Am I alone? Or do others find themselves trying to actively disengage from the news?

[Midpack]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosie It might be a good time to start paying attention.

Nah, and I’m well aware of the latest “news.” Haters are still hating, and supporters are still supporters, entirely predictable - nothing new to see. Life goes on...

[Rianne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midpack Nah, and I’m well aware of the latest “news.” Haters are still hating, and supporters are still supporters, entirely predictable - nothing new to see. Life goes on...

I'm at a loss nationally, but getting involved locally. This is my community. Voices are actually heard. We want good neighbors and great communities to live in. Can't sit with ears and eyes shut, on a local level anyway.

[youbet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rianne I'm at a loss nationally, but getting involved locally. This is my community. Voices are actually heard. We want good neighbors and great communities to live in. Can't sit with ears and eyes shut, on a local level anyway.

There is a huge difference between "sit with ears and eyes shut" and not spending a large percentage of your time listening to the same biased BS over and over again. You can be well informed on the issues that matter to you without constantly monitoring the talking heads, blog writers, written "news" outlets, etc.

[Rianne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by youbet There is a huge difference between "sit with ears and eyes shut" and not spending a large percentage of your time listening to the same biased BS over and over again. You can be well informed on the issues that matter to you without constantly monitoring the talking heads, blog writers, written "news" outlets, etc.

I agree, finding the organizations that matter to you and engaging is important. I meant "eyes and ears shut" by going about life without concern above and beyond the bubble I live in. No concern of local activity which can lead to larger negative issues.

For instance, a local coal company is lobbying to dump coal ash into one of our most beautiful, natural rivers. Investigating where our electricity is produced...I found it is 100% wind powered which is encouraging. Our local community is engaging in a solar push to bring down prices on solar installation. Getting involved and paying attention locally leads to better decisions nationwide.

[MichaelB]

Probably a good idea to stick to the thread topic and avoid sidetracking it into specific issues. Plenty of opportunity to discuss individual issues in their own threads.

[imoldernu]

Guess I'm an outlier. Time on my hands and have a concern for the world our kids and grandkids will be living in. Can't do much about it, but am encouraged by the direction that they're headed. All of them are balancing their "today" with a look to where our country is headed. They are many times more aware of the world around them than I ever was at their "college" age.

Not worried about ourselves, 'cuz we won't be around, but we reserve the time to try and understand what the future will hold for them.

[braumeister]

Moms in (your town) are using this one weird trick to be completely informed with accurate news about everything in less than a minute per day. Click here for details:


ETA: Oops, the link doesn't seem to be working now.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rianne I agree, finding the organizations that matter to you and engaging is important. I meant "eyes and ears shut" by going about life without concern above and beyond the bubble I live in. No concern of local activity which can lead to larger negative issues. For instance, a local coal company is lobbying to dump coal ash into one of our most beautiful, natural rivers. Investigating where our electricity is produced...I found it is 100% wind powered which is encouraging. Our local community is engaging in a solar push to bring down prices on solar installation. Getting involved and paying attention locally leads to better decisions nationwide.

Was anybody talking about no concern for local activity?

[Rianne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 Was anybody talking about no concern for local activity?

Oops, meant to quote Michael B.

News is local as well as national. OP did not distinguish between the two. I only provided examples of being locally involved. This forum provides individual financial choices and larger financial issues facing all of us. The thread allows us to voice individual opinions as well or the thread should be porky.

All the same to taxes and expenses we experience locally as well as the big picture. I hate my property taxes and share the individual cost to my budget. We all talk about how ACA affects us individually as well as nationally. Sorry, I don't see how this is different.

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rianne Oops, meant to quote Michael B. News is local as well as national. OP did not distinguish between the two. I only provided examples of being locally involved. This forum provides individual financial choices and larger financial issues facing all of us. The thread allows us to voice individual opinions as well or the thread should be porky. All the same to taxes and expenses we experience locally as well as the big picture. I hate my property taxes and share the individual cost to my budget. We all talk about how ACA affects us individually as well as nationally. Sorry, I don't see how this is different.

Plenty of opportunity to discuss ACA or any other issue that affects early retirement. Those issues deserve their own threads, though. My suggestion was to keep it out of this thread to avoid hijacking it.

[Rianne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB Plenty of opportunity to discuss ACA or any other issue that affects early retirement. Those issues deserve their own threads, though. My suggestion was to keep it out of this thread to avoid hijacking it.

Got it, I guess you're a moderator for a reason. The glue on my soapbox can be superglue sometimes. :-))

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rianne .... For instance, a local coal company is lobbying to dump coal ash into one of our most beautiful, natural rivers. Investigating where our electricity is produced...I found it is 100% wind powered which is encouraging. Our local community is engaging in a solar push to bring down prices on solar installation. Getting involved and paying attention locally leads to better decisions nationwide.

As MichaelB says, this topic could/should be in its own thread, but there is something relevant to "the news", so let me try that angle briefly.

If your comment "Investigating where our electricity is produced..." refers to reading this from news/media sources, it goes to show how careful one must be. Your electricity is not 100% wind powered, no way. On a calm day, do you still have power? How's that work? ANSWER: It doesn't.

" a solar push to bring down prices on solar installation. " ?? A "solar push" would be increased demand. Economics 101 says increased demand raises prices. And why do they need solar if they are already getting all their power from wind

Any further comment should be in its own thread, I just wanted to point out that if you are getting this info from your news sources, you need new news sources (say that 10x fast!)!

-ERD50

[RobbieB]

The more semiconductors they make the cheaper they get. Cost decreases.

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobbieB The more semiconductors they make the cheaper they get. Cost decreases.

I'll start a thread on that, or find one of my old discussions later, don't want to derail this thread. But not to leave you hanging, it's the other way around.

-ERD50

[MichaelB]

So, let's agree to not hijack this discussion, let's all take it to to a new thread, but first make sure to express my view - in a thread critical of how information is presented. Is there some small degree of irony here?

[Just_Steve]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midpack Nah, and I’m well aware of the latest “news.” Haters are still hating, and supporters are still supporters, entirely predictable - nothing new to see. Life goes on...

+1

[Rianne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB So, let's agree to not hijack this discussion, let's all take it to to a new thread, but first make sure to express my view - in a thread critical of how information is presented. Is there some small degree of irony here?

New thread started!

[kcowan]

Once in a while we spend the whole day in "radio silence". It seems like we have no effect on it so we can continue to do it responsibly. It is always a relief. This includes the internet. Sadly we still learn about the cave kids and the world cup because our friends talk about it.

[marko]

Just today I read where one should write down the "outrage of the week" in one's calendar 6 six weeks ahead and then revisit that outrage in 6 six weeks to see if it's still relevant.

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by marko Just today I read where one should write down the "outrage of the week" in one's calendar 6 six weeks ahead and then revisit that outrage in 6 six weeks to see if it's still relevant.

6 weeks? More like 6 days. At times, even hours

There is more and better information and analysis available to the average person than at any time in human history. It is empowering like never before.

There's also more slag. We just need to choose carefully and filter effectively.