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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

"Oh I never watch the news"

408 replies

oklumberjack · 01/09/2016 09:29

Ok, I feeling really judgemental about this I'll admit, but here goes.

I went out for dinner this week with some school mum's from the primary my dd has just left. These women are acquaintances of mine. Nice women, friendly but I don't consider them my closest friends.

Over the course of lunch, we were discussing our summer etc. I mentioned the Olympics and something about Theresa May. They all looked blankly at me. All 5 of them said they hadn't seen any Olympics and had no idea how we'd done. 3 of them had not even heard of Theresa May. The conversation then got on to how they never watch the news, or read a newspaper or even access it online. As soon as news comes on they turn over. I was shocked. I kept very quiet that I'm a Radio 4 and 5live listener, avid Daily Politics watcher and rather enjoyed watching the cycling,rowing and diving at the Olympics on the BBC.

However they could tell me all about Love Island, Big Brother and TOWIE which is where the conversation went next. I felt really out of place. They seemed to think that being interested in the news made you some kind of snob.

Ok, so we're out of step in what we like. We probably won't hang out much in the future, however please tell me I'm not really unusual in checking in with the news at least twice a day!

OP posts:
DangerousBeanz · 01/09/2016 09:33

No you aren't unusual. I'd hate to be so uninformed about the world. Although I confess I no longer read newsapers as I view them all as propoganda sheets for the tax dodging billionaires who own them.

HereIAm20 · 01/09/2016 09:34

I watch Big Brother and the news! I can't personally understand how they could not have heard of Theresa May at all.

Surely even if they log in to their email or go on Facebook or even their phones there are news bulletins that they'd see!

Binkybix · 01/09/2016 09:35

You're not unusual! I find that level of unawareness amazing.

However, on a slight tangent I once listened to an interesting discussion as to why people follow the news so religiously and why it's seen as a good thing to do. When you think about it, it is quite difficult to define why it's a 'good' thing. It's definitely seen as a signal for someone's who's intelligent but there are probably more intelligent/enlightening way to spend time.

There's one theory that it's a way of getting a thrill without being in danger - a but like a roller coaster.

Sorry, massive tangent, but it made me think.

ButtMuncher · 01/09/2016 09:35

I think you know you're not being unreasonable in checking the news Grin

The rest of the thread though....

NB - A lot of people (myself included) don't actively look at news sites, but use Twitter as means of keeping up to date - so there is another avenue of news. I find mainstream news incredibly one sided and/or full of propaganda, so Twitter enables me to source the news I want.

Skittlesss · 01/09/2016 09:36

I don't watch the news, but I do read it online. Didn't watch the Olympics as it doesn't interest me. However I do not watch TOWIE or big brother and I have no idea what love island is.

Soubriquet · 01/09/2016 09:38

I don't watch the news either

Had no interest in the Olympics so I didn't watch that, and I don't understand politics so why would i torture myself with that?

If anything big happens, it's usually all over FB and then I'll look it up online.

lastqueenofscotland · 01/09/2016 09:39

Yanbu
While I don't expect everyone to know Gabons parliament was burnt down this week... Not knowing who the prime minister is is ridiculous

imwithspud · 01/09/2016 09:40

YANBU, I find it amazing that any grown adult hasn't heard of Theresa May, she is the prime minister of the country we live in ffs!

I do watch the news and follow various news sources on social media. I would feel really strange to have no idea what's going on in the world, a bit like living in a bubble, an ignorant bubble.

heron98 · 01/09/2016 09:40

I don't watch the news either as I have no telly but I scroll through the Guardian app every morning and skim anything that looks important.

I wouldn't say I have great insight but I know roughly what's going on. Surely we have a duty?

echelon · 01/09/2016 09:42

We hardly ever watch the news but we know the Olympics are on and who TM is Hmm

DailyMailPenisPieces · 01/09/2016 09:43

YANBU!

RawPrawn · 01/09/2016 09:43

YANBU. It's like that horrible moment when someone you are in the first throes of friendship with comes out with some casual racism, or turns out to be a screaming homophobe or religious. NEXT!

Soubriquet · 01/09/2016 09:43

Theresa May is the PM now? Is she? Blush

I thought it was still Gordon Brown

When did that happen?

StopMakingMeLogOn · 01/09/2016 09:44

I can understand people making the choice not to watch the news every day - it is so depressing and they are probably happier for it. That said I could never do it. It feels so irresponsible to not have a clue what is going on on the world. There is no excuse for grown women not to know who the PM is. That is shockingly ignorant.

BlancheBlue · 01/09/2016 09:44

Its worrying that such people are voting in elections and referendums

FlumptyDumpty · 01/09/2016 09:44

Some people don't watch or read the news if they suffer with anxiety. It is quite common for therapists to recommend this, as an experiment for a while. Many people feel happier if they are not exposed to a constant diet of news about death and destruction around the planet (we never seem to be told much good need these days).

Original poster
oklumberjack · 01/09/2016 09:44

I don't honestly read many newspapers online unless there's an interesting article flagged up via Twitter etc.

I too find Twitter the best at breaking news and finding different commentary on it.

I use it all I think. Twitter, Facebook, BBC news app, Channel 4 news, Radio (mostly) ....

Maybe I have a news habit! Grin

OP posts:
2sCompany · 01/09/2016 09:45

I don't watch the news. Sometimes flick through headlines online, so I am vaguely aware of what's going on in the world. I find a lot of it to be speculative about what may or may not happen, rather than factual. Also I quite like living in a bit of a bubble and would rather not always know how terrible the world really is. I don't mean to be ignorant but it upsets me how horrible the human race can be to one another.

Same reason I don't watch all the reality TV crap. It upsets me how ridiculous, fame hungry and stupid humans can be as well!

manyathingyouknow · 01/09/2016 09:45

And these women are bringing up children in a world where knowledge is power.

I can't understand how they wouldn't know who Theresa May is Confused

ElspethFlashman · 01/09/2016 09:45

So...am very curious. Who did they think was PM? Still David Cameron? Had they heard of Brexit?

lastqueenofscotland · 01/09/2016 09:45

Are you joking? Gordon brown hasn't been PM for SIX years

FlumptyDumpty · 01/09/2016 09:45

News, not need! Gah!

BertieBotts · 01/09/2016 09:45

I don't watch the news. It's not in my language Grin

I do tend to read online but I don't seek it out as such. I'll follow the occasional link to an article and sometimes end up reading other things from the sidebar from there, and I use social media and forums a lot so you tend to catch wind of any important events that way.

I do know who Theresa May is but I couldn't tell you anything she's done since she came into power.

My mum actively avoids all news etc because she says it's too depressing.

IsMyUserNameRubbish · 01/09/2016 09:45

They sound like my kind of friends, I don't watch or listen to the news either, never have, it's too distressing watching all the violence, pain and fear that people inflict in others.

ElspethFlashman · 01/09/2016 09:46

Blanche don't worry - I very much doubt people that vapid ever vote.