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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
OftenHangry · 15/08/2018 11:54

Me knowing about those things does change nothing because I cannot change it

Everything you named are things you can actually do something about.

You can join petitions, sign under a letter or join any other move to put pressure on politicians to do something about quality of bridges.

Climate change affects us all, so we can all do a little bit to ease our imprint on Earth. Plant a tree, use less electricity, think about our water usage etc.

Whenever there are talks about terrorism there are tips on how to spot some warning signs and who to contact in case of suspicion. Again. Everyone can do their bit.

International conflicts. Again we can actually do something. For example is there a country openly attacking another and taking their land? We can all put pressure on politicians to implement let's say a trading embargo on the bully country.

Apathy is a dangerous thing.

To quote Faithless:

Inaction is a weapon of mass destruction

MarshaBradyo · 15/08/2018 11:55

Oh and news on my phone. It’s quite hard not to know what’s going on pretty quickly

I find tv news pretty bad, endless looping coverage in a bid to keep up with social media

ASliceOfArcticRoll · 15/08/2018 11:58

There's useful activity and pointless posturing. " Join a petition on Quality of Bridges" I'd put firmly in the second category.

RoseWhiteTips · 15/08/2018 12:00

Some years ago we used that bridge out of Genoa - having flown there - to drive to our villa in Liguria. And we used it in our return.
It’s a sobering thought.

The news is often sobering.

Original poster
ConfusedWife1234 · 15/08/2018 12:00

@OftenHangry I really do not think politicians do care about how much petitions I do sign at all. Maybe I am to pessimistic.

I personally try buy local and organic, use cloth napkins instead of paper ones and so on, but while I am doing my bit I would be a fool if I believed that this would stop climate change. Do you really think you can stop climate change?

OP posts:
RoseWhiteTips · 15/08/2018 12:01

...on our return

Original poster
ConfusedWife1234 · 15/08/2018 12:02

Apart from that. I do not live in Italy, but have relatives there and have been told that the mafia is owning many construction companies and I think it is unwise to meddle with them and complain about the quality of bridges.

OP posts:
OftenHangry · 15/08/2018 12:05

Do you really think you can stop climate change?

No. And I never said we can stop it. However, we can do our bits not to make it even worse. We fucked up and really spead up the natural cycle. But that doesn't mean that we all resign and just make our peace with it. Great you are doing these things. If everyone changes a little bit, the planet might actually survive.

ASliceOfArcticRoll · 15/08/2018 12:06

Get off the internet if you want to stop global warming. Come off Facebook, Twitter, MN and internet petitions. Think of the servers!

Original poster
ConfusedWife1234 · 15/08/2018 12:06

*I wanted to say you better do not make the mafia angry. Sorry I think “to meddle“ means something else.

OP posts:
ASliceOfArcticRoll · 15/08/2018 12:12

I agree to doing your best but that to me now that means doing it as LOCALLY as possible. To focus on family, friends relationships and one's own locality doesn't seem an unethical or irresponsible thing to do.

Mia1415 · 15/08/2018 12:15

Wow this thread is depressing. How can people not care about what is happening in the world around them. Even my 5 year old is interested in the news.

KERALA1 · 15/08/2018 12:23

Agree Mia. Reminds me of orwells 1984 keep the masses distracted by tat and ill informed and those in charge are unchecked. Imo adults have a duty to be informed - we all get to vote and how can you form an opinion if you don't know anything? Keeping informed doesn't have to mean dwelling on prurient details about horrific incidents. Read The Week or The Economist every 2 months or so that would do it

OftenHangry · 15/08/2018 12:28

@KERALA1 Amen to that!

PolkerrisBeach · 15/08/2018 12:29

There's a huge difference between "I dont like the reporting on BBC/Sky/ITN so I get my news from newspapers, Huffington Post and documentaries" and "I'm not interested and I don't care".

We're really lucky that we have all this news at our disposal, you can be well informed without ever seeing a TV news bulletin.

However I have very little time for people who say the news is "boring" or doesn't affect them. I find those sort of people tedious, dull, very uninformed and quite proud of their ignorance - being uninformed about anything other than Love Island is not cool.

Vitalogy · 15/08/2018 12:33

Reminds me of orwells 1984 keep the masses distracted by tat and ill informed and those in charge are unchecked. And you think you're informed do you.

OftenHangry · 15/08/2018 12:38

being uninformed about anything other than Love Island is not cool.

Yes. I do wonder why people are so into news about that. It's not like it's their local thing or that it has direct effect on their lives..... Hmm

serbska · 15/08/2018 12:40

I don';t watch the news, prefer to read FT and economist

PolkerrisBeach · 15/08/2018 12:40

The Italian bridge disaster might not affect you directly but there are a lot of parallels with the Grenfell Tower fire - this was a bridge which was recently refurbished. All sorts of questions about the initial construction, the refurbishment, who was in charge, who was signing things off, what other projects have been worked on... Depending on what emerges, it could affect many more people.

Some people though most definitely lack the "enquiring mind" gene and are quite happy revelling in ignorance about most things.

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 15/08/2018 12:40

@KERALA1

But I think that may be what the OP could be driving at; my interpretation was that the news every day is too much and that perhaps you’ve provided the answer by recommending a digest, you’ve certainly given me food for thought.

But don’t think that keeping the news at arms length = only absorbing shit meaningless piffle like Love Island or celeb gossip which is what your Orwellian quote seems to infer.

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 15/08/2018 12:44

Actually just re-read the OP and agree with you in most ways now @KERALA1 Grin

Original poster
ConfusedWife1234 · 15/08/2018 12:48

I am really not into love Island. I do read news online, but only what interests me

OP posts:
KERALA1 · 15/08/2018 13:01

Theres nothing wrong with abit of tat and there's certainly nothing wrong in not wanting a constant diet of misery porn that many news channels pump out. But there is something wrong in being wilfully "in a bubble" and not knowing ANYTHING about current affairs. I think thats actually quite dangerous if the majority are doing it. Just my opinion.

PolkerrisBeach · 15/08/2018 13:04

Theres nothing wrong with abit of tat

Asbolutely. I love a bit of Celebrity Big Brother and Strictly as much as the next person. But watching solely that sort of thing and actively avoiding anything news-y or vaguely educational isn't a great idea.

Jackieyoulooknice · 15/08/2018 13:09

I do not think I have a responsibility to be informed, and I am quite annoyed at that suggestion. I struggle with anxiety since I had PND and the news being negative all the time was very triggering for me and would lead me to feel low for weeks and helpless.
Fuck my responsibility, I'm much happier now.