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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:
cheval · 02/09/2016 20:30

Had an argument recently with a friend who said democracy doesn't work as most people were too ill-informed and ignorant to understand who or what they were voting for in elections. I disagreed. Post the Euro referendum and this post, I give in, she is right. And soon there could be Trump....

Daydream007 · 02/09/2016 20:43

Oh dear, some people really do live in a bubble of reality tv and celebrity and are so out of touch with the real world. I find those sorts boring!

missmoz · 02/09/2016 20:43

emma

I watch question time and I watch love island, I get one thing from one programme and one thing from another, surely that's not hard to grasp?

I do think however that those who purposefully choose to stay ignorant about politics are doing themselves and this country a massive disservice. You can find politics boring or confusing, but you cannot deny it affects both yourself and everyone around you. It's your duty as a member of society to stay reasonably informed. Otherwise you're giving those in power a free pass to do what they like.

impossible · 02/09/2016 21:13

I'm with you. I watch and read a lot of news and seek out information about what's going on. I know the news can be depressing but if we dont keep our eyes on what is going on we are leaving it to self interested politicians to decide our futures.

PrincessHairyMclary · 02/09/2016 21:23

Before DD I was an avid newsreader and would watch it everyday. Now I only know what's going on through social media. I don't want the news on during the day as I don't think it's appropriate for DD but will perhaps catch up if there is a major incident happening (Paris attacks etc) personally I find online versions more likely to give accurate coverage tumbler is particularly good at raising my awareness on things that probably hadn't made it to UK news channels.

I also can't stand TOWIE and generally watch box sets or documentaries on netflix/prime.

jennn · 02/09/2016 21:27

I have acquaintances like this. They seem to think it's funny & take pride in not keeping up with current affairs. I advise them to watch Newsround - not too long, pitched at primary aged children & lots of pictures, diagrams & idiot proof explanations - perfect for bubble brained fools!

Tapandgo · 02/09/2016 21:48

Maybe they are just unintelligent people. Beggars belief that people - particularly those supposed to be guiding the next generation, are so ill informed about who is governing the country or what world events are shaping our present and our future. It's scary in fact.....

windygallows · 02/09/2016 21:55

Argh - I see this all the time. It's a kind of anti-intellectualism that the disenfranchised sort of tout... and it comes with a kind of parochial, tribal, inward looking focus - --- my life is about me and my family and my group of friends who I have known my whole life, I don't need to care about the world outside.

I actually think this point of view is/becomes quite prevalent in mums when domestic life dominates and they feel too busy for the 'public sphere' in the traditional sense. I daresay conversation about the news is threatening to those who don't keep up to speed or don't like to have a point of view.

I imagine you get sneers from other mums when you mention the news because they see mum get-togethers and baby groups as places where you're solely meant to talk about childrearing, babywipes and prams. Mention anything outside baby stuff and it's like sacrilege. Baby groups are for baby talk. Parent get-togethers are to talk about children, parenting and gossip about the teachers. No more, no less!

Pumpkin2010 · 02/09/2016 22:12

I don't listen to/watch the news or read newspapers. As soon as it comes on the radio or on tv I switch it off/over. But then I also don't want any of that crap tv so couldn't tell you who is on TOWIE.

The reason I stopped was because everything is so negative & depressing. I found it really draining & it just made me feel crap.

However, I do find out about what is going on in the world as I see snippets of things online, or my DH/family member will tell me. Then if I choose to stay informed I will. I know all about the olypmics & I do try to stay informed about what the hell is going on with our politicians these days, but I must admit to being selective.

I do find that the 'big' news stories tend to find me though.

Pumpkin2010 · 02/09/2016 22:13

Olympics*

BananaThePoet · 02/09/2016 22:28

I don't bother with mainstream media and I stopped reading newspapers in the late 1980s. Yet I am usually ahead of the curve in knowing what is going on in the world. Because I am involved in grassroots organisations and I communicate directly with politicians and activists and campaigns online and get involved with political inquiries where I feel it is appropriate and visit the government websites to read new laws and regulations etc and submit to requests for public input.
Nearly all the major news stories get broken properly online by people who actually are involved in the situations or are close observers and I prefer to hear from them and make my own mind up rather than get it filtered through an agenda first.
I don't own a television and a couple of days deleted the BBC iPlayer app from my devices so as not to accidentally fall foul of the new rules re: tv licenses. As for reality tv - I watched the first series of Big Brother and that's where my involvement with such things ended.
I wish more people would put a bit more effort into finding out what really happens instead of believing the tv news - it is more than often heavily slanted and very inaccurate.

Binkybix · 02/09/2016 22:30

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

This is really unpleasant when many people have posted that they suffer from anxiety. Your post suggests deep ignorance of another kind.

BananaThePoet · 02/09/2016 22:38

Agreed Binkybix.
I have anxiety and I find getting wound up by massively frightening things I have no power over is completely unhelpful and doesn't lead to me being able to make positive change in the world - quite the reverse.

By not watching the news - ever - I get to choose what I decide is relevant to me and I can then learn and become effective in making positive change because I have not been paralysed by the sort of 'rabbit in the headlamps" effect tv news and mainstream media news seems to produce in me.

Original poster
oklumberjack · 02/09/2016 22:52

Just to say,

I don't care if people don't watch the news. I just thought it surprising that any news wasn't absorbed from anywhere it seemed.

I don't think being informed about the news and watching reality TV are mutually exclusive at all. I watch some real shit. I was just shocked at the basic lack of current general knowledge but huge enthusiasm and passionate detail for a few reality tv shows.

It's been an interesting read everyone.

OP posts:
Original poster
oklumberjack · 02/09/2016 22:53

And yes, that was quite badly written.

OP posts:
tobee · 02/09/2016 23:31

I'm addicted to watching the news. And reading it. And am fascinated in thinking about how stories are deemed worthy of inclusion and what biases there might be, intentionally or otherwise. Especially when I think of the many other countries in the world that have, or have had, only access to state media.

I know someone who is intelligent, degree educated and loves radio 4 who explained they don't listen to or watch the news and once commented that I was "really good keeping up with news". I found that a really strange comment and still wonder what their hidden meaning must have been!

ManaFleet · 02/09/2016 23:44

^^"I don't understand politics so why would I torture myself with that?"

Wow.

mumofone1234 · 03/09/2016 02:00

.

silky1985 · 03/09/2016 07:22

oh you would love to talk to me lol , I will watch all the news I listen to lbc radio 4 WM and if the husband makes me radio 2 I also go online to get news at least two times a day but I could also tell you about the Olympics big brother towie and most other reality programs lol I think its ignorant to now know what happening a little in the world but think of it this way you will know when the meteorite will hit the earth before they do so you can get to a safer place !!! rofl

MrsGrumpyPaddy · 03/09/2016 07:33

I avoid the news as find the majority of stories are very sad and I find it hard to forget stuff like that, especially when it's about children. I've been happier since I stopped watching the news regularly. The nature of news means that you'll never know what they will broadcast. I don't want to know about housefires, car crashes, old people or children being raped or murdered.

I do keep up to date with big things, particularly politics, via Twitter/Facebook etc and will go to websites to read specific articles.

Also don't watch the other programs you mentioned op!

Dormez · 03/09/2016 07:47

I have come across several women in their twenties recently who don't vote because they aren't interested! I am very shocked by this and point out that they are choosing not to take part in the democratic process and therefore can't complain about basic things. Bin collections, school provision, NHS etc because they have said they aren't interested. I think that politics and the democratic process should be a compulsory part of education along with why it's so important to vote.

Soubriquet · 03/09/2016 08:14

^"I don't understand politics so why would I torture myself with that?"^

Wow

I'm sorry, Mana does my stupidity amaze you?

allegretto · 03/09/2016 08:21

Well tbh if you watched it you would probably understand it better so it's a bit of a strange comment!

Soubriquet · 03/09/2016 08:22

Not really. I can't hear the fucking tv and the subtitles don't work properly. Next

allegretto · 03/09/2016 08:27

Well that makes sense, your original comment about not watching it because you didn't understand it didn't.