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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be sick and tired of all the PotUS coverage....

54 replies

Itisnoteasybeingdifferent · 21/01/2017 07:04

... on the news... It's been going on for nearly two years now... Why do we need to listen to the entire speech and speculation?

Yes he is a bit of a maveric
Yes he wants to be different
and it is quite likely we may be affected.. But we can't change anything or him. We have to wait and see what actually happens....

Can we have some news when there is some news?

OP posts:
WallToWallDrugs · 21/01/2017 08:46

OP I agree with the general feeling that YABU, but jeez you've had some nasty replies on this thread....

What a stupid thread
It is quite an important event, actually. Just so you know
Or y'know, just switch over and pretend it's not an issue. 🙄
Poo to you OP

Bloody horrible and uncalled for, even for AIBU. Would any of these people say the same things face-to-face if one of their friends asked the same? Thought not. Gratuitous nastiness.

drspouse · 21/01/2017 08:50

Actually we can change things.
Campaigning organisations in the US (ACLU, NAACP, Planned Parenthood) can use donations from overseas too.
ACLU has already filled against the Trump government.

SmileEachDay · 21/01/2017 08:54

wall I would say exactly what I said if any of my friends said what the OP did.

Mirador · 21/01/2017 09:08

@WallToWallDrugs, I agree, it seems to happen a lot these days, not just on Mumsnet either.

Someone gets fed up and just wants a moan/rant and gets piled on. Yes this is important, but to me, what Trump does next as President is more important than some swearing in ceremony. That's my personal opinion of course.

OP, I think the difference between China and The USA is that China doesn't go around claiming their leader is the 'Leader of the free world' like the US does. China also discusses issues, such as Brexit and the possible impact it may have between us, whereas Trump just wades in and starts telling us and Europe what we should do, like he knows best, and of course we're best buddies with the US., politically speaking.

Take a break from it, it's not going away anytime soon unfortunately.

yeOldeTrout · 21/01/2017 10:08

The news media have tended to be lemming like for yrs all clustered around the same story in sensationalist ways. POTUS coverage not different. I spend my life hearing news & thinking "WHY is this a big news story??"

There has been tonnes of brilliant coverage re US prez election/elect if you wanted to find it. Not merely repeating the same facts. Diversity of views. Good analysis of how Trump ticks, why he's so obnoxious. I didn't watch the inauguration myself. Why would you??

One of the best reminders I got via BBC was from a Trump supporter who totally admitted that he does his obnoxious tweets to get attention, to deflect attn away from possible criticism. Detailed profiles of the cabinet nominees are around. Most are controversial characters. Few safe pairs of hands.

Mattis has said that the Iran deal is not brilliant but better than no deal.
Rex Tillerson said that human-cause Climate change is real.
Will any of these people stand up to defy Trump? Will DJT let them?

Folk who talk about Trump as amazing negotiator make me laugh. DJT can't do most the negotiations himself, he doesn't do detail or anything tedious. Most the negotiations will be delegated & DJT will tell to play hardball & no firm commitments until DJT has time to look at the details himself. DJT is convinced of US supremacy in all areas, that other countries should be grateful for any concession US makes, so all deals will be horrible for not-US side. Few deals will get made.

JustDanceAddict · 21/01/2017 10:10

Don't watch it then, I didn't.
Also, he's more than 'a bit of a maverick'. He's a megalomaniac with very dangerous ideas.

Original poster
Itisnoteasybeingdifferent · 21/01/2017 21:49

Many thanks for the many and varied replies..

However... I feel people are missing the issue I am trying to illustrate. I observe we have had two years of constant news coverage of the PotUS election. Yet nothing that has been said by the BeeB here in UK has made a jot of difference to the result. Indeed that must be the case as the BeeB coverage has not been complementary to Mr T. Yet he got elected.

I am in no doubt he is divisive. He is definatelly not going to behave like previous presidents. And it may end up as a dogs dinner. ... But that is different to the news coverage of the election process. Given that we, in the UK have no influence over the result, I have found the news coverage of the election process gratuitous in the extreem. It seems to have become a process of saying "look at me, I am reporting on the PotUS election, today .i went to a rally then on to another"..

The news starts when the new president actually does something.

OP posts:
drspouse · 22/01/2017 08:36

How do you know it made no difference?
Voters in the US read/watch BBC news (and other UK outlets)
They may have been persuaded to vote differently - it was a very narrow result.
Knowing lots of people agree with you encourages you to protest.
It encourages you to donate.
It encourages you to keep on campaigning for the next presidency (and there are midterm elections in 2 years).

birdybirdywoofwoof · 22/01/2017 08:43

The news starts when he does something.

Are you really listening to the news, I mean, really. He has been doing PLENTY.

We don't decide what's news by what we can influence. The Italian earthquake was big news and there was nothing I could do about that.

I understand the arguement of - I can't stand seeing that great orange lying racist on my tv can't we talk about something else? But saying he hasn't done anything yet or what's the point of talking about American stuff is imo wrong.

yeOldeTrout · 22/01/2017 11:15

Flip Flops back and forth with policy positions & lies, does a lot of that.

amispartacus · 22/01/2017 11:21

From Rogue one:

"How do you feel about seeing the Imperial flag everywhere?"

"Sometimes it's easier not to look up"

I want to look up and challenge. You are free not to look up.

amispartacus · 22/01/2017 11:24

The news starts when the new president actually does something

Well, he's accused the media of lying about the number of people at his inaguartion despite clear evidence.

When the most powerful person in the world does that, it is something.

"His primary rules were: never allow the public to cool off; never admit a fault or wrong; never concede that there may be some good in your enemy; never leave room for alternatives; never accept blame; concentrate on one enemy at a time and blame him for everything that goes wrong; people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; and if you repeat it frequently enough people will sooner or later believe it"

Guess who psychologist were talking about. (Godwin's Law)

WelliesAndPyjamas · 22/01/2017 11:29

I think I understand your sentiment, OP, and agree with you.

It may effect us innsome ways but I don't agree with the disproportionate coverage in the UK of anything that happens in the USA. All the referring to "the president", as if he is the only one in the world, or anything to do with this country's system.

I can try tuning out of the whole thing but hearing the news is important to me and I relish learning new things from around the world. I can opt not to click on Trump and USA related news stories, so as not to give them any additional ranking of popularity, but that is just my tiny contribution. I am fascinated by watching the way Trump and USA stories get so much precedence over some pretty huge news stories in other countries though. Anyone notice that dozens were killed in a train derailment this morning, or perhaps attention was taken by the boring inauguration ceremony of a USA president!

yeOldeTrout · 22/01/2017 11:41

If you want a lot of world news, listen to the BBC World Service. I have been gripped by events in The Gambia (& neighbouring countries). Also the train crash yesterday in India & there was a building collapse in Iran (I think it was Iran). Plus lots of interesting people stories.

Most people only get exposed to maybe 10-20 minutes of news media/day. They only have time for the big headlines & maybe the big local news. It is not unreasonable of UK-target media to plan for that consumption pattern. Hence a lot of recycling of headlines. You choose how you consume the media, so get on with finding the stories you want or alternative perspectives. Or listen to Al Jazira or the Russian news outlets.

amispartacus · 22/01/2017 11:45

I am fascinated by watching the way Trump and USA stories get so much precedence over some pretty huge news stories in other countries though

What happens in the USA and the economy over there affects us.Trump's election will affect us.

amispartacus · 22/01/2017 11:47

Anyone notice that dozens were killed in a train derailment this morning, or perhaps attention was taken by the boring inauguration ceremony of a USA president

Unfortunately, disasters like that are very common. But this is history. Real history.

EdithWeston · 22/01/2017 11:48

Well, it was inevitable there would be a lot of coverage of the inauguration, and I did want to hear what he said in his speech.

But yes, I agree with OP that wall-to-wall coverage for days is just too much. I think there is too much coverage of the twists and turns of the candidate selection and eventual campaigns. Yes, valid as news stories; but taking up too much airtime.

Then again, I think the news has dumbed down generally in the last coup,e of decades, and the blanket coverage of a headline story (at expense of number of other stories covered) is a feature of this.

Just because a story is important and should be covered, does not mean it has to be covered to a disproportionate extent.

TheBogQueen · 22/01/2017 11:49

"A bit of a maverick"

Lol

llangennith · 22/01/2017 11:52

I didn't see the need for it to be shown simultaneously on all main channelsConfused
Thank goodness for all the other TV channels.

amispartacus · 22/01/2017 11:55

Just because a story is important and should be covered, does not mean it has to be covered to a disproportionate extent

Wait till the Queen dies. Then you'll see wall to wall coverage

I didn't see the need for it to be shown simultaneously on all main channels

It was on for 2 hours. That's not a long time really.

blueskyinmarch · 22/01/2017 11:55

It actually quite easy to avoid any news about the election/inauguration. I have managed to avoid it pretty much. I don’t watch the news on TV, i don’t read a newspapers and when i read the news online i just read the bits i want to read and i don’t click on things i don’t want to read. Yes, i am aware of it, but i don’t find t has been in may face too much. This morning i decided to sit down and have look at the recent coverage of the inauguration in my own time so i can digest what has been going on because i want to, not for any other reason.

Sleepingonthebus · 22/01/2017 11:58

I'm sick to the back teeth of POTUS and Brexit, but it affects most of us so I still watch and read as much as I can.

AllPowerfulLizardPerson · 22/01/2017 11:59

"Wait till the Queen dies. Then you'll see wall to wall coverage"

Yes, and in the UK - where she is head of state - that would be appropriate.

TheBogQueen · 22/01/2017 11:59

I enjoyed the bit when Bill was checking out first Michelle Obama and then Ivanka and Hilary's face.

Didn't enjoy the xenophobic, nationalist speech he gave afterwards.

His presidency has implications for us all especially regarding our economy, foreign policy ("eradication of Muslim extremism from the face of the earth" -this man now has nuclear codes) and environment as he is a strong advocate of drilling for oil in protected areas.

It has implications for our children and our grandchildren.

But this is what America voted for Confused

TheWorstNoel · 22/01/2017 12:18

Since the election, he's accused the CIA of spreading misinformation, misrepresented the CIA's official response to the alleged misinformation, appointed a selection of officials who appear to know next to nothing about the job they're taking on, made some dubious claims about the transfer of his business interest to his family, tweeted as erratically as he did during the election, and brought up the whole Russian involvement shitstorm... All those things have an impact on the world economy/security, in one way or another. And that's 'something', isn't it? isn't it?!?!

I dread to think what it'll be like when he actually rolls up his tiny sleeves and gets down to work.