Do you watch the news? Why/why not?

Question

Just curious at how many do follow what goes around in their community and the world. I watch the news at least once a day, have a news app and scroll on that a couple of times a day.

nightdrot · Accepted Answer

Given that I work in politics and have been a press secretary over the course of my career, I am a veritable news-aholic. However, my interest in the news goes back to when I was in junior high school - 7th grade specifically.

That said, watching the news, in my view, is not so much to keep me better informed so much as to allow me to stay abreast of ongoing events. It is not so much that viewing the news gives me a deeper understanding of the events it covers.

Allowing for the biases - which I find less obtrusive than most, be it a conservative or liberal bias - the news provides information. However, absent a deeper understanding of history and political philosophy, such information is not especially valuable nor does it provide real insights.

For this reason, beyond the news generally I especially enjoy the various talk shows. Particularly those where persons of contrasting views debate the issues. Yet even here, the insights to be derived from watching such programs is relatively limited.

For example, the various talk shows will discuss liberalism and conservatism. The problems being that these terms are used in their contemporary context without any real deeper grasp of their meaning and implications. The net result being that the utility of talk shows is rather limited.

Having said all of that, there is not a day that goes by - even holidays- where I don't watch the news and talk shows. They are, so to speak, the beginning of wisdom.

While those who are interested in public policy should not rely on the news as a source of information and insight alone, they should be a source of information to augment that knowledge the viewer/reader/listener derives from more in-depth source such as books of history, political philosophy, economic theory and so on.

WindAtMyBack · Accepted Answer

By "watch" I assume you mean TV. I quit watching news about 25 years ago because it's such garbage and distorts reality. From about the late 70s on, television news ceased being news. It became editorial disguised as news.

I grew up watching the news though. I was watching the news before I was old enough to go to school. Television itself was still fairly new then with only a minority of people owning a TV.

News then was a little more like real news, without all the editorial, hype and sensationalism. It was almost more of a public service then. By the late 70s it had turned into big business. The business was to sell controversy, stir up emotions, and milk it for every dime they could get.

I read the newspaper daily for many years. I quit doing that around 2006-2007 or so, for much the same reason.

You'd be surprised how much you can keep up with most of the important things without resorting to watching/reading the daily news. If it's important, you'll hear about it. Then you can do your own research.

Emelina · Accepted Answer

I watch the news often, so i can keep up with what's going on in life. I have kids so sometimes the government would announce things that would effect my family. It's good to be inform now and then, I think.

DermalPunch · Accepted Answer

I don't own a TV but I have a Google routine that plays the news first thing in the morning. I read the local, national and international news.

WanderingLoveWizard · Answer

Well you have to realize that news stations and talk radio hosts need viewers and listeners to stay in business, and they have to be on air every single day. If they only reported and talked about truly important things, they'd only be on air probably once a month, or talk about the same thing every day.
So naturally they're going to exaggerate and try to make something out of nothing, so they won't be out of a job.
For that reason, I don't watch the news or listen to talk radio anymore unless I'm bored.
Literally, if it's important I'll hear about it. Either on some other station or by word of mouth. No need to watch that trash every day

razelove · Answer

I watch the news maybe once a week and just cram in an hour before deciding humanity is fucked. I like to blend together Forbes, CNN, and Fox so sometimes I can hear the same story, but told in different ways.

I'd imagine it's like you'd hear about battles in the hundred years war depending on country lol

Honestly I think the onion telling the news better than any of them, as the level of ridiculousness they put out there is on a more even keel than reality is sometimes. The precision is better too, even if the accuracy is off...

Jaximus-Lion · Answer

I have not watched any news since the covid 19 breakout. Why? Everything is BS in my opinion, i have not watched nor cared about any news and i am doing very well. Instead! I read books, watch NBA and Rugby, gaming PC news, gardening and so on. I am not missing anything, not the slightest

The_Shadow_Dweller · Answer

Nope.

Because in India, the news media is doing the work of a circus and the joker. Heck, they are not able to do even that properly.

They are busy spreading communal hate and the YouTubers are doing their job instead. With witty and sometimes dark humour.

It is going all well.

menina · Answer

I watch it once every day. I feel that it's important to know what's going on in the country where I live and mostly importantly around the world.

Anonymous · Answer

No, my mentor said don't do that. He said if there is something you really need to know everyone will be talking about it. I don't question him. Obviously I know why he said not to do that. It's genius. Everything that you watch is conditioning you and you of course your conditioning controls you but also what you attract. That is the secret to the Law of attraction by the way. Every once in a while I'll check but I don't think about it too much.

shades777 · Answer

I don't watch the news and my life is more peaceful for it, when had the news ever been a positive force in anyones life lol, i know there's wars, killings, yada yada, I will worry about it when the war reaches my doorstep until then I will carry out my goals

BoopBoopBeep · Answer

I follow the news. I don't have cable TV so i don't really "watch the news" in the traditional sense. besides it's faster on the web and i can speed through the spin

Levin · Answer

I've tuned out of the fear agenda. I might occasionally watch the headlines to keep an idea of what is going on. But most of it is fear mongering and propaganda. There is an agenda behind the news.

Nikki1989 · Answer

Never. TV news channels are too biased for me to take them seriously.

Iron_Man · Answer

I watch the local Miami news I’m not interested in negative news like killings or accidents. I enjoy the weather sports and happy events around town.

OldWomanBySoul · Answer

If I'm at mom's or with granny them sure but otherwise no because I don't have TV nor am I planning to get one

normalice · Answer

Not really. Because the focus has become entertainment and propaganda rather than objective information.

exitseven · Answer

I watch the news every morning. Mostly to see the weather report and to see the sports. I don't watch the hard news shows much. A lot of it is leftist propaganda

HippieVeganJewslim · Answer

I saw the news one day, oy vey, about a lucky dude who made the grade. Although the news was rather smad, nu, I just had to laugh. After that, I watched no more news; very biased, untruthful, and not showing the real stuff.

Unit1 · Answer

I don't watch them. News aren't really news and the media spreads news that it wants to spread and there goes a ton of money into it to spread customized news for whoever is paying.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

Not so much anymore. Occasionally I'll watch the BBC now thar they've replaced Parrot Travalian with 10/10 girls. I used to watch Tucker Carlson but got tired of his hypocrisy and nationalism

CrimsonAngel09 · Answer

Nope, it's boring. Only interested in the weather.

sheikalana · Answer

I do not actually sit to watch the news but I have alerts on my phone or social media that notify me on what's going on around the world.

dolllface · Answer

nope unfortunately, just the news i come across on twitter

Smashingdoozy · Answer

Nope I don't have TV channels. I look at the news on my phone

DryGermanGuy · Answer

20.00 o‘ clock Tagesschau has been a fixture since primary school. 👍

Blueeyes81 · Answer

No. I don't need anymore toxicity in my life. I peruse news apps to get news that interests me and skip all the sensationalism crap that news has become.

lorenzomichael · Answer

Nope because it's all bad. Besides I never believe everything I hear and half of what I see. you should do the same, you'll be better off. Try it.

BarryLiverstone · Answer

I watch both the local news and main news. But find much of the National news is biased one way or another

RavVid · Answer

I have little tolerance for most news but important news yes and I try to get a diverse view.

jamesgoldman · Answer

I tend to as part of the nature of the good business What's the economy doing, who's going to war with who

imfreeze95 · Answer

Yes I enjoy knowing what the story is. The trick is to watch different news channels that way you get a better picture of what is going on. It eliminates some of the bias.

Jazzy54 · Answer

Rarely. It’s not good for my mental health all the time.

Anonymous · Answer

i don't watch the news, i read the news. it's way quicker. so i can see what moron millionaires are trying to do to ruin my city.

FunkyMonkee · Answer

Except for SOME of the local shit, and the weather, it's all lies so, what's the point?

BLP11520 · Answer

Sparingly, which is true? What is false and what goes unreported and covered up. I hardly trust any source.

007kingifrit · Answer

yes but i only watch news that has a live comments sections so we can fact check and critique the journalist in real time

OddBeMe · Answer

I read the news. Less commentary. Highly recommend it.

collie22 · Answer

No I don't watch news channels, it's too sensationalized for me

Sparkie460 · Answer

I only watch the local news. I'm only interested in things going on in my community

LiamJHayden · Answer

Nope. To me they're just talking heads spouting propaganda.

AliSulayman · Answer

I like in the middle of conflict. Watching the news is how I start my day.

najekim · Answer

We watch the local news but pass on the national news.

Minahh · Answer

I feel like it's an older people thing if I'm watching the news I must be incredibly bored

Kingofkings1992 · Answer

I don’t. My brain is already a pretty negative place without it.

sage2021 · Answer

Yes, everyday. I watch Fox News Channel.

whereismyjohnny · Answer

I read the news online.

BeMuse · Answer

No, only the mentally retarded do that.

weysally · Answer

we have the mute button that we use a lot

Miristheiss · Answer

No. It is too corrupt... too agenda driven.

Rockstarrrrr · Answer

Yeah... Fear of missing out lol

gorydetails · Answer

I do not. It’s nothing but propaganda.

Beth1212 · Answer

no i dot to boring

Alex8736 · Answer

Only to check on the weather and traffic

Anonymous · Answer

Nope. Not since March 19 2020

Anonymous · Answer

I watch every evening.

roy_ricky09 · Answer

Never

Luckycharms12 · Answer

Nope depressing

eagle1951 · Answer

not much these days

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