Why do you follow the news/politics?

[taylor]

I'm trying to understand the point of following news/politics.

How often do you consume news media?
How often do you read books on politics / global events?
What does it offer you specifically?

Thank you to everyone who chooses to help me understand.

[Criseyde]

I just like to know what's going on. Not sure why; I've always been this way. When I was a little kid, I didn't like to go to bed at night because I was afraid I would miss something.

I'm not sure how often I consume it. It used to be every day. Now I do less, because big things don't happen every day and the news spends a lot of time chewing over the same information. Whenever things happen, I find out from Facebook or the forums and I go read about it.

Books... very rarely.

[moonrambler]

I listen to public radio a lot. Sometimes I listen to right-wing talk shows to get a different viewpoint than my own. I also get news from one of my friends who's a news junkie and reads a daily paper and watches tv news.

I find it interesting. Like a story unfolding.

[James Fletcher]

I read web articles on current events and politics every few days. I consider it a time wasting habit.

[VinceG]

Originally Posted by taylor

I'm trying to understand the point of following news/politics.

How often do you consume news media?
How often do you read books on politics / global events?
What does it offer you specifically?

Thank you to everyone who chooses to help me understand.

Before I found the PDSP forums, I posted at a politically minded forum. I really got to know that mindset. To them it's a duty that a good citizen must go through, as if we were ancient Greece or something. While most who get attracted to this site believe that reality is created by the individual, the political person believes reality is created collectively.

[Solipsist]

Originally Posted by moonrambler

I find it interesting. Like a story unfolding.

Same here.

I have degrees in History, and one thing that I've learned is that History is happening all the time.

I chose to record it in a blog

The Daily Chronolog

Feel free to check it out and leave a comment, if you're so inclined.

[Clint Cora]

I have the TV turned on for my local news during dinner then later at night, I watch a bit of CNN and BBC to get the international news. I think it's good to keep updated for two reasons I can immediately think of;

1) It gives you good topics for conversation if you run into friends and others
2) It gives me some ideas on articles and videos to write about sometimes.

Overall, it just makes you more intune with the world.

[ZephyrusX]

I prefer to read blogs or books that analyze and explain why certain events are happening. The news media is only suppose to report facts, but when they do step over the lines and provide analysis, that analysis tends to be simplistic if not overtly biased. Having said that, reading the news can be sort of fun as I can pick out stories and say 'ah ha! This makes sense within this particular context!'. I mainly just enjoy understanding how the world works.

Lately though, I haven't been reading as many political books or paying attention to the news media. I suppose you can only read so much and it starts to get repetitive after awhile. That might only attest to my inability to scope out interesting material though.

Originally Posted by taylor

I'm trying to understand the point of following news/politics.

How often do you consume news media?
How often do you read books on politics / global events?
What does it offer you specifically?

Thank you to everyone who chooses to help me understand.

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by taylor

I'm trying to understand the point of following news/politics.

How often do you consume news media?
How often do you read books on politics / global events?
What does it offer you specifically?

Thank you to everyone who chooses to help me understand.

I don't, really. I only see stuff if I am bored in front of the tv so occasionally flip to the news, but don't usually stay on that for long.

I also see stuff if it's online on the sites I visit, but I don't really give a crap about any of it most of the time.

[xtremelady]

I like to know what is going on, keeping yourself informed means being able to make educated predictions on the flows which are always swirling around you.

Knowledge and being informed is a good way of protecting yourself and family from negative circumstances which can be easily avoided or off set by keeping up to date what is happening in the world....

examples - best time to sell a house - open a business and what type - demonstrations which may prevent an easy or dangerous journey....

being forewarned is to be better prepared...

[Agota]

I don't follow politics or news at all.

I found out about events in Japan a week later than the rest of the world and that happened by accident, because the restaurant I was working in had free newspapers and there was a huge headline that got my attention.

More recently, I found out about London riots because my friend got back to London and made a FB update on riots and when I asked what riots gave me a link.

As I've said before, if the president of my own country would come into the room I'm sitting now, I wouldn't recognise her

People tell me all the time that I should be informed and they think I'm a very uneducated person if I'm not keeping up with the news, but when I ask why exactly I should be informed, people can't answer. I'd rather be informed on things that matter to me

I guess I'm not helping you understand the point of following the news, because I don't get it either

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by Agota

I don't follow politics or news at all.

I found out about events in Japan a week later than the rest of the world and that happened by accident, because the restaurant I was working in had free newspapers and there was a huge headline that got my attention.

More recently, I found out about London riots because my friend got back to London and made a FB update on riots and when I asked what riots gave me a link.

As I've said before, if the president of my own country would come into the room I'm sitting now, I wouldn't recognise her

People tell me all the time that I should be informed and they think I'm a very uneducated person if I'm not keeping up with the news, but when I ask why exactly I should be informed, people can't answer. I'd rather be informed on things that matter to me

I guess I'm not helping you understand the point of following the news, because I don't get it either

I'm like this.

I don't equate being 'smart' or 'educated' with being able to regurgitate what the t.v told me, just so I can hold a conversation with people I don't even know, or even those I do, just to appear smart.

I'd rather focus on making myself happy. I guess I'm sensitive though, and don't like to fill up on all the stories of murder and rape that fill the newspapers and news. I went on a neg free diet a while back, and it seems to agree with me. Filling up on too much information blocks inner tuition from being able to come through, and I operate mainly from that part of my brain...it has all the knowledge and information I'll ever need.

Sometimes though, I do get a bit sick of not knowing what is going on, as I have always been a huge history biff and someone said before the news is history in the making. I guess that's a good thing, as it sparks my curiosity again. I can always count on the word of mouth of the people around me who do read the papers and watch the news, so it's not like I can escape it really.

If I really need to know something, then I can always check online.

[Mariana Trench]

There's a story unfolding before me that we're all part of creating--why wouldn't I follow that?

That said, TV news is worthless, and I usually only catch snippets of it when someone else is watching it in my house--or when another source is pointing out its errors.

I read my last political book a couple months ago, but I don't read them regularly. I usually hear about an event, and look for analysis from various sources online to see if there's anything insightful, but often I'll just look for additional facts to contextualize it. If I want an overview, there's an online news and opinion show I watch occasionally. They make no attempt to hide their bias even superficially and don't pull any punches, which I respect.

[Michael Chui]

Originally Posted by taylor

How often do you consume news media?

Depends on exactly what you mean by "news media". I do watch CNN... in 10-second snatches as I pass through the lobby of the office building I work at. I read several blogs and news aggregators religiously, and I will often follow links I find there... and they've conveniently done filtering for me.

Originally Posted by taylor

How often do you read books on politics / global events?

Never. Books on current events are useless; either they're out-of-date or they're written too quickly. The former are discarded for obvious reasons whereas the latter are unserviceable because they're either poor in analysis and/or unadulterated punditry.

Originally Posted by taylor

What does it offer you specifically?

Trends. Everything in the universe is interconnected, and having a finger on the pulse of the world gives you better forewarnings of what's to come. More importantly, having actual data on how certain things played out gives you a better sense of how to actually make what you want to happen in similar situations in the future.

[Michael Chui]

Originally Posted by Agota

People tell me all the time that I should be informed and they think I'm a very uneducated person if I'm not keeping up with the news, but when I ask why exactly I should be informed, people can't answer. I'd rather be informed on things that matter to me

I would suggest that the rest of the world should matter to you.

[taylor]

It's interesting to see the similarities and differences in this thread. I don't follow any general news, but it's interesting how much news I'm aware of through other people. I don't get any details though, just headline summaries. That seems like plenty for me personally.

You apparently don't need to follow the news to have conversations about it, since people seem to really enjoy telling you the big scoop you haven't heard yet.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by taylor

It's interesting to see the similarities and differences in this thread. I don't follow any general news, but it's interesting how much news I'm aware of through other people. I don't get any details though, just headline summaries. That seems like plenty for me personally.

You apparently don't need to follow the news to have conversations about it, since people seem to really enjoy telling you the big scoop you haven't heard yet.

They especially like to tell you all the horrific stuff that happened, and then be sympathetic. Anything that gets people being emotive and outraged.

[Michael Chui]

Originally Posted by elucidate

They especially like to tell you all the horrific stuff that happened, and then be sympathetic. Anything that gets people being emotive and outraged.

One of my friends is great for using as a politics-filter. He's so jaded that he sends me horrors of politics as entertainment. It's like my own personal Jon Stewart. He also happens to be a good storyteller, so that helps.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by Michael Chui

One of my friends is great for using as a politics-filter. He's so jaded that he sends me horrors of politics as entertainment. It's like my own personal Jon Stewart. He also happens to be a good storyteller, so that helps.

My boss just likes to dump the latest murder in my lap whenever she thinks I'm a bit too happy!

[Mariana Trench]

Originally Posted by Michael Chui

One of my friends is great for using as a politics-filter. He's so jaded that he sends me horrors of politics as entertainment. It's like my own personal Jon Stewart. He also happens to be a good storyteller, so that helps.

Haha, that's awesome. I mean, not being jaded, necessarily. But a personal Jon Stewart? Hell yeah.

[Michael Chui]

Originally Posted by Mariana Trench

Haha, that's awesome. I mean, not being jaded, necessarily. But a personal Jon Stewart? Hell yeah.

We like to Skype while the President is giving the State of the Union, or something big is going on in Congress, and we will watch the video stream and point out completely ridiculous things to each other.

My favorite moment was this past January, during the SotU, we were going on about how bored Biden and Boehner looked, and then he says, "Hey, isn't that your website?" And I look and go, "Oh... oh... we're going to be slammed, aren't we?"

[ChrisGinsburg]

Because if I don't watch it the terrorists have already won!

[Oceans]

Originally Posted by taylor

I'm trying to understand the point of following news/politics.

How often do you consume news media?
How often do you read books on politics / global events?
What does it offer you specifically?

Thank you to everyone who chooses to help me understand.

I've had discussions with friends, gf's and my dad about this. The reason being is that I don't watch ANY, and they all say I have a duty to know what's going on. I usually say that I prefer finding out about life rather than being told about it.

However, I do have my own personal filter system which saves time. It’s from Tim Ferris. I get all the news I need to know about from friends...simples

I ask, "what’s new in the world that I should know about?" and they fill me in on the important stuff that they remember. You'd be surprised at how little people remember from watching daily news, all the time, everyday!

News is always subjective (and very serious ) from the minute it is recorded and then reported so i'm not fussed who gives me it.

If something I learn about is important, I do my own research for curiosity reasons, and learn everything rather than a one sided perspective

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by Oceans

You'd be surprised at how little people remember from watching daily news, all the time, everyday!

Exactly!

It's more like it's just junk food for the brain anyway. Most people forget about it as soon as it's gone in their heads.

Look at the fairly recent "pandemic" which was supposedly threatening to wipe out the human race. Two weeks later, no one was talking about it anymore.

Hell, I didn't find out about the NZ earthquake til the next day, and only by accident, and I'd totally forgotten about it three days later. Peoples heads are so filled with information these days and hardly retain most of it.

[Oceans]

Originally Posted by elucidate

Exactly!

It's more like it's just junk food for the brain anyway. Most people forget about it as soon as it's gone in their heads.

Look at the fairly recent "pandemic" which was supposedly threatening to wipe out the human race. Two weeks later, no one was talking about it anymore.

Hell, I didn't find out about the NZ earthquake til the next day, and only by accident, and I'd totally forgotten about it three days later. Peoples heads are so filled with information these days and hardly retain most of it.

Yes...it's largely fear based I feel. It reminds me of brainwashing.

Natural disasters have been happening since the beginning of time and it's only because of our information network that we know about everything that is going on. We then have the power to donate money, go there in person, or just pray for there wellbeing - not that anyone does this most of the time, including myself

In the Metro newspaper (UK), there is a very small section with people thanking and giving love to people. I jump to that page and ignore the rest

Bill Hicks - Kinetic Typography - YouTube

[taylor]

Originally Posted by Oceans

Yes...it's largely fear based I feel. It reminds me of brainwashing.

Natural disasters have been happening since the beginning of time and it's only because of our information network that we know about everything that is going on. We then have the power to donate money, go there in person, or just pray for there wellbeing - not that anyone does this most of the time, including myself

In the Metro newspaper (UK), there is a very small section with people thanking and giving love to people. I jump to that page and ignore the rest

Bill Hicks - Kinetic Typography - YouTube

That video's funny. I've never been a real news person but what little I took in, I quit after I read Tim Ferris' book 4hww. Also Terence McKenna had a lot of rants, clips on youtube if you're interested, about how culture acts as your personal operating system and how societal programming disempowers you by focusing on "society" or societal icons and their values rather than you and your values. Even the LOA stuff about you create your reality seems to preach abstaining as a best practice.

If I was a politican, political scientist, activitst, etc. then I would feel a need to keep up because I would have a direct effect on events. In reality, how much do you really need the news? How much impact do you have on the world because you follow it? I've lived without incident for many years now. The only thing that comes up is you haven't been briefed for your watercooler meeting and no one even cares if that's the case.

I appreciate all the diverse views on it and don't wanna rag on it because if you enjoy it, then enjoy it imo. The idea that it's a duty though doesn't make sense to me. A duty to whom?

[Michael Chui]

Originally Posted by taylor

How much impact do you have on the world because you follow it?

How much impact do you want to have?

I'm not trying to convince you to watch news/politics, but rationalizing your externally-imposed guilt is kinda annoying me.

There are two reasons to do anything:
1) I want to, or
2) I can get closer to doing something I want to.

[taylor]

Do you feel I'm trying to impose guilt? Thank you for pointing it out. That's not my intention at all. I guess I would rephrase the post to not make it personally about "you" like I did. Make it more about how I choose to see it.

Originally Posted by Michael Chui

How much impact do you want to have?

I can't say a specific quantity of impact because that would rely on other people's free will, which is not how I define goals. I believe the best ROI for positively impacting the world is raising the level of consciousness of the planet. That seems like the underlying issue which I also can personally accelerate.

News is focused on other, what I consider superficial issues. What are Obama's approval numbers, how is the economy doing this week, which party is dominate at the moment, etc etc. These are things I don't have any interest in because I can't personally do anything about them. I don't see how it helps anyone to follow it.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by taylor

News is focused on other, what I consider superficial issues. What are Obama's approval numbers, how is the economy doing this week, which party is dominate at the moment, etc etc. These are things I don't have any interest in because I can't personally do anything about them. I don't see how it helps anyone to follow it.

Most of the stuff they present is like this. If it isn't relevant to me then I don't see what use it has being in my head except to take up space.

It might sound callous, but what good does me knowing about someone I've never and will never meet getting brutally murdered do to help that person? Nothing. All it does is gets people emotive and gives them something to gossip about at work or to the neighbours.

[ZephyrusX]

Where did you get your current avatar from, taylor?