To think ignorance is bliss?

[Birdylade]

After being an avid Guardian reader, news watcher and general media fiend I have come to the conclusion that ignorance is bliss and have therefore decided to stop reading the paper, watching the news & reading magazines for the next month.

I am tired of feeling anxious about the awful things that happen to strangers which have very little if any bearing on my life, comparing myself to women I don't know, lusting after clothes I can't afford.

I believe that ignorance is bliss and it won't turn me into a narrow minded parochial bigot, aibu?!

YANBU - as long as you don't have to know what is going on news wise for work, then I don't blame you one bit!

YANBU

YABU - You need to differentiate and process what is going on in the wider world in relation to your own life. If you are struggling to "take" the news articles you read, it may indicate certain sensitivities in your life that you need to address.

It is sensible to pay attention to what is going on in the world - always.

it's okay to turn off from it all, doesn't mean you don't care

def ditch magazines, just browse nice clothing shop websites the you can afford

i'd rather be informed though of world news, it's all a bit too interesting at the moment

Yadnbu.

Great idea might try it myself!
Mmmmmm fast forward to next week I think I will just pop out for some petrol. Excuse me why is there such a big long queue for the petrol young man? Ha anyone would think there was a strike or something!

It is good to be informed about things to do with control of ones life - the rest is piffle; so on balance YANBU, if you rely on one source (for the dissemination of information)

*the control of

You don't need to read a particular newspaper or magazine to be informed.

DH can interrupt my blissful state to inform me of any major events or anything likely to affect us personally, otherwise I don't want to know.. I will potter in the garden and read books!

YABU - You need to differentiate and process what is going on in the wider world in relation to your own life. If you are struggling to "take" the news articles you read, it may indicate certain sensitivities in your life that you need to address.

How do the people in rural Uganda manage ?

OhdearNigel - please could you explain the relevance?

I was referring to the OP, not rural Uganda. Should I have said that in the first place?

YANBU. I'm doing same at mo.

You made it sound as if not knowing what was going on in the "wider world" was something necessary. I was pointing out that millions of people in the world have no access to current affairs and manage to live their lives perfectly happily without having "certain sensitivities in their lives" because they find news stories about butchered babies upsetting

I see what you mean OhdearNigel. My point, however, is related to THIS country where news is everywhere. You have to make a conscious effort to hide from it, as opposed to making a conscious effort to find it.

Birdylade, sorry to hear you are feeling so anxious.

dont bother with the news if its upsetting you, just come on here for half hour a day and you will know all the big bits anyway :)

YANBU. I Was thinking about how true this statement is myself the other day, in so many situations. Knowing things can be a real burden!

YANBU. I don't read the papers but I do watch the news once a day so I can hear what's happening in the world. Papers though, are full of sensationalist, biased shite and I got tired of reporters not telling me a story but trying to feed me my opinion. In most articles, you get a small percentage of actual fact. The rest is just inflammatory wording. I'll decide for myelf if something is bizzarre or sick, tyvm.

I dont read much news (on t'internet) no newspapers or magazines and never watch news on the tv. I skim headlines on yahoo's homepage, i find that news depresses me and i know its good to know whats going on in the world etc but i think i have too much empathy or something and it upsets me for ages. Even reading stuff on MN sticks with me for days (for example the other day i clicked on a thread about tortoises in keyrings in China and it upset me) Stupid things like that (animal, child or the elderly cruelty especially) i try to avoid reading.

"You need to differentiate and process what is going on in the wider world in relation to your own life. If you are struggling to "take" the news articles you read, it may indicate certain sensitivities in your life that you need to address."

It's much too early in the morning after a bad night to even begin to break down how absolutely bullshit full that sentence is.

So have a [bubiscuit] instead while I go back to bed.

Sorry if you're struggling to understand Tee. Would you like me to make it a bit simpler for you?

I never said I was struggling to understand. Perhaps you could learn to read?

Yanbu.

I stopped buying papers and watching the news 18months or so ago and my mental health has improved dramatically.