Are we being unreasonable to never watch the news?

[ConfusedWife1234]

AWBU to never watch the news but only watch Netflix because we think we learn all news from the internet or because somebody tells us... and because the news aren‘t actually very cheerful most days
So one day we just gave up watching the news.

I think it’s important to catch up with it regularly.

I don't "watch" the news. I don't have cable or satellite so can't get it.

I do however visit 6 news websites a day, split pretty evenly on each side of the spectrum so I know what the enemy's up to .

I don't like to judge, but if you're only getting your news from social media that's pretty grim. It's harder to filter for fake news and you will tend to only be shown what the site thinks you're interested in, meaning you're a victim of confirmation bias. I think that leaves you very uninformed.

It's very insular to not be interested in what's going on in other countries. Would those of you who don't watch the news feel different about the bridge in Italy, or the Turkish Lira, fior example, if you had relatives living abroad?

And don't you understand that what happens elsewhere has knock on effects around the world? Take the Italian bridge. There'll must be an enquiry to look at the stability of all other bridges, everywhere, of similar design, or by the same architect, or construction company to make sure they're all safe. One of these may be a bridge near you. Doesn't that interest you?

"The attitude that 'the news is upsetting' or 'I get my information from others' is how Trump got elected."

This.

And only paying attention to stuff that affects you is also ignorant.

Not watching the news on tv is fine (it covers a narrow base and can resemble a snuff movie).

Being uninformed or ignorant is not. Read the news, from several sources. Be aware of fact, opinion and bias.

We currently have at our disposal the widest freest news ever. Use it, it may not last for ever. We speak English, we can read the news from almost everywhere. We are privileged, don't waste it.

uk.reuters.com

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45189725

www.aljazeera.com/topics/regions/europe.html

www.smh.com.au/world

www.nytimes.com

There is a lot of propaganda out there at the moment. Be in control of it and yourself.

I don't blame you OP. Same old same old.

How do you know how to vote? What do you do during conversations about current affairs? Sit there mute?

I don’t watch the news, we don’t have newspapers (apart from the local free weekly one) and we don’t listen to the radio - we have Netflix, cds and no need to see the news. I find it’s nicer this way.

I rarely watch the news. My gran said if it was raining outside you’d close your windows. And the world is miserable and depressing so you need to close your mental windows and don’t look at upsetting things that you can’t do anything about.

Yes, you are unreasonable. IF you had said that you just don´t sit and watch the news at 10pm or 6pm, but got your news from other reliable sources, I would think that was fine, but to say

"somebody tells us…" Who exactly? Someone down the pub?

and

"how I benefit from knowing what is going on in Brazil or South Africa", I think is an incredibly ignorant thing to say
So one day we just gave up watching the news.

My gran said if it was raining outside you’d close your windows

I'm rather disappointed with womankind.

I try and make time to look at a few news sites through the day and have radio on in car, never watch any TV. I can't imagine not having at least an overview of what's happening. My biggest bugbear is that so many news sites seem to include entertainment stories as big news, BBC is especially guilty of this, I care that people are suffering around the world, couldn't give 2 shits about rich people getting married or the latest update on a reality show, there's plenty of other sources if I wanted to find out that sort of "news"

I stopped watching news after having kids. Not really a conscious decision. More that the kids aren't quiet when it's on and I'm never home in the evenings to watch it then. I dip in online and hear what's on the radio etc.

But my opinion of 24 hour news channels etc is they aren't actually reporting very much. Just talking a lot about the same small number of issues.

Keeping up with current affairs is really important. Yabu unless you have some other source? I judge people who don't know basic things about world events. It takes five minutes of watching the headlines to know enough.

Absolutely agree.

Yes, news can be very depressing, but there are good news sometimes.

And the bridge in Italy is important news even for us here, because it started debates all over Europe about quality of some bridges. The fact that people know about it, thanks to news, can help create more pressure on politicians to get old and dangerous bridges sorted and so save lives.

Same with so many other events.

I'm rather disappointed with womankind. You've lost touch with yourself and other women then.

I am making a conscious effort to not listen to the news. I have only lived back here for 4 years and I think the constant negativity in this country, especially for the media, has had a very bad effect on my MH.

Use multiple sources if you do, I tend to flit between BBC, Reuters, RT and Al Jazeera hopefully that gives a wide enough spread. Plus my natural scepticism and cynicism.

If you're not watching the news but actively seeking information from a variety of other sources that's fine. If you're wilfully ignorant about the world around you YABVU - especially if you then choose to go out and vote for things that will impact everyone else

I gave up watching the news ans reading papers years ago, though it was more to do with the way news was portrayed. ie...I dont need to see (and more importantly the familes concerned) 20 pictures with captions such as ...blood on the door...on an article about a bus crash which kiiled many schoolchildren.

I'm not immune to what's going on, MN, FB, MSN people in general may alert me to 'news' and I will go and look for information as I see fit

It's the way news is reported I have an issue with

I always watch the news and try to keep up to date with current affairs. I think its important.

I think the problem with only reading news on line is that you are selective (consciously or unconsciously) about what you choose to look at or read.

I once worked with a degree educated intelligent assistant who was always on news pages on her phone and would talk about various things that were happening.

When we had the election before last, we were talking about politics in the office and I (and my colleagues) were absolutely stunned that she didn't know who the prime minister was, had never voted, didn't know how to vote, didn't know what the political parties stood for and had absolutely no idea about politics whatsoever. How can you get to 25 and have no idea about this stuff!

No I don't watch it. I do listen to the radio news in the morning; and read the newspaper. But I am fed up of all the Brexit doom and gloom and then the rest of the news isn't very uplifting either eg the Italian bridge incident.

I don't watch the news but have the radio on most of the day so catch it on there.

Can't stand watching the news they tend to start talking using all these big words I can't understand and it frustrates me.
It's the sane thing with newspapers I don't understand most of what's being said then I get accused of being thick when I try ask someone to clarify

I cannot believe people do not want to keep themselves properly in touch with news, national and international. I wonder if those who do shut it all out are uneducated? It certainly suggests you are.

I would actually be mortified to admit my woeful ignorance.