I'm tapering off of TV news, that is, news, shown on TV. There are lots of reasons not to watch news on TV, but the one I find most compelling is that the news isn't relevant to my life. Not really. It's the last one on this list but arguably should be first: https://www.developgoodhabits.com/stop-watching-news/ When I think of the first five news stories from last week that pop in to my mind, I get: 1. Civil unrest in Kazakshtan 2. AOC claiming Republicans are sexually fascinated with her. 3. Some comedian and TV star named Bob (I could look up his last name, but the fact that I can't recall his last name is telling. Did he know my last name?) 4. The White House scrambling to get his messaging straight on COVID and the spokeswoman saying, "Problem? What problem?" 5. One of Trump's allies (Kevin McCarthy?) is arguing with a congressional committee about his obligation to testify or turn over something relevant to 1/6. Not one of those stories has the slightest importance to me or mine. Be honest: are they really important to you? Can you not think of 5 things more immediately important? "Oh, so Jan 6 is not a big deal???" Yes, it is. But it's over. Resistance to mail in voting may be bad (I don't think it is), but it's not "January 6 every day!!!!". The stories about 1/6 have become so tangential to the original story that it's just not worth anyone's time, except for the people on the Dem controlled witchu-- I mean fact finding committee. they are also important to the corporations who fund the news programs and to the careers of people like Sean Hannity, Andrea Mitchell, Brian Stelter, and Joy Reid. They're already rich. Do they need more money? And I should be the one to give it to them? Why? Why don't they give me some money. I like money. "Oh, so you don't care that a junior Congresswoman from a faraway state believes that Republicans are sexually obssessed with her ???" No, I don't. Do you? "Oh, so there is a destabilizing insurrection in Central Asia and YOU DON"T CARE???" Not really. "Oh, so a beloved comedian and TV star you never met dies and you don't care?" I don't know, would he care if I had died before him? Would he have even found out? "Oh, so Covid cases are skyrocketing and you don't care????" Okay, I care about that one. And I'm sorry. It's my fault. But I'm vaccinated and am taking normal precautions. Why do I need to read about the epidemic over and over on the net, here, and on cable news? Why do I need to read that "Brian Stelter DESTROYED Tucker Carlson!!!" on his "show" last night?
I was in a food court this evening and the overhead TV was set to CNN. I chanced a look at the screen, and what did I see but Anderson Cooper interviewing... Carl Bernstein. The subject was ... Carl Bernstein. I don't know whose idea it was to book a has-been reporter famous for a 50 year old story, to talk about himself, but suffice it to say I'm glad the sound was off.
Journalists love to stroke each other. I remember a well advertised news special about the American military. I looked forward to it. Made plans to watch it. When I tuned in I saw a bunch of news people. No Soldiers. Not a West Point or Annapolis grad in the bunch. No one who had hefted a rifle in a firefight or replaced a tank track pad. Not muddy boot in the place. No one that sucked it up in a firefight or jumped into a hot LZ. Just a bunch of keyboard jockeys. Journalists love themselves.
I wonder if CNN has meters measuring viewership in real time. Maybe it increases when Carl Bernstein comes on to growse and lament the impending loss of "our democracy." He's famous, so he must know what he is talking about, LOL.
Haven't watched the news intentionally for about 5 years now. It's been 20+ years since I've watched a football game. I am happier for it.
We agree. Sports is like sex. GREAT to DO. BORING to WATCH. I do break down to watch Army kick butt every year in the Army-Navy Game though.
I stopped paying for tv in 2006. No cable available where I live, so we had directTV, little satellite dish as the only option. One day the little arm on the dish went flaccid and was hanging down. I called them to come fix it, and they wanted a $99 fee to send someone to look, and said there would be an additional charge to replace damaged equipment, like I really climbed up on my roof and broke their dish. I cancelled my account then and there and have been better off for it. I tossed their dish in the scrap heap, mounted an OTA antenna to the pole instead, and enjoy 40 mostly useless channels in glorious HD, free of charge. Some of them are even in English language, so yay for that. Even so, I too am sick of the National news, and almost never watch it. I watch the local news until I learn what they think the weather might do, then turn it off.
~ Same here. Have not watched broadcast television since my cats knocked the flat screen to the floor and broke it 9 years ago. Best thing they ever did for their human . ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
