Avoiding the News

[beddo]

Hello my fellow Escapists,

We seem like a conscientious bunch, I personally keep on top of current affairs as much as I can and often try and look into the background of important events.

However, this inevitably leaves me feeling rather exasperated and trouble. From the glaring ineptitude and ignorance of Government to the appalling oppression and treatment of the downtrodden, you can't help but feel bad.

Charlie Brooker's (Yahtzee's idol for those interested) recent programme, Newswipe quite perfectly describes the development of the news in recent decades; going from an informative medium to one of mindless opinion. As he says, "[...] when I tune into the news I often feel like I've wandered into episode 389 of the world's most complex soap opera."

So I've decided that for one month I will not read, watch, listen or even talk about the news, current affairs shows or anything similar. I want to see if this makes me happier, feeling less bleak about the state of the world. You're welcome to join me.

I hope I make it!



Note: I will still read things like Kotaku because that's not news, just game stuff but I'll avoid their news related stories.

 

[Valiance]

It usually helps, I've tried it.

Besides, why care about anywhere else in the world? ;P

 

[BonsaiK]

I haven't watched the news or any current affairs type show on TV for about 6 years. I'm a much happier person because of it. I read newspapers but rarely. I do like internet news though so when I hear from word of mouth that something interesting in the world is happening (which isn't often) I'll research it on the net. TV news is bollocks though and everyone is better off without it for their mental health.

 

[Eric the Orange]

I've long sence stoped caring about "ligitimet" news programming. 9/10 times it't baiesed through the use of selective repoting and editing to give you an opinion, not the news.

These practices have made me vary wary of anything reported by the general media.

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

Good luck man!
Have fun

 

[traceur_]

...So I've decided that for one month I will not read, watch, listen or even talk about the news, current affairs shows or anything similar. I want to see if this makes me happier, feeling less bleak about the state of the world. You're welcome to join me.

I hope I make it!

Try doing it for sixteen years, it's awesome when you don't give a crap. It really helps when you don't really give a damn about world tragedies, especially when there's nothing you could have possibly done to stop it. Honestly I barely gave a crap about 9/11, I'm not a bad person I just can't muster any interest in tragedies. Being miserable helps no one.

 

[Talendra]

I've been doing it for months, I don't watch hardly any TV, or read newspapers, so only a small amount of news leaks through to me, its pretty good, the news only reports on the bad things anyway it seems, I can do without that.

 

[J-Man]

Meh. I'm only interested in news if its got to do with videogames, communism or people trying to propagate false science (e.g. link between autism and MMR that doesn't exist, facebook causing autism that isn't true etc.).

 

[Fraught]

Hey! Heard about OnLive?

 

[timmytom1]

If you`re looking to avoid the news than i can strongly suggest hiding in some bushes , the news won`t find you there , no one will

 

[Mr.BucketHat]

Ignoring governments are a good idea. Unless you like to watch the verbal equivilant of those home videos where someone falls off a bike, into a ditch. Filled with Needles. And then gets jumped upon by a cat or something.

And I like that simile:

[...] when I tune into the news I often feel like I've wandered into episode 389 of the world's most complex soap opera."

I just avoid the news because its just a big play about how Murphys law exists, and is currently kicking someone in the nuts, while handing the man applauding him a wad of cash.

 

[Danny Ocean]

going from an informative medium to one of mindless opinion. As he says, "[...] when I tune into the news I often feel like I've wandered into episode 389 of the world's most complex soap opera."

Is this his opinion of just the Private news or does it include the BBC? I've always seen it as rather impartial.

 

[beddo]

going from an informative medium to one of mindless opinion. As he says, "[...] when I tune into the news I often feel like I've wandered into episode 389 of the world's most complex soap opera."

Is this his opinion of just the Private news or does it include the BBC? I've always seen it as rather impartial.

It's his opinions of all news including the BBC.

I can say no more, lest I be breaking the rules.

 

[Lord George]

But where else would I get an informative story of a women being kidnapped by her own moped.

 

[manicfoot]

I'm going to do the same. Being bombarded with tragedies and stuff that isn't a tragedy but is portrayed as one (like Lewis Hamilton saying being disqualified was THE WORST DAY OF HIS LIFE the mellowdramatic fuck). Also got sick of all the Jade Goody stuff. Yes, she died. Yes, she left behind two boys. Yes, its sad. So what? Would SHE give a shit if I died of cancer?

 

[Argentavis]

Avoiding the news for a week? I tried that. A month later (and excluding Sankaku Complex) I'm still clean. Easier than I thought!

 

[Danzaivar]

...So I've decided that for one month I will not read, watch, listen or even talk about the news, current affairs shows or anything similar. I want to see if this makes me happier, feeling less bleak about the state of the world. You're welcome to join me.

I hope I make it!

Try doing it for sixteen years, it's awesome when you don't give a crap. It really helps when you don't really give a damn about world tragedies, especially when there's nothing you could have possibly done to stop it. Honestly I barely gave a crap about 9/11, I'm not a bad person I just can't muster any interest in tragedies. Being miserable helps no one.

Being 16 doesn't count. You shouldn't even really read the news until you're 18/21. It just doesn't affect you until you're out there working.

Unless you're actually 34 or so, then I apologise.

 

[Beefcakes]

Being 16 doesn't count. You shouldn't even really read the news until you're 18/21. It just doesn't affect you until you're out there working.

I'm 17, I've been reading and watching the news for a good 2 years now, are you saying that world current affairs and events don't effect me because I'm not a worker? I am a worker, but even if I wasn't I would still watch the news and read the paper, its good to know what happening around you!
Plus, would that mean that a 25 years old unemployed person shouldn't care about the news either because their not working?

Anyway, I believe that it might work, but still I'd be interested to know how this whole things turns out, keep us posted!

 

[traceur_]

...So I've decided that for one month I will not read, watch, listen or even talk about the news, current affairs shows or anything similar. I want to see if this makes me happier, feeling less bleak about the state of the world. You're welcome to join me.

I hope I make it!

Try doing it for sixteen years, it's awesome when you don't give a crap. It really helps when you don't really give a damn about world tragedies, especially when there's nothing you could have possibly done to stop it. Honestly I barely gave a crap about 9/11, I'm not a bad person I just can't muster any interest in tragedies. Being miserable helps no one.

Being 16 doesn't count. You shouldn't even really read the news until you're 18/21. It just doesn't affect you until you're out there working.

Unless you're actually 34 or so, then I apologise.

I am 16 and the news affects everyone, the fact that I am 16 doesn't diminish the fact that I'm happier because I don't pay attention to tragedies on the news.

 

[Danzaivar]

I am 16 and the news affects everyone, the fact that I am 16 doesn't diminish the fact that I'm happier because I don't pay attention to tragedies on the news.

Yeah but when you read about rampant unemployment, it doesn't affect you. When you read that inflation has made food prices rise, it doesn't affect you as much as your parents who buy your food. When you read interest rates have been slashed, chances are it doesn't affect you (Not many school-goers have savings/pensions).

Tragedies on the news, I do agree with you that they're bloody pointless to be reported, except the area they're relevant to.

When you get to an age where you have to provide for yourself, it's downright stupid to not pay attention to what's going on in the world. Like you splash out on a new computer and a month later you lose your job because of a recession, if you read the news you would have known that a recession is looming and think that perhaps you should save your money in case you might lose your job?

But like I said, it doesn't affect you as a school kid. Also you can't exactly count the early years of your life where you couldn't make sense of any of it as not following the news really...You don't have a choice at that age because it's completely beyond you anyway.

(To guy who's 17, I said 18 because of the American audience that are in school til 18, sorry if I caused offence. My point was that while your parents look after you day to day the world climate has a much lessened affect on you.)