I am thinking that I may give up keeping up with the news.

I feel that the majority of the time, the news is just depressing and most of the time, I can't do anything about the events that I read/ hear about.

It seems to me, that the only point of KNOWING what is happening is if you are going to DO something about it. If not, you are just like a sponge, soaking up the grimness of the world, for little point.

For example, what is the point of me knowing about an earthquake on the other side of the world? My sympathies whilst sitting in my armchair does nothing to help those affected.

I wonder whether I would be better off giving money to a generic charity (say Oxfam or similar) who would dish out my cash to good causes, without me having to KNOW where my money is going.

What do forumers think? I plan to give up the news for a month to see whether my life improves as a result. Will I be happier? Or is it my duty as a citizen to keep abreast of current events?? Hmmmm

My none-news month starts now!

Chicken Monkey

If you bricked up your windows and had someone feed you with a spoon through your letterbox you could cut out contact with the entire world in one fell swoop.:thumbsup:

Excellent plan! As long as I had plenty of episodes of Will and Grace I'd be fine.

But seriously, it isn't that I don't want interaction, I'm just unsure of the point of being saturated with news of terrible tragedies that I am in no position to do anything about.

I would rather spend my time doing what I can for people around me. Why do people WANT to watch the news??? Why do people want to gawp at other's tragedies and them do absolutely nothing about it???

Chicken Monkey

Originally posted by chickmonk


For example, what is the point of me knowing about an earthquake on the other side of the world? My sympathies whilst sitting in my armchair does nothing to help those affected.


You could donate some money therefore you are doing something to help.

You're taking it far to seriously IMO. Whilst national disasters like the pakistan earthquake, not to mention all the deaths from hurricanes in the Caribbean and US this year is upsetting, don't let it ruin your own life :thumbsup:

There is the issue of your right to know what's happening around the world. While you can get bogged down in issues surrounding the ownership of the press and it's political sympathies as soon as you get onto the matter; I think it would be fair to say that people would get away with far more naughty little tricks if the television news didn't exist.

Also you have to take into account that although the news may cover events that take place on the other side of the world, we live in an age where we have ever closer links within a global community. When the tsumai devastated the Asian continent it mattered that the news got to this country due to the fact that many Brits holiday over there and people in this country also have relatives living in those countries affected. Take 9/11 as well, there were many Brits working in the World Trade Center and our status as an ally of the USA meant that the attack had ramifications for the UK as well.

The news is a bit like the right to vote. Some might not bother, or claim that it makes little or no difference. But it's something that you'd miss very quickly were it to disappear.

Twichibi...as an aside, your signature just made me lol from memory!:hihi:

Thanks for that!:thumbsup:

Then there would be no point watching 'Have I got news for you' or listening to 'The News Quiz'. Life really would have no meaning then. :gag:

You are not alone in having this feeling.
I think news is a form of mind-control in some respects, its tells us what we're supposed to think is important, rather than realise what truly is. I think you know the result of your experiment already.

Originally posted by Carmine
Twichibi...as an aside, your signature just made me lol from memory!:hihi:

Thanks for that!:thumbsup:

Glad I could make ya smile mate :thumbsup:

Originally posted by Carmine


The news is a bit like the right to vote. Some might not bother, or claim that it makes little or no difference. But it's something that you'd miss very quickly were it to disappear.

Maybe so. But the news is far more available to everyone now than it was a generation ago. We watch on tv in real time as the story unfolds. Sometimes it's like watching a soap opera.

I'm not taking it too seriously or letting it ruin my life (cripes I'm not that unhinged), just think that it's an interesting issue.

May I should just watch Have I got News for You then??? News with humour??!?!

Chicken Monkey

Originally posted by docduncan
You are not alone in having this feeling.
I think news is a form of mind-control in some respects, its tells us what we're supposed to think is important, rather than realise what truly is. I think you know the result of your experiment already.

Glad I'm not the only one. I reckon I'll feel better for it. :)

I don't watch the news. Thats why I never know whats going on in the world, what Tony Blair is doing or if David Beckham has a hamstring injury. Occasionally I will watch our local news, but only to see Reading's goals if I missed them at the weekend.

Bit bad really, I think I should show more interest in what is going on in the world.

The trouble with the News is its portrayal of Sensationalism and they way they like to talk down to us in a dumbing down fasion.

Also why reporters feel the need to walk towards the camerra from a distance whilst giving their report is beyond me!

The whole thing with the news proves to me that the reporters and casters are more interested in their appearance, hence why they appear on Celebrity ****e!!!

Nuff said, I only watch the News because I like to keep a track on whats happening, but I try not to take in the actions of reporters amnd presenters too much. Unfortunately I am Human (or at least I think I am :loopy: ) and yes they do wind me up!

Too right, we all need to care about what's going on near us and further afield, but tv news has one priority..pictures. If it doesn't make a good picture its not that important. Real news is rare, hence they have to fill the aitrime with comment, analysis, opinion and a bit more comment. 99.9% of news bulletins contain nothing new.

Originally posted by chickmonk
I'm not taking it too seriously or letting it ruin my life (cripes I'm not that unhinged), just think that it's an interesting issue.
I agree, this is a very important issue and something that's very worthy of debate.

Many people feel that they don't like to watch the news because they simply find it so depressing to hear and see all the tragedy and woe in the world served up in front of them in little chunks of televisual entertainment.

But maybe the issue in that case is the person's own depression?

Others fear that the news has become more and more like a tabloid newspaper, interested only in lurid details of the affairs of the rich and famous. The human interest stories tagged on at the end of the news to lighten the mood fall into this catagory. If you can stomach the horrors the news serves up on a daily basis, who wants to hear about a dog that can play the piano?

I think it's reassuring that people have an opinion one way or the other.

Do you feel better for it Clare85? Do you find out what's going on from the front pages of the papers?

I'm sick of reading stories in the papers where I KNOW that the reporter has put a spin on the issue and what is reported is misleading. I've seen first hand the long term damage this can cause.

I therefore am very wary of what we are told by the national news. I have very little idea of whether what I am being told is truth or spin. Give it up I reckon...

I don't touch newspapers either. Just my local one.

I wish they wouldn't put the news in the middle of films, and force you to watch it, I was happily watching Star Wars only to be subjected to half an hour "news" about David Blunket (nothing else was happening in the world that day it seems) half way through.

Absolutely! And what's going on with the 'Entertainment News Update' in the middle of films on ITV2? Who's bright idea was that??