part of a much larger demographic of people with similar mindsets that, if they all voted, could affect the outcome. It's why the phrase the '[insert group here] vote' is talked about during elections - most members of the group vote in roughly the same way. You are part of at least one or possibly several such groups, and said groups have more influence if more of their members vote.

 

As a simple example, if 40% of the population believe that healthcare (or education, or defence, etc.) is the single most important subject and they are all going to vote according to whichever party offers the best deal for healthcare, then politicians of all parties will try to appeal to them through the healthcare policies they promise (be it increased funding, greater coverage or whatever.)

 

In contrast, if a group, such as young voters, is infamous for not voting then there is no point appealing to them as the same efforts would garner more votes elsewhere. Indeed, such a group may end up at a disadvantage as if policies are introduced that hit them harder it doesn't matter because they won't turn up to vote anyway.

 

This way, even if the party you voted for didn't win, the mere fact that you did vote (along with the demographic you are a part of) will affect the winner's policy - they want your vote.

 

...

 

So how you vote really does matter, and since it is influenced by what you know paying attention to the news does matter. Even if it isn't always pleasant.

 

And even if you still don't want to vote, how much you know can help you determine what you want to do with your life - if something matters to you, finding a way to influence it can help give you a purpose and drive, something to focus your efforts on.

 

 

 

Knowledge without power is Hell; ignorance can be salvation and sanity.

 

I keep in mind that I'm not responsible, and that I can't fix everything. It seems to work.

[Lunatic Cake 1,618]

Avoiding News? Where's my Isolation Cell at?

 

Avoiding News is near impossible, everywhere you go people talk about it and it gets really annoying sometimes... guess all I can do is fake a smile and get away as soon as possible.

 

I don't mind news but listening to news that drag on for weeks and don't have any new information is just annoying.

[Member Berry 1,218]

I know who I'm voting for in the next election in 2020 (I'm British) anyway. I'll vote for who I voted for in the last election more than likely. Before the vote I will probably re-research the different parties to see whether or not anything major has happened but that's not for another four years. Right now I don't see the point in knowing.

Edited March 16, 2016 by Kayleigh

[That Guy with the CMB 5,876]

I've set myself a challenge to ignore the news. I read this last week and it's completely true:

 

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/apr/12/news-is-bad-rolf-dobelli

 

Yes, I'm aware of the irony of it being posted on a news website

 

It's really difficult to do >.> I know about things happening and I don't know how I know. I'm trying to avoid the news like the plague but it's constantly there. 

 

I removed the trending thing on Facebook using this:

 

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/social-fixer-for-facebook/ifmhoabcaeehkljcfclfiieohkohdgbb?hl=en

 

I've also blocked news posts from my newsfeed. 

 

I'm still following science news as I'm interested in that and it's not depressing as sh*t. 

 

I just don't see the purpose of me knowing all the crap that's going on. I don't know what to do with that information. It's not like I work for the government and need to know any of it. 

 

I told my friends and family only to tell me stuff like the world imploding on itself.

 

Any advice on how to avoid the news? It's depressing.

Aren't you interested in which politician is talking trash or making an empty promise today?

[powerpuff-tsubasa 448]

i tried to avoid news. mostly murder stories. but still my curious mind wanted to hear interesting news that occurred today

[Member Berry 1,218]

Aren't you interested in which politician is talking trash or making an empty promise today?

Not really. I'm just presuming most are, that seems about right.

[EpicEnergy 23,245]

I've avoided watching and reading the news plenty of times before - sometimes because I didn't care and other times because I didn't feel like doing it.

[Fluttershyfan94 5,749]

I have not read news for years. My anxiety just goes over the top if I do it, so I can't handle it haha I only know about corona because of my family and youtube. So I literally have no idea what's like the news now.

Edited May 6, 2020 by Fluttershyfan94

[Envy 6,377]

The news is rather depressing right now, plus I'm sick of Trump being everywhere. The news will become so much more tolerable once that man child is out of office.

[BlankFlank777 201]

The news only exists to brainwash people and stir up negativity. It makes us easier to control. I think it would be great if everyone stopped paying attention to it.

[Splashee 28,596]

News are important. Staying up to date with what happens in the world is good.

 

I am bad, I skip it. I don't really want to hear unless it is important. Most important stuff gets to me through other sources, like family or friends, or a certain forum.

[Fluttershutter 2,886]

I haven't paid attention to any news in years. It's pointless and there are no sources I trust anyway.

[TBD 17,272]

The only kind of news I trust is the notifications I had in my phone. It’s good at referring me to an important news that really matters. And also NHK World Japan. The rest is up to me do the rest of the digging.

[Retro*Derpy 3,358]

Honestly I get most of my "news" from Twitter memes and YouTube vids. Haven't watched actual TV in a long time.

[Clawdeen 20,496]

I avoid it like the plague. I have enough mental health issues as is

[Dreambiscuit 11,150]

I avoid the news like its radioactive, which it more or less is. If I want to read fiction I’ll pick up a nice book. But subjecting myself to a bunch of fabricated BS manufactured by frustrated people who have no job integrity, even when their falsehoods can easily be disproven, is an obvious waste of time. I don’t watch or read the news; if I need to get the bullet points I usually pick it up verbally from an acquaintance.

[ExplosionMare 21,396]

I tune into it very rarely. I only hear about it if a friend sends me an article or if one of my parents turns on the TV for it. In general, I try to avoid it because it's usually something sad I don't have the power to improve.

[Raskolnikov 1,722]

I try to avoid US related news... I'm not saying I succeed at it considering it's everywhere, even in other countries' news 

[Longhaul 8,103]

At most, I only skim the headlines to se just how fast our downward spiral is progressing.

[Street Light 663]

news makes me pensive :3

i still try to follow it. it's hard to filter it from a lot of muck though, so i usually have to go pretty deep to get source material ^~^ 

[Snoopy Fan 7,924]

I barely pay any attention to the news.