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. :laughing:

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?

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

Good.

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

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.

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.

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?

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

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?"