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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Are we being unreasonable to never watch the news?

115 replies

ConfusedWife1234 · 14/08/2018 21:01

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.

OP posts:

RoseWhiteTips · 15/08/2018 10:35

In your shoes.

PetraLost · 15/08/2018 10:38

We are not always given the true story, it is often propoghanda.

Plastic for instance, I knew years ago it wasn't really recycled and shipped to poor countries.

Why when poor countries no longer take our plastic are we suddenly shown plastic in the sea?

Ohyesiam · 15/08/2018 10:43

I want to be in service to myself and other people. I’ve always worked in caring/ altruistic professions and with people who are suffering.
Watching the news has a really negative effect on me on lots of levels, and I have less to offer from that place.
I find visuals are the worst and as a radio 4 bore I am quite up on some current affairs, and somehow the more in-depth info on the radio seems to help me feel less helpless than just ( sometimes misleading) headlines on tv. But if I find it triggering, I switch off.
I work to keep positive as I have to have strength for the kind of work I do, and that’s a valid choice.

Bombardier25966 · 15/08/2018 10:45

I do watch the news but largely to point out their bias and errors. As helpful as it can be, it can also be very dangerous if you don't understand the motivations and politics behind news broadcasting. Take it all with a large pinch of salt until you've had the time to fact check it yourself.

Jammin3 · 15/08/2018 10:45

I don't watch it, it has an awful affect on my mental health

RoseWhiteTips · 15/08/2018 10:48

Of course we are not always given the “true story”. That is why we have a duty to seek out the truth by using a number of varied sources. It’s not difficult to do given the 24 hour news at our fingertips.

ASliceOfArcticRoll · 15/08/2018 10:51

PetraLost. Agreed on the plastics story.

I have stppped watching the news but I do read up on areas that interest me. If you want to know the story you need to go in depth a bit and collate what you are learning (somehow!)

So I was an early supporter of Greenpeace, was an avid recycler so yeah I kind of stopped being too concientious over recycling plastics a while back as I realised the way it had gone via local authorities.

What about burning technologies and using landfill more imaginatively. Look at Japan for examples.
The biggest plastics dumping countries can be found with an internet search.

ASliceOfArcticRoll · 15/08/2018 10:52

Oheysiam that's wise.

Gottagetmoving · 15/08/2018 10:52

I watch the news a lot more now I'm older. I think people tend to do that.
It used to drive me mad that my mum and dad always had the news on and now I'm the same.
I think it would be better if people watched it when they are younger and less when older.
The way it's presented is awful now. The media go over the top and create fear and panic in people. It's dramatic.
If there's an incident, instead of just reporting on it and then waiting for actual details, they focus on it all day and speculate and create anxiety. Yesterday was an example. They had no idea what that car crashing into this barriers was about but straight away they were ranting about terrorism and making wild guesses. Why watch pictures of police walking around the place with nothing actually happening?

ASliceOfArcticRoll · 15/08/2018 10:54

Yes a lot of analysis of very little.

Bombardier25966 · 15/08/2018 11:00

Not everyone has the forethought or ability to question what they're seeing/ reading though.

PetraLost · 15/08/2018 11:04

Another example to add to the plastic propoghanda can be seen in the feminist threads, the BBC and Ch4 are currently the worst offenders.

Plastic rubbish not being recycled and dumped abroad then being refused changed the agenda. Why is there now an agenda to remove safeguarding practices?

TheFaerieQueene · 15/08/2018 11:12

This thread makes very depressing reading. How can you not be interested in what is happening in the world?

megletthesecond · 15/08/2018 11:16

Yabu. If you find it too distressing don't watch the evening news, or only watch Newsround (it has to explain things to me sometimes).

user1497863568 · 15/08/2018 11:17

YANBU. It's depressing

Idratherhaveacupoftea · 15/08/2018 11:24

I always watch the news, perhaps it's an age thing, I'm of the older generation.

ASliceOfArcticRoll · 15/08/2018 11:27

Petra I'm not up on the details but yes to that.

Thesearmsofmine · 15/08/2018 11:33

I think it’s important to keep up with the news either through the tv news, radio or online.

My eldest(7) has just started getting interested in the news so I have mentioned he might like to watch newsround.

Original poster

ConfusedWife1234 · 15/08/2018 11:34

@Heratnumber7 I DO have relatives living in Italy (not anywhere near that bridge) but I am still not interested in the news about the bridge collapsing. I wouldn‘t be interested if the bridge was in the neighboring village.
Well, I think I would donate blood then... but apart from that. I do not build bridges, I am not responsible for the upkeep of bridges.
If I learned that 5 percent of bridges where I live were about to collapse tomorrow there was nothing I could do apart from avoid all bridges... and I cannot not avoid all bridges in my daily life. So it is better not to know.

Same goes for terrorism, climate change, all kind of international conflicts and so on. Me knowing about those things does change nothing because I cannot change it.

OP posts:

BlaaBlaaBlaa · 15/08/2018 11:34

I think the problem with only getting your news from the internet is that it means for the most part you are self selecting what you see....that can mean having a limited, narrow view

Original poster

ConfusedWife1234 · 15/08/2018 11:36

@Bombardier25966 I think it is pretty difficult to find out the true story. How would one know which version of the story is true unless you have been there?

OP posts:

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 15/08/2018 11:38

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

I think this is very unfair.

There is a difference between protecting yourself and wilful ignorance.

I read the BBC headlines every day and I find an increasing number of things very emotionally wrenching. What has just happened in Italy for example has stayed in my head as I cannot did my brain of how terrified and scared those people must have been in their cars as they fell to their deaths.

Yes, bad news is unavoidable but for some who have a real propensity to let certain stories gut them switching off the news can be a matter of protecting ones mental health or balance at least.

(Maybe this says more about me but, ya know)

People who wilfully discount the news as “left wing/right wing propaganda”, “all lies” etc and who live in their own echo chamber OR just literally block the world out lest it disagree with their own (questionable?) views are the ones who cause freakshows like Trump to get elected.

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 15/08/2018 11:39

I also believe anyone who slams someone who doesn’t read the news as “ignorant” ignorant themselves.

MarshaBradyo · 15/08/2018 11:44

I don’t watch it but do hear news on R4 or 6

ASliceOfArcticRoll · 15/08/2018 11:54

Re the Genoa bridge : it was shocking and horrific. I didn't watch details at all.

I have been talking to my one kid about the bridge and concrete aging, weather conditions and such as he's interested in engineering and construction but i think op is absolutely right.

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