No News

[JustGeorge]

The time the newspaper came used to be my favorite time of day. I'd get impatient when it was late, or ecstatic when it was early. It was one of my defining characteristics, and people who knew me well would chuckle at my fondness for something many people consider outdated. (Online news seems to be the way to go for most.)

When Covid started, I got sick of reading the death tolls. The two page long obituaries were disheartening. And then came the circus of American politics... I started not caring so much about when the news got here, as I already kind of knew what it was going to say. But even as the drama passed, and Covid numbers drop as vaccines are distributed, I find I can't handle the news. I leaf through it, but there's seldom anything I want to read. All the death, upset, and suffering... I've grown weary of hearing about it.

I'm considering taking a 'news fast'. I've mentioned doing this to some in the past, and it seems to be an unpopular idea. Its good to be informed, I hear.

But why? In almost every situation I read about, I can't do a damn thing to help. I feel as if we have some kind of cultural pressure to form an opinion. Why should I form an opinion, though? What good does that do? Seldom does one want to hear another's opinions, anyways...

What do you think? Do you think its important to stay informed? Why or why not?

 

[VoidCat]

I dont know but you've inspired me to make a joke thread.

 

[Vee]

But why? In almost every situation I read about, I can't do a damn thing to help. I feel as if we have some kind of cultural pressure to form an opinion. Why should I form an opinion, though? What good does that do? Seldom does one want to hear another's opinions, anyways...

What do you think? Do you think its important to stay informed? Why or why not?

I had exactly the same issue. The only news I still watch are the financial stuff. I stopped everything else, for the same reasons you did. So far, I haven't missed any of that negativity that the press loves to sell. Everything is bad all the time. I can't believe in a world this big there is nothing positive going on somewhere, but all the mainstream does is sell drama.
Since I've had some free time lately I've been watching more documentaries and reading books that were on my list for some time, going out more since the sun is back. I feel good and not as stressed as when I used to watch the news every day.

 

[Regiomontanus]

The time the newspaper came used to be my favorite time of day. I'd get impatient when it was late, or ecstatic when it was early. It was one of my defining characteristics, and people who knew me well would chuckle at my fondness for something many people consider outdated. (Online news seems to be the way to go for most.)

When Covid started, I got sick of reading the death tolls. The two page long obituaries were disheartening. And then came the circus of American politics... I started not caring so much about when the news got here, as I already kind of knew what it was going to say. But even as the drama passed, and Covid numbers drop as vaccines are distributed, I find I can't handle the news. I leaf through it, but there's seldom anything I want to read. All the death, upset, and suffering... I've grown weary of hearing about it.

I'm considering taking a 'news fast'. I've mentioned doing this to some in the past, and it seems to be an unpopular idea. Its good to be informed, I hear.

But why? In almost every situation I read about, I can't do a damn thing to help. I feel as if we have some kind of cultural pressure to form an opinion. Why should I form an opinion, though? What good does that do? Seldom does one want to hear another's opinions, anyways...

What do you think? Do you think its important to stay informed? Why or why not?

Several times now I have tuned out all news. Everything, for 3-6 months. I am starting it again at the end of this month until August or September.

When you tune back in you will realize nothing really changes, though the curiosity brings me back. I watched no news all last summer and nothing until just the day before the election in November. Little did I know of the roller coster ride ahead of me (the post election craziness here in the US), which I found impossible to tune out completely.

You will have a much more peaceful soul.

Good luck!

edit: of course that means no RF for me

 

[JustGeorge]

I always had a 'news limit'. I read my newspaper, and that was it. I didn't watch it on TV, and until last summer, I didn't have the internet, so where was no online news to get stuck in. I felt that limit worked for a long time, but I don't feel it does the job anymore.

 

[Spirit of Light]

The time the newspaper came used to be my favorite time of day. I'd get impatient when it was late, or ecstatic when it was early. It was one of my defining characteristics, and people who knew me well would chuckle at my fondness for something many people consider outdated. (Online news seems to be the way to go for most.)

When Covid started, I got sick of reading the death tolls. The two page long obituaries were disheartening. And then came the circus of American politics... I started not caring so much about when the news got here, as I already kind of knew what it was going to say. But even as the drama passed, and Covid numbers drop as vaccines are distributed, I find I can't handle the news. I leaf through it, but there's seldom anything I want to read. All the death, upset, and suffering... I've grown weary of hearing about it.

I'm considering taking a 'news fast'. I've mentioned doing this to some in the past, and it seems to be an unpopular idea. Its good to be informed, I hear.

But why? In almost every situation I read about, I can't do a damn thing to help. I feel as if we have some kind of cultural pressure to form an opinion. Why should I form an opinion, though? What good does that do? Seldom does one want to hear another's opinions, anyways...

What do you think? Do you think its important to stay informed? Why or why not?

I belive it is a bit important to be generally informed, but todays society is so full of news all over the place, that it has become a news adicted world

 

[Twilight Hue]

The time the newspaper came used to be my favorite time of day. I'd get impatient when it was late, or ecstatic when it was early. It was one of my defining characteristics, and people who knew me well would chuckle at my fondness for something many people consider outdated. (Online news seems to be the way to go for most.)

When Covid started, I got sick of reading the death tolls. The two page long obituaries were disheartening. And then came the circus of American politics... I started not caring so much about when the news got here, as I already kind of knew what it was going to say. But even as the drama passed, and Covid numbers drop as vaccines are distributed, I find I can't handle the news. I leaf through it, but there's seldom anything I want to read. All the death, upset, and suffering... I've grown weary of hearing about it.

I'm considering taking a 'news fast'. I've mentioned doing this to some in the past, and it seems to be an unpopular idea. Its good to be informed, I hear.

But why? In almost every situation I read about, I can't do a damn thing to help. I feel as if we have some kind of cultural pressure to form an opinion. Why should I form an opinion, though? What good does that do? Seldom does one want to hear another's opinions, anyways...

What do you think? Do you think its important to stay informed? Why or why not?

No gunews is good gunews with Gary Gnu.

 

[passerby]

I stopped watching TV news during the winter lockdown. I realised it was not about giving information (which we can get from other sources) but more about whipping up a kind of useless hysteria among the populace. I didn't miss- if people told me stuff I thanked them for things I didn't know already. Now I watch a little but only until it reaches that wind-up manipulation, then I switch off. I don't need it to live my life anymore, and probably never did.

 

[Revoltingest]

The time the newspaper came used to be my favorite time of day. I'd get impatient when it was late, or ecstatic when it was early. It was one of my defining characteristics, and people who knew me well would chuckle at my fondness for something many people consider outdated. (Online news seems to be the way to go for most.)

When Covid started, I got sick of reading the death tolls. The two page long obituaries were disheartening. And then came the circus of American politics... I started not caring so much about when the news got here, as I already kind of knew what it was going to say. But even as the drama passed, and Covid numbers drop as vaccines are distributed, I find I can't handle the news. I leaf through it, but there's seldom anything I want to read. All the death, upset, and suffering... I've grown weary of hearing about it.

I'm considering taking a 'news fast'. I've mentioned doing this to some in the past, and it seems to be an unpopular idea. Its good to be informed, I hear.

But why? In almost every situation I read about, I can't do a damn thing to help. I feel as if we have some kind of cultural pressure to form an opinion. Why should I form an opinion, though? What good does that do? Seldom does one want to hear another's opinions, anyways...

What do you think? Do you think its important to stay informed? Why or why not?

I find it useful to make the conscious decision
to become emotionally detached from news.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

The time the newspaper came used to be my favorite time of day. I'd get impatient when it was late, or ecstatic when it was early. It was one of my defining characteristics, and people who knew me well would chuckle at my fondness for something many people consider outdated. (Online news seems to be the way to go for most.)

When Covid started, I got sick of reading the death tolls. The two page long obituaries were disheartening. And then came the circus of American politics... I started not caring so much about when the news got here, as I already kind of knew what it was going to say. But even as the drama passed, and Covid numbers drop as vaccines are distributed, I find I can't handle the news. I leaf through it, but there's seldom anything I want to read. All the death, upset, and suffering... I've grown weary of hearing about it.

I'm considering taking a 'news fast'. I've mentioned doing this to some in the past, and it seems to be an unpopular idea. Its good to be informed, I hear.

But why? In almost every situation I read about, I can't do a damn thing to help. I feel as if we have some kind of cultural pressure to form an opinion. Why should I form an opinion, though? What good does that do? Seldom does one want to hear another's opinions, anyways...

What do you think? Do you think its important to stay informed? Why or why not?

Yes and no.

Personally and in my opinion, I must put things in perspective. I have to evaluate "my" situation, my loved ones, my immediate environment, who I am speaking with, where I am going, not what I see on television. So, I'd say cut off the television and only look at it if you need updates what's going on. Don't look at death tolls too much-they change per channel (in my experience). Take care of yourself and loved ones. People on television can't diagnose you, they don't know you, they don't know your situation, and they don't know what you're going through... so take it into perspective.

If I went off death tolls, vaccination, symptoms, countries, governors what they are doing and not doing, silly people worrying about whether vaccination saves the day, and masks I'd be in an insane asylum somewhere (no pun intended). There are COVID hotlines actually for things like that.

Here's some information that may be of use to RFians
COVID-19 and Your Health

(Edit: and what @passerby said....I'd add commercials, internet, youtube, 'all' social media, and so forth are all going COVID crazy. One way to know is that you can't even read the otherside of the story without it being censored for not being against COVID... or people putting down others and insult those who question COVID stuff; don't fall into all of that)

Just being frank. No offense intended.

 

[Stevicus]

The time the newspaper came used to be my favorite time of day. I'd get impatient when it was late, or ecstatic when it was early. It was one of my defining characteristics, and people who knew me well would chuckle at my fondness for something many people consider outdated. (Online news seems to be the way to go for most.)

When Covid started, I got sick of reading the death tolls. The two page long obituaries were disheartening. And then came the circus of American politics... I started not caring so much about when the news got here, as I already kind of knew what it was going to say. But even as the drama passed, and Covid numbers drop as vaccines are distributed, I find I can't handle the news. I leaf through it, but there's seldom anything I want to read. All the death, upset, and suffering... I've grown weary of hearing about it.

I'm considering taking a 'news fast'. I've mentioned doing this to some in the past, and it seems to be an unpopular idea. Its good to be informed, I hear.

But why? In almost every situation I read about, I can't do a damn thing to help. I feel as if we have some kind of cultural pressure to form an opinion. Why should I form an opinion, though? What good does that do? Seldom does one want to hear another's opinions, anyways...

What do you think? Do you think its important to stay informed? Why or why not?

I generally like to stay informed on the top stories, but sometimes I avoid politics or shows where it's more discussion and commentary than anything else.

What I also find interesting is to look at the "olds," which would be the opposite of "news." That is, old news broadcasts and newsreels from previous eras. I wish stuff like that was more widely available. I miss Walter Cronkite. Like, if I wanted to watch the CBS News broadcast from 50 years ago (4/16/1971), it would be cool to be able to do that.

 

[JustGeorge]

I find it useful to make the conscious decision
to become emotionally detached from news.

I find that's easier said than done.

I was pretty good at that for awhile, but I think the last year or two has been overload.

I'm only human.

Yes and no.

Personally and in my opinion, I must put things in perspective. I have to evaluate "my" situation, my loved ones, my immediate environment, who I am speaking with, where I am going, not what I see on television. So, I'd say cut off the television and only look at it if you need updates what's going on. Don't look at death tolls too much-they change per channel (in my experience). Take care of yourself and loved ones. People on television can't diagnose you, they don't know you, they don't know your situation, and they don't know what you're going through... so take it into perspective.

If I went off death tolls, vaccination, symptoms, countries, governors what they are doing and not doing, silly people worrying about whether vaccination saves the day, and masks I'd be in an insane asylum somewhere (no pun intended). There are COVID hotlines actually for things like that.

Here's some information that may be of use to RFians
COVID-19 and Your Health

(Edit: and what @passerby said....I'd add commercials, internet, youtube, 'all' social media, and so forth are all going COVID crazy. One way to know is that you can't even read the otherside of the story without it being censored for not being against COVID... or people putting down others and insult those who question COVID stuff; don't fall into all of that)

Just being frank. No offense intended.

Yeah, I'm not too big on the Covid news anymore. I sometimes check the numbers in my area just to get an idea of the situation I'm immediately in, but that's about it. I wear a mask. I stay home for the most part. Not much else I can do.

Sometimes I think the 'angry mob' mentality bothers me more. Everybody's always ticked off about something. Sometimes rightfully, but the way its presented is never balanced(because good news doesn't sell, they say). I wish I could just focus on local news, because I have a small chance at making change there. But I haven't found staying updated on current events has helped me do this. I don't usually hear about events I would have liked to participate in until after they're over and the newspaper is writing an article about that.

For those of you that feel its important to stay informed, why?

 

[74x12]

The time the newspaper came used to be my favorite time of day. I'd get impatient when it was late, or ecstatic when it was early. It was one of my defining characteristics, and people who knew me well would chuckle at my fondness for something many people consider outdated. (Online news seems to be the way to go for most.)

When Covid started, I got sick of reading the death tolls. The two page long obituaries were disheartening. And then came the circus of American politics... I started not caring so much about when the news got here, as I already kind of knew what it was going to say. But even as the drama passed, and Covid numbers drop as vaccines are distributed, I find I can't handle the news. I leaf through it, but there's seldom anything I want to read. All the death, upset, and suffering... I've grown weary of hearing about it.

I'm considering taking a 'news fast'. I've mentioned doing this to some in the past, and it seems to be an unpopular idea. Its good to be informed, I hear.

But why? In almost every situation I read about, I can't do a damn thing to help. I feel as if we have some kind of cultural pressure to form an opinion. Why should I form an opinion, though? What good does that do? Seldom does one want to hear another's opinions, anyways...

What do you think? Do you think its important to stay informed? Why or why not?

It's important to stay informed but not by mainstream news. It's a propaganda machine. In fact modern military doctrine/policy for all major political powers is to control "public perception" and you know that means controlling the news media. And don't think you're immune to disinformation just because you live in America. Actually if you are going to deceive country X then you must deceive all countries. And so the public of the entire world basically is in the dark. Every country's government routinely uses deception and opinion forming techniques on their own populations. The reason you feel pressured to form an opinion is because they are indeed pressuring you to form an opinion. These arrogant creeps think that they can control/predict the opinions we make by controlling the information we receive.

So don't feel guilty for taking a break. You'll probably feel better getting that nonsense out of your head for awhile.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

It's important to stay informed but not by mainstream news. It's a propaganda machine. In fact modern military doctrine/policy for all major political powers is to control "public perception" and you know that means controlling the news media. And don't think you're immune to disinformation just because you live in America. Actually if you are going to deceive country X then you must deceive all countries. And so the public of the entire world basically is in the dark. Every country's government routinely uses deception and opinion forming techniques on their own populations. The reason you feel pressured to form an opinion is because they are indeed pressuring you to form an opinion. These arrogant creeps think that they can control/predict the opinions we make by controlling the information we receive.

So don't feel guilty for taking a break. You'll probably feel better getting that nonsense out of your head for awhile.

Nice. It's even just as hard when you have a "gut feeling" but can't really address it because of the propaganda. It makes me wonder (now that you mentioned it, I can say it) if some people are brainwashed. Deception does control the masses. We already see some form of panic, so I can't imagine.

 

[Regiomontanus]

Nice. It's even just as hard when you have a "gut feeling" but can't really address it because of the propaganda. It makes me wonder (now that you mentioned it, I can say it)if some people are brainwashed. Deception does control the masses. We already see some form of panic, so I can't imagine.

If some are brainwashed? I have no doubt about it after the election we just went through!

 

[Unveiled Artist]

If some are brainwashed? I have no doubt about it after the election we just went through!

Ha. With the election, my gut feeling (especially when Trump caught the virus), was it was planned to put him in a position to get it-the huge majority didn't want him in office again. Well. There ya go. Also, the other signal I got with this gut feeling is when he came from the hospital saying "I got it and I'm okay... (etc)" having his hand with pride. Almost like saying, "I bet you."

 

[Revoltingest]

I find that's easier said than done.

Partial or occasional success is still success.
(I like low standards cuz they're easy to meet.)

 

[SomeRandom]

The time the newspaper came used to be my favorite time of day. I'd get impatient when it was late, or ecstatic when it was early. It was one of my defining characteristics, and people who knew me well would chuckle at my fondness for something many people consider outdated. (Online news seems to be the way to go for most.)

When Covid started, I got sick of reading the death tolls. The two page long obituaries were disheartening. And then came the circus of American politics... I started not caring so much about when the news got here, as I already kind of knew what it was going to say. But even as the drama passed, and Covid numbers drop as vaccines are distributed, I find I can't handle the news. I leaf through it, but there's seldom anything I want to read. All the death, upset, and suffering... I've grown weary of hearing about it.

I'm considering taking a 'news fast'. I've mentioned doing this to some in the past, and it seems to be an unpopular idea. Its good to be informed, I hear.

But why? In almost every situation I read about, I can't do a damn thing to help. I feel as if we have some kind of cultural pressure to form an opinion. Why should I form an opinion, though? What good does that do? Seldom does one want to hear another's opinions, anyways...

What do you think? Do you think its important to stay informed? Why or why not?

I think it’s good to stay informed so you can form an informed opinion on issues of the day. It does a person a great disservice to remain ignorant.
Though perhaps that’s because I grew up around educators. They’d kill me if I ever had a “news fast” lol

Then again, there is something to be said for taking a time out for your own benefit. It’s good to detox from the constant bad news and just take some time to chill. It can do a person wonders for their mental health.

If you feel like the news is just too toxic, then by all means take some “you time” and detox.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I find that's easier said than done.

I was pretty good at that for awhile, but I think the last year or two has been overload.

I'm only human.



Yeah, I'm not too big on the Covid news anymore. I sometimes check the numbers in my area just to get an idea of the situation I'm immediately in, but that's about it. I wear a mask. I stay home for the most part. Not much else I can do.

Sometimes I think the 'angry mob' mentality bothers me more. Everybody's always ticked off about something. Sometimes rightfully, but the way its presented is never balanced(because good news doesn't sell, they say). I wish I could just focus on local news, because I have a small chance at making change there. But I haven't found staying updated on current events has helped me do this. I don't usually hear about events I would have liked to participate in until after they're over and the newspaper is writing an article about that.

For those of you that feel its important to stay informed, why?

Do what's best for "you." People's negativity and I agree with the other poster propaganda can seem just as contagious as the virus.

I do the same, look at locals online, no tv. Go out for jogging and food and at home the rest of the time.

Just asking honestly, does RF contribute to your feelings?

There's "news" pretty much every other new thread. I skip majority of them.

 

[thefloatingsting]

The time the newspaper came used to be my favorite time of day. I'd get impatient when it was late, or ecstatic when it was early. It was one of my defining characteristics, and people who knew me well would chuckle at my fondness for something many people consider outdated. (Online news seems to be the way to go for most.)

When Covid started, I got sick of reading the death tolls. The two page long obituaries were disheartening. And then came the circus of American politics... I started not caring so much about when the news got here, as I already kind of knew what it was going to say. But even as the drama passed, and Covid numbers drop as vaccines are distributed, I find I can't handle the news. I leaf through it, but there's seldom anything I want to read. All the death, upset, and suffering... I've grown weary of hearing about it.

I'm considering taking a 'news fast'. I've mentioned doing this to some in the past, and it seems to be an unpopular idea. Its good to be informed, I hear.

But why? In almost every situation I read about, I can't do a damn thing to help. I feel as if we have some kind of cultural pressure to form an opinion. Why should I form an opinion, though? What good does that do? Seldom does one want to hear another's opinions, anyways...

What do you think? Do you think its important to stay informed? Why or why not?

To be honest I hear the same news everyday. Every day I hear things from a certain slant on both sides but is basically the same message over and over. I wish I could take a break from it like you - it pulls me in way too much in a toxic way.