Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
ShelaghTurner · 01/09/2016 09:58

I never watch the news either (or most tv for that matter!) but if you spent any time online at all then the news comes to you. It's pretty impossible not to know what's going on.

UntilTheCowsComeHome · 01/09/2016 09:58

2 of my work colleagues are like this. I get on well with them in the main, but their lack of knowledge about anything in the world is bonkers.

They don't read newspapers, watch the news or have any interest in politics. They don't bother to vote - what's the point - and probably would be hard pushed to tell you who the prime minister is.

One of them confesses to be a music lover but when I asked her if she watched anything of Glastonbury on the telly she said 'oh I only like pop music' when I mentioned who was on, she said 'so it's not just metal then?' I mean how can you know fuck all about Glastonbury if you're any kind of music fan?!

ElspethFlashman · 01/09/2016 09:59

I think stopping kids watching the news is insane. You can have really good conversations about it.

And there's that wonderful story I'm always reminded of from Mr Rogers who was a US kids TV personality - he got upset at some terrible tragedy on the news as a boy and his mother said "Yes, but look for the helpers". And after that he always noticed how many onlookers were helping in stories like that. Solidified his faith in other people and was deeply positive for him.

RiverTam · 01/09/2016 09:59

My parents were absolute news junkies, my mum still is, and growing up I could have told you the names and roles of the entire cabinet and beyond. These days, not so much Blush. My concentration is shot to shit.

RiverTam · 01/09/2016 10:00

Has Glastonbury ever been about metal??

Bountybarsyuk · 01/09/2016 10:01

I don't think you are unreasonable, I would find this really quite odd, I just don't have any friends who don't at least keep up with current affairs to some extent, even if they don't watch the news (I don't watch the news as a programme, too boring and slow, but I check newsites most days and see headlines on newspapers).

I wouldn't care if they were into Love Island, I would care that we couldn't talk about Brexit, at least on a human level even if they weren't massively into politics.

Soubriquet · 01/09/2016 10:03

Sounds like they got Glastonbury and Download mixed up

SpiritedLondon · 01/09/2016 10:03

Sorry just seen your comment further up.......thankfully only 1 of them voted. You would like to think that people wouldn't engage in a process if they hadn't done any research. They sound a bit grim to me.... I wonder if they read books? I wouldn't say I watch the news religiously but I do try and see it or listen if I haven't had a chance to look at a newspaper. ( although you can pick up so much stuff in other ways now)

IsMyUserNameRubbish · 01/09/2016 10:04

Lastqueenofscotland......I'd sooner have children brought up by caring, loving parents than politically minded ones.

CedricSydneySneer · 01/09/2016 10:04

Well you can like music but just listen to whatever is on the radio and in the charts.

wanderings · 01/09/2016 10:04

Google "why news is bad for you".

SemiNormal · 01/09/2016 10:05

I very very rarely watch the news, mainly because I don't want it on when my 6yr old is around, plenty of time for him to see the doom and gloom as he gets older. I do read it though (online) and will watch if there is a major event happening ie the rioting a few years back, terror attacks (but only when my son is in bed).

I used to watch it all the time but even if I didn't have my son I probably wouldn't watch it as much as I used to, I get terrible anxiety (and nightmares) over terror attacks.

TheNaze73 · 01/09/2016 10:05

I think it's very odd not to watch any or listen to any news. Each to their own I suppose

maddiemookins16mum · 01/09/2016 10:06

I don't watch the news but actively listen out for it on the radio several times a day. Are they much younger than you? They sound like my DN's friends, obsessed with reality TV, post endless pouting selfies on FB and generally seem out of touch with a lot of what is happening around them (one had never heard of the EU, she's 26). All of them have several kids under 11, it's scary.

Helmetbymidnight · 01/09/2016 10:06

Ismyusernamerubbish Grin that's a joke, right?

Or you have some evidence to suggest that politically aware people are not caring or loving parents?

UnderTheGreenwoodTree · 01/09/2016 10:07

I'm like you, OP, so YANBU Smile I would have no clue about BB, TOWIE etc - although I do watch Bake off and a few things like Strictly. I hate x factor with a passion.

I have also noticed how a fair few of my "school mum" friends never watch the news, or have any awareness of world events. A friend I used to see a lot was lovely, v intelligent - but I'd mention some very high profile thing in the news and she would have no awareness of it. Perhaps they're just happier not knowing about the news Wink

Not knowing that Theresa May is PM is a bit concerning though - I mean they have dc, they really should know who the PM is.

jumpjumpformylove · 01/09/2016 10:07

I've often wondered why people judge themselves to be more intelligent than the TOWIE brigade because they have News 24 on, when it's just as voyeuristic and sensationalist.

It's all tomorrow's fish & chip paper.

Original poster
oklumberjack · 01/09/2016 10:08

No, they're of a similar age to me.

OP posts:
Original poster
oklumberjack · 01/09/2016 10:09

I'm 44!

OP posts:
ElspethFlashman · 01/09/2016 10:09

It's not sensationalist to want a basic knowledge of the Cabinet!!

Crispsheets · 01/09/2016 10:09

Totally agree last queen
They take an absurd pride in it too. Like people who say they've never read a book and it's never done me any harm.
I couldn't be friends with anyone who wasn't aware of what's going on in the world.

VioletBam · 01/09/2016 10:10

I don't watch the news.

It depresses me.

I'm not sorry and I don't feel "less" or anything. It's my choice.

UntilTheCowsComeHome · 01/09/2016 10:10

She knew roughly what Glastonbury was, I think she'd seen images of people with coloured hair or something and decided that only weirdos went there so it must be 'alternative' music only.

She went to see Lionel Richie this year, I asked her if she'd seen his set at Glastonbury and she looked shocked. If she's a Lionel Richie fan surely she'd have heard something about him being there?

IsMyUserNameRubbish · 01/09/2016 10:10

Helmet.....you'd better ask the poster I was replying to who seems to think parents who don't watch the news are ignorant, pretty much like people who don't check out their facts I suppose.

On and if I was joking I'd have started off by "have you heard the one about.............."

KERALA1 · 01/09/2016 10:10

Yanbu. Have you read 1984. They are the modern version of the general public in that