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

[Shanky]

I overheard some folks today talking about cave people. How could that be news?

 

[ER Eddie]

I love watching long-form discussion on Youtube. That is a Gutenberg printing press level revolution. The spoken word, on demand. Long-form discussions that really dig into subjects, vs. the 5-minutes max you get on the news. It's an amazing platform, with some amazing ideas being expressed. Peterson, Rubin Report, Shapiro, even Joe Rogan's show. Great stuff.

 

[aja8888]

I admit that the rescue of the Thai boys' soccer team dragged me back to websites such as CNN and CBS, neither of which I ever visit under normal circumstances. So, I'm not as disengaged as I had thought.

LOL! I didn't look at any news broadcast on this! I just followed this and the cave thread and let you all do the digging and sorting of the facts!

 

[marko]

She got the nickname from her brother as a child. And I can't help but wonder if she really said that ...

This goes back to the early 90's so I can't cite it specifically; I really don't recall. She and another guy who's name I can't remember were at some sort of DARPA/ARPA consortium/workshop/panel discussion in Silicon Valley on the burgeoning internet's impact.

Her comment was in the context of bad information being out on the internet and how could average people know what's fake news without "the press" sorting it out for them; her point being that only the press could know what is BS and what is real information, implying that only the press should be allowed to distribute the news.

Quite ironic at this point.

Yes, I knew how she got her name...I was just being snarky.

 

[kcowan]

I overheard some folks today talking about cave people. How could that be news?

Amateur spelunkers would have been more accurate. And to W2R, that story was impossible to avoid regardless of TV. Every print media had it on front pages. On and on...

 

[audreyh1]

I admit that the rescue of the Thai boys' soccer team dragged me back to websites such as CNN and CBS, neither of which I ever visit under normal circumstances. So, I'm not as disengaged as I had thought.

Ha! Never turned on the news for this. Only read a couple of online stories at the very end when resolution appeared imminent. One of them probably was CNN.

 

[aja8888]

How I first learned about the cave boys (before following it here):

DW: Hey, what do you think will happen to those boys in the cave?

ME: What cave?

DW, You know, the one in Thailand?

ME: Huh?

DW: Well, it's all over the news....

ME: Don't you remember, no one here, including me, is sitting next to you with your face glued to the TV.

DW: @&%$$U*()_+_++

ME: ..........I'll be in the garage.

 

[indiajust]

I'm generally fine with listening to other folks tidbits from the world. I hope they extend me the same courtesy when I get wound up on risk perception, junk government science, dumb laws, or any of a dozen other hot points I can get wound up on after dinner and a beer.

 

[John Galt III]

I love watching long-form discussion on Youtube. That is a Gutenberg printing press level revolution. The spoken word, on demand. Long-form discussions that really dig into subjects, vs. the 5-minutes max you get on the news. It's an amazing platform, with some amazing ideas being expressed. Peterson, Rubin Report, Shapiro, even Joe Rogan's show. Great stuff.

+1. Lots of great, apparently accurate news on Youtube. But some of the Youtubers are complaining of being censored (or demonetized, meaning they aren't allowed to have ads??) by someone (Google? Youtube? Both?). Nonetheless, lots of great, interesting, non-politically correct, non-filtered news available on Youtube for those who seek it.

 

[Rianne]

Can't disengage today. No political commentary here, just shock and embarrassment.

 

[Marita40]

Hmmm. Don't know what happened today, so I guess I have to (gulp!) watch the news.

 

[Cessna152]

Hmmm. Don't know what happened today, so I guess I have to (gulp!) watch the news.

It's a trick - don't fall for it. Nothing of relevant substance happened today.

 

[Crabby Mike]

It's a trick - don't fall for it. Nothing of relevant substance happened today.

Yes and no.

 

[FIREd]

Well guess what - the masses of uninformed voters happened long ago. Folks who sit in front of the boob tube every night consuming what passes for news, not only are getting little relevant factual information, but come election time they are bombarded by endless political ads, in addition to whatever are the sound bites and scandals du jour. All this is targeting emotional knee jerk reactions, which I believe is what motivates how many vote. Oh yeah, and social media really got into the mix this last time and is here to stay.

So not only is avoiding broadcast news helping my quality of life by eliminating the reach of a huge manipulative commercial empire - news AND commercials, but I am also not exposed to political ads in video and audio form. I see some billboards and street signs is all.

+1

I made the mistake to tune in to network television on Sunday to watch the World Cup final (I had not watched that particular channel in a very long time) and I could not believe the local political ads. What a sad state of affairs. If this is what people watch all day long, it explains more than a few things...

 

[audreyh1]

I was wondering today about how many people are angry and unhappy because of their daily TV news habit. And they are stuck in misery unless they can step back and realize that their life is separate from the boob tube.

 

[Crabby Mike]

I was wondering today about how many people are angry and unhappy because of their daily TV news habit. And they are stuck in misery unless they can step back and realize that their life is separate from the boob tube.

It's not the networks (which I don't watch), or the press, or even the internet -- it's the events themselves that depress me. Especially on days like today.

 

[Marita40]

I’ve found that if I go a few days without reading about the outrage du jour it is complete new outrage du jour. so I haven’t really missed a thing.
Works for me!

 

[audreyh1]

I’ve found that if I go a few days without reading about the outrage du jour it is complete new outrage du jour. so I haven’t really missed a thing.
Works for me!

It's not the networks (which I don't watch), or the press, or even the internet -- it's the events themselves that depress me. Especially on days like today.

Ok - I’m staying tuned out for a few more days then! I’m too busy arranging another trip.

No spoilers now!

 

[Rosie]

It might be a good time to start paying attention.

 

[marko]

Can't disengage today. No political commentary here, just shock and embarrassment.

Just switch to another news channel and whatever you're referencing here will be reported as good news. Sort of what this thread is all about.

 

[Midpack]

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]

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]

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]

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.