"Oh I never watch the news"

[oklumberjack]

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!

Why would anyone query being told to check the source of information?

Honestly, it seems to come as quite a surprise to a significant minority of my undergraduates that there's a difference between information derived from a scholarly tome published by a reputable university press and an 'insight' from a thread called 'heeelllppp!!! overdue essay on Great Expectations!!!!!' on some US high school chatroom.

Why would anyone query being told to check the source of information?

Because society has become polarised. Those who believe that the authorities should regulate everything, to prevent them being exposed misleading, incomplete and inaccurate information, so believe everything without question - and those who refuse to accept anything other than their own belief and "gut feeling" irrespective of the quality of evidence to the contrary.

Having a stack of heavy duty qualifications doesn't guarantee logic or good research in all areas - as evidenced by what a berk David Starkey is when he pontificates on contemporary issues (and recent history) - and Hugh Trevor-Roper who my history teacher worshipped.

I have a friend who is proud not to ever watch/read/listen to the news. She takes delight in telling people she knows nothing about elections, disasters, anything.
She's also proud not to vote or drive - or be a functioning adult, apparently.
She's actually not really my friend any more.

I don't agree NNChangeAgain

What I see most often is that people hold an opinion, and then work backwards to find reasons to believe it. Rather than the other way around.

Also people are very well ready to dis/believe anything depending on who said it. A Trump supporter will never agree with Clinton even if she said the sky was blue.

I feel sorry for the children of a parent who is so spectacularly ignorant of who the leader of their own country is and doesn't appear to think this is in any way an odd state of affairs.

In fact I just can't believe that in the years since Gordon Brown was PM that you haven't had one single conversation with anyone that included reference to the coalition or the referendum. How are you planning to teach your children about the society in which they live and need to function?

She's also proud not to vote or drive - or be a functioning adult, apparently.

But she is a functioning adult, isn't she? She is considered an adult legally, and treated like an adult by society.

Decisions she makes impact on others lives.

I couldn't give two hoots whether she remains ignorant about the recall of salad leaves she bought from the supermarket yesterday if she only eats them herself - but when she puts them in the sandwiches she sends in for the class party, then I have a legitimate gripe.

I don't care if she ignores warnings of toxic fumes in the area if she's home on her own, but if my kids at at her house, I expect her to react to media warnings.

I'm not bothered if she puts herself at risk by going hiking when a storm is blowing in, but I sure as hell care when my friend in volunteer search and rescue gets called out and puts himself at risk to rescue her from a hilltop when she gets stranded.

Wilfully choosing to remain ignorant about current affairs puts others at risk. Taking pride in that is arrogant. That is unacceptable in a democratic society.

Eyes down for a full house.

Get some new friends. They sound like idiots. Life is too short......

I don't watch the news but regularly get updates on FB and news apps. TBH I used to be blissfully unaware of all the scary and depressing crap that goes on in this world and wish I still was. Makes me feel very worried and anxious and I never used to be.

Almost by osmosis they must of heard of Theresa May

This is funny in a thread you started about looking down on the ignorant.

Don't get you BadLad?

It's a snarky grammar comment. 'Must have' not 'must of'

Rather unnecessary.

I wouldn't usually make it, but seeing as this thread is about looking down on others for what they don't know, it's quite ironic that the OP has made a mistake that regularly draws scorn.

Of course, Sod's law has it that this post will be full of mistakes that I don't see until I click on Post.

I blame satellite tv!

When there were three/four channels, you were forced to watch what was on, whether it be The News or whatever. Those who spurned television were usually radio people.

Now, however, you can watch whatever you like - a million television channels or Netflix etc. You can deliberately tune out of the mainstream. This is not just true of those who just like Towie/Love Island, but some people can limit themselves to sport channels, home shopping, nostalgia, and also - which is a shame - people can immerse themselves in programmes from their original culture. Eg ds has an Indian friend and the women only watch Indian channels. Additionally they shop in the Indian supermarket and talk to their family and friends in original language.

Television was once the great leveller - ironing out regional accents/dialects and engendering a shared experience - not so much now.

Almost by osmosis they must of heard of Theresa May

This is funny in a thread you started about looking down on the ignorant.

BadLad, I was using 'osmosis' as a metaphor for people generally managing to get general knowledge almost naturally 'absorbed' through their skin. I know that's not a completely accurate scientific description of a biological process and I wasn't literally saying that this happens with humans.

But you already knew that.

Almost by osmosis they must of heard of Theresa May
Almost by osmosis they must have heard of Theresa May

I think Badlad was referring to your use of "of" instead of "have" in the sentence.

Ok. Fair point, but I never once claimed I was perfect at grammar!

Those who believe that the authorities should regulate everything, to prevent them being exposed misleading, incomplete and inaccurate information, so believe everything without question

This.

...of which the Brexit debacle was a prime example, IMO - people wanted 'The Facts' given to them by 'Experts' but failed to understand just how much nuance is involved.

Even the BBC had a 'Fact Checker' section of their website! In reality, there is no such thing as a 'fact', just different interpretations of the same information. Even to use the term 'Fact Checker', as if there were some sort of imaginary box that could be ticked or crossed to indicate whether something was 'true' or 'false' is highly irresponsible and over simplistic.

I was really troubled to see that a petition was organised to attempt to regulate what politicians were allowed to tell the public - this is looking at the problem from totally the wrong end. We should aim to better equip ourselves to critically analyse content, evaluate the source of information and not just to rely on it's accuracy because someone else said so.

Introducing legislation that acts as a fetter on the freedom of expression is an almost laughable response to the problem of ignorance. I'm just saddened that it seemed to gain quite as much traction as it did...

This thread makes me very sad and despair of many adults in this country. I have very good friends and family who appear to know nothing of what is going on in this country, never mind the rest of the world.
Yes the news can be depressing, but it informs, and that information is knowledge.
I worry about people who live in their own cosy little "bubbles" how can they be a good parent/citizen/useful member of society.

I am not critical of those who watch Towie etc, if you enjoy it, but to ignore what's going on in the world around you is pure folly.

No, i also go around in a state of complete ignorance of what's happening in the world because it might see something that upsets my wickle sensibilities.

I'm also selfish, bone idle lazy and apathetic

Moles I was really troubled to see that a petition was organised to attempt to regulate what politicians were allowed to tell the public - this is looking at the problem from totally the wrong end. We should aim to better equip ourselves to critically analyse content, evaluate the source of information and not just to rely on it's accuracy because someone else said so.

I completely agree with this, however are you referring to the petition in favour of making it illegal for politicans to lie in Parliament? I quite liked the sound of that... although I suppose it would be incredibly difficult to word and police the law so you caught the absolute whoppers without trivial stuff clogging up the investigation system. But some way of holding them accountable rather than waiting five years for the next batch of lies would be good.

BadLad I wouldn't usually make it, but seeing as this thread is about looking down on others for what they don't know, it's quite ironic that the OP has made a mistake that regularly draws scorn.

The OP seems to be criticising wilful ignorance, rather than ignorance per se. "Must of" makes me wince but poor education or exposure to certain ways of speaking are different from actively shutting out knowledge that is relevant to your life.

On the other hand, exposure to the propaganda machine may actually be worse. At least this way activists can try to engage them before they're brainwashed. Although, then again, UKIP... hmm.

Of course, Sod's law has it that this post will be full of mistakes that I don't see until I click on Post. Ah yes - Muphry's Law. I expect I have done the same myself in this post...

I neither watch nor listen to the news. I do find it causes me some anxiety. I have a basic knowledge of politics and vote and there are things that filter through whether I like it or not. I donate to charities that will also need help via direct debit and don't accept judgement on my choice not to be informed about all of the horrible things going on in the world. FWIW I don't watch Tower or BB either.

We should aim to better equip ourselves to critically analyse content, evaluate the source of information and not just to rely on it's accuracy because someone else said so

Media Literacy education is what underpins these skills.

It is no longer easy to equip people with the skills relevant to today's media. The field is progressing so rapidly, that the skills that are taught to recent generations of young people are obsolete before they become adults.

When I was at school, the internet didn't exist. I wasn't taught the skills needed to navigate the truths, half truths, propaganda and agendas that are perpetuated on social media and via vlogs. The term "journalist" refers to a professional in their chosen field - which came with responsibilities and professional ethics. Now the word means something very different.

We can no longer rely on our education curriculum to equip young people with the media literacy skills they will need in adult life - but society desperately needs those skills.