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AIBU?

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Original poster

Adults should actually know what’s going on in the world?

189 replies

Dailywalk · 28/01/2022 21:36

Is it important to keep up to date on ‘current affairs’. What would you think if someone said they’d rather be unaware of what is going on in the news. If it’s something that’s really important and will affect them then they will find out eventually. It doesn’t change to know al the ‘details’

Interested to know what people think. Is it important to be aware of what’s going on in the news?

OP posts:
theDudesmummy · 29/01/2022 11:10

I don't have a low opinion of people not interested in "the news" ie current events. But I don't like the fact that they have an equal say (ie vote) to people who are aware of what is going on. (No, I would absolutely not disenfranchise them, of course not, that is a terrible slippery slope, but I would like to educate them).

theDudesmummy · 29/01/2022 11:13

But in what form will "the really important stuff" reach you? As I said, I grew up in a fascist state. As a member of a privileged group, with a brainwashing educational system. Without actively finding out what was really going on there and elsewhere in the world, I would have been a very different person.

XenoBitch · 29/01/2022 11:29

I don't watch the news. It is a way I protect my mental health. I would rather live in blissful ignorance than deal with heightened anxiety etc

WarmWinterSun · 29/01/2022 11:32

For me it’s about being interested in what is happening in the world, beyond my direct experience. I can’t relate to those who don’t share this interest or curiosity. There are also terrible consequences for democracy when when a large proportion of the population is ignorant of world and domestic news and politics.

WarmWinterSun · 29/01/2022 11:33

However- consuming news doesn’t impact my mental health. I would not judge those who have a mental health reason for avoiding it.

granny24 · 29/01/2022 11:49

@Alexandra2001

Reading through these replies, its easy to see why we voted Brexit and elected a Clown for PM.
Exactly.
BadLad · 29/01/2022 11:54

@RockingMyFiftiesNot

I can't pretend that I'm up to date with all world news but I was a bit shocked by the poster who asked 'what report?' on a thread about BJ's parties.
On this thread we have someone who missed the Brexit debate. Cameron's time as PM passed her by.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2721627-oh-i-never-watch-the-news

hivemindneeded · 29/01/2022 11:54

The news is designed to keep us fearful and grateful for our lot in life, to keep us in place. It is packed with murder, child brutality, rape, war, terrorism, climate change etc.

I don't advocate for a 'isn't everything wonderful' alternative, but equal focus on the upbeat news in the world would be welcome. For every pandemic gloom story could we have a successful medical breakthrough or clean energy development? For every 'child beaten to death by parents' story could we have a story of a stranger who saved someone's life. Just to remind us the world is full of goodness, kindness, willingness, generosity too.

tigger1001 · 29/01/2022 11:54

@Pedalpushers

It's ironic that the people who are so pro-news on here seem to think that:

Don't watch news = stupid, vote brexit, vote Tory, only read the Mail and social media.

Seems watching the news doesn't give you great critical thinking skills?

I agree.

It's almost like they think their own opinion is the only one to have and if you voted differently to them is because you are ignorant and uninformed.

Then also wonder why people seem so disengaged with politics and current affairs.

Chely · 29/01/2022 11:58

Not important to know everything that is going on everywhere.
I hate gossip more than news, I don't care if the woman who works with someone I know has been on a diet for 3 fucking years.

theDudesmummy · 29/01/2022 12:12

Keeping up with scientific as well as political news often provides that balance of bad news and good news that people would like. Try reading the New Scientist every week, it can be very uplifting.

ashorterday · 29/01/2022 13:24

@theDudesmummy

I don't have a low opinion of people not interested in "the news" ie current events. But I don't like the fact that they have an equal say (ie vote) to people who are aware of what is going on. (No, I would absolutely not disenfranchise them, of course not, that is a terrible slippery slope, but I would like to educate them).
Right. So someone who reads The Sun every day, is "keeping up with the news" so it's ok for them to have a vote, or an opinion, despite the fact that their take on the news will be totally skewed and not based on facts?
theDudesmummy · 29/01/2022 13:45

I mean what is really going on. Not fiction.

1Week · 29/01/2022 14:15

Maybe the news junkies become hyper partisan and they are the ones who vote the wrong way.

Honestly, the smuggery is a bit much on this thread. I get it, I go through periods of intense immersion in current events. I do think it's important but sometimes my energy is better directed towards things close to home. Most people are like that. Following the news very closely can be little more than a hobby to some, but it's a high status one.

People here are equating voting Tory or Brexit with being proudly uninformed. I'd say if you haven't taken the time to steelman opposing arguments, you're the one one who is ill informed. Spending 3 hours a day immersed in the Guardian/Mail only view of the world is not being informed, it's being propagandised to.

hellcatspangle · 29/01/2022 14:50

@theDudesmummy

I mean what is really going on. Not fiction.
It's not that simple though is it - I'm not convinced much of the news is reported in a totally impartial, factual way.
Kennykenkencat · 29/01/2022 15:08

I think the news used to be about what was happening around the world.
Now it is about manipulating people to think in a certain way.

100problems · 29/01/2022 15:29

I have precarious MH, but if I de-coupled myself from ongoing events in don't believe that would help me particularly.

I prefer to be curious and informed, with a finger on the off switch, rather than create a pseudo happy bubble of deliberate detachment.

1Week · 29/01/2022 15:54

@Kennykenkencat

I think the news used to be about what was happening around the world. Now it is about manipulating people to think in a certain way.
Precisely. Its just easier to see The Other Side doing it.
EmmaH2022 · 29/01/2022 17:37

@Kennykenkencat

I think the news used to be about what was happening around the world. Now it is about manipulating people to think in a certain way.
I'm hearing MSM are not reporting the truckers in Canada which seems like major news to me....
notimagain · 29/01/2022 18:00

FWIW the Guardian were carrying reports yesterday.

www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/28/canada-truckers-covid-vaccine-mandate-protest-government

Some of the media here in France mentioned it today.

www.rfi.fr/fr/amériques/20220129-covid-19-au-canada-la-colère-des-routiers-face-à-l-obligation-vaccinale

EmmaH2022 · 29/01/2022 18:02

[quote notimagain]FWIW the Guardian were carrying reports yesterday.

www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/28/canada-truckers-covid-vaccine-mandate-protest-government

Some of the media here in France mentioned it today.

www.rfi.fr/fr/amériques/20220129-covid-19-au-canada-la-colère-des-routiers-face-à-l-obligation-vaccinale[/quote]
Thank you, I thoght it was a bit odd.

bigbeachedwales · 29/01/2022 18:20

@Alexandra2001

Reading through these replies, its easy to see why we voted Brexit and elected a Clown for PM.
This.
Fordian · 29/01/2022 18:22

@Tsuni

Some of you posters just scream, "Dunning Kruger Effect."

I agree. But not in the way you think.

Kennykenkencat · 29/01/2022 18:25

I actually was in the room when Dh had the news on this evening. (Don’t know what side it was) but so much time was spent discussing parties that the rest of the news, stuff you actually wanted to hear about was so rushed that you couldn’t understand exactly what had happened.

The Russia/Ukraine issue should have been 1st, there were multiple murders somewhere in the U.K. and then something about a sportsman all covered in about 1 minute.

It isn’t the news any more. It has become a soap opera about a few parties that has got on a loop rehashing the same episode again and again whilst the rest of the world watches and waits to see if a war is about to kick off.

Alexandra2001 · 29/01/2022 20:54

@Kennykenkencat Even the Ukrainians are saying the US/UK etc are over egging the pudding.

Its as if Trump/Brexit and CV halted our world... meanwhile for the last 8 years Ukraine has been having a low level insurgency war with Russian backed separatists, in which 14000 Ukrainians have died in, which we all totally ignored.