"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!

Interesting, spaghettidog.

You are not really asking what you are asking OP.

Unreasonable to check the news?!

Surely not.

You are asking whether it is unreasonable to be a snob.

Well, that is your choice. Not unreasonable as such. Most people are snobs one way or another.

You are asking whether it is unreasonable to be a snob.

Or, valuing intellectual curiosity?

BabyGanoush, they virtually told me I was a snob for not watching TOWIE! I obviously am.

Just ordered that book spaghettidog - thanks

I must admit that I find political stuff hard to follow, I don't really understand what it means when people are like "OMG, So-and-so is now the minister of Blah!" and sometimes I try to catch up but it seems like there is so much needed background knowledge that I just don't have that it's really confusing and hard work. And if I do understand anything at the end, it doesn't normally make any difference anyway. So I try to be interested in politics every so often and then I give up.

No Apple I mean any rolling news service. I'm happy to be presented with a short, factual news bulletin, but news coverage which requires a non-starter of a story to be dragged out for several hours is ridiculous as they try turn nothing into something.

People who should not have their opinions voiced are carted out to fill a 10 minute gap, empty streets during a siege are filmed while they wait for something incredible to happen, the presenter fumbles over what to say next and rambles nonsense. I don't think anyone is made more intelligent for watching this. When something terrible happens in the world, news agencies are leaping for joy at how easy they can fill the next 7 days of news.

Stories are hyped to beyond belief just for a spot in the news. In this way I find it comparable to the trash that's considered 'low-brow'.

It is, isn't it, Apple?

He's refuting the idea of 'functional knowledge'/ 'rational ignorance' - that most of us don't train in car repairs or medicine or accountancy, but hire professionals when we need their expertise - and that today we don't need knowledge because we outsource memory and knowledge to the internet.

Ie, why do I need to know who Theresa May is when I can just google 'who is the PM'?

But if his survey is valid and there is a strong correlation between poor general knowledge and anti-social, dishonest or irresponsible behaviour, it's about a lot more than whether it was Theresa May or Nero fiddled when Rome burned!

But there's a difference between watching/reading the news and basic general knowledge.

There's nothing wrong with not following the news, whether it's due to anxiety, cynicism or disinterest, but as an average person, you should know who the bloody PM is!

I didn't say that the alternative to the news is Kim kardashian. i think people who chose not to know anything about the world they live in are ignorant.

That's hardly revolutionary.

I have a heck of a news habit (I'm in the biz), but I also like a bit of crappy telly - property porn, anyone?
A few years ago I tried to discuss the horror that is Syria with BIL (of the "we have nothing in common variety"). "I'm not into that shit," he said. WTAF?
Turns out SIL is one of those who doesn't even believe in being on the electoral roll (We're in Australia, where voting is compulsory). I'm not even sure we're from the same planet .

BertieBotts, I'm no expert in politics at all. I got really interested once I had children and they started school. Then my friend became an MP. I don't have an allegiance to a particular party so I started listening/watching and got sucked in. Kind of like a soap opera!

I think YANBU.

I'd be embarrassed to have absolutely no knowledge, at least at a basic level, of the world I live in. To not know who the current PM is is just spectacularly ignorant. I wouldn't be proud of it.

I'm certainly no political activist but I try and watch some news at least daily or read it online, just so I know what's going on. I can understand people feeling anxious or suffering depression wanting to avoid constant bad news but to live in a little bubble and want to avoid reality is just unhealthy IMO.

I spoke to a woman the other day who thought George Bush was the current US president. She hadn't heard of Obama and didn't realise the USA was undergoing their election process. I was astounded that someone could be so lacking in awareness of world affairs.

I also find it bizarre when people moan about stuff like the state of the NHS and education, or local rubbish collection, or taxes, but have no interest in voting or understanding how politics or local government affects them. They seem to think that it's some anonymous "them" that runs the country.

To the people who are judging and insinuating that not reading the news makes people ignorant so shouldn't vote, people don't need to read papers or watch the news to see what's happening around them therefore making them more than eligible to vote, like wages being cut, long waiting times on the NHS, crime, price increases, benefits being stopped, job losses and everything else that affects their daily life, that's what people are concerned about about that's what they'll vote on, things that affect them, their real issues that the Government don't give a toss about so therefore they should be replaced, to know your friend has been mugged, or their husband made redundant or you're disabled and your benefit has been stopped, all these are real and you don't need to watch the news to know that!

You probably are unusual nowadays in being interested in the news and politics; most people nowadays seem to insulate themselves against reality in a facebook bubble, including retired friends who take not the slightest interest in current affairs other than the doings of their dogs and grandchildren.Then they are astonished when Brexit, hospital delays, disappearance of the green belt etc suddenly impact on their lives.

Is there, Purple? I think they're related, especially over time (ie. today's news turns into next year's 'general knowledge'...?)

Though I do also agree with jump's point about something like those 24 hour news channels which stretch things endlessly, or broadcast empty streets and the same thirty-second mobile phone clip of fleeing people over and over in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Those I don't watch.

So, Jump - if I take two people, each of whom watch 2 hours of TV daily - one news (let's say BBC) and the other TOWIE et al - there's nothing we can deduce with respect to the relative levels of intelligence or intellectual curiosity of them? Really?

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

The problem is, in the UK, not voting is effectively a vote for the status quo.

Rubbish, with respect, that's rubbish. Yes, you may of course know from your own life experience about crime, benefit cuts and the strain on services etc, but unless you make yourself aware of, say, who your MP is, or what political parties' policies are on these matters before an election, your own experience isn't going to help you know how to vote!

when you think that women were tortured imprisoned and died so we could particpate in politics I find this attitude (in the absence of major, major personal issues) shameful

Shocked at the suggestion that being interested in news/current affairs makes someone a snob, how so? I'm sure people wouldn't like if being told that liking towie etc is "common" - we all have different interests

I have a twinge of envy thinking about a lifestyle in which current affairs such as brexit would be "nothing to do with me".

Being able to live a life completely independent of decisions taken by the state at all levels would be quite liberating, I imagine?

However, I'm guessing that their lives ARE impacted by current affairs, but that they haven't made the link between their experience and the wider world.

Is it a state school? Are they as uninformed about the education their DC's are receiving? I have met parents who are totally oblivious to the ramifications of their DC's school being Academised, for instance.

In one respect, I think it must be a lovely way to live - totally surrender to the ebb and flow of life without really being aware of it. On the other hand, it suggests a lack of conviction in their own ethics and beliefs, which is less enviable.

I don't watch the news, nor olympics and very rarely watch any tv tbh.
Sometimes the news comes on if i have the radio on, but i wouldn't go out of my way access news.
You can't really avoid major news anyway as people talk about it on social media, in the community, at school/ work, etc.
It's all "news speak" now anyway, we are told what gov want us to be told in a way they want us to.

I know who Theresa May is though, although my interest in any politician or politics is minimal.
It's all depressing and adds nothing to my day, and it's not like we can do anything about most of the stories we see or hear.

I find it strange that you are bothered by other people's choices, maybe they are involved in looking after themselves and family and don't have time, energy or interest in titillation and sensationalism.

Dog........I think these people are well aware of who there MP is, especially around Election time when all the leaflets and flyers come through your letterbox, I don't watch the news but I know who every MP is for mine, and the surrounding areas are, for each party.

Not knowing who the PM of your own country or taking any interest in current affairs makes you a complete twat imho. I feel quite strongly about it. We are becoming a nation of self absorbed idiots. It takes seconds to skim through the news headlines on your phone fgs.