to stop following politics or watching the news for a while at least?

[tabbycatty]

I have always been pretty politically engaged, active even since my teen years. The past couple of years haven't been the smoothest with wider family issues and I've recently been very unwell with a life threatening illness. I am now out of hospital and the woods but still recovering. I didn't really follow much news or politics for a while when I was very ill and spent my initial recovery listening to audiobooks and watching movies in bed.

The last few days I've tried to re-engage in current affairs and I am just finding it too much, the horror of what is happening in Gaza and Israel, the reaction around the globe, going back on to twitter and seeing the sheer nastiness and vulgarity I just feel done with it. I am a Labour party member and have been active in the past but I just don't like the party very much anymore to many broken promises from Starmer and a betrayal of women. I'm also dismayed by the very black and white attitude towards differing views in politics in general.

Would I be unreasonable to just step back from it all and just not engage for a while? I've been thinking of ending my membership of the labour party for a while now although I'd probably still vote for them in a General Election. Also the news, I feel guilty not staying informed when I always have but I just don't have the bandwidth for it at the moment, its a luxury position I know but I'm so sick of it all. I think even after I'd need to find healthier ways to engage with the material compared to how I've consumed media in the past.

For now all I want to do is cosy in, watch old films, read old novels, knit, bake and cook nice food and perhaps get out and enjoy some nice autumn, early winter weather and spend time with people I love. Is that so unreasonable?

Find a more centrist news source. I can highly recommend "The rest is politics" for a less stressful way of engaging with politics (although they are very Europhile so that might not work for you)
Disengaging is not the solution as then you just get swept up in the generic background noise of "Rishi is rich but competent and short, Starmer has a weird voice blah blah" and can't make an informed choice.

The only way we get out of this is by people becoming more informed, not less. Don't get politics/news from social media and read around the soundbites.

I think given my background, knowledge of politics and prior engagement I am not likely to become befuddled by soundbites, I'm not an idiot.

Well its what I am doing. I have had a horrible few years too. I do need to be on social media for my job but I am not engaging as much as I used to.

I clocked out of the news during covid. Best thing I did.

I checked out a couple of years ago. I read Private Eye, I watch HIGNFY, listen to The News Quiz and The Now Show on the radio and occasionally scan the headlines. That is it.

I used to be an avid R4 listener, watched Newsnight and Question Time, had views on most things in the news.

But I turned 60 and decided I was done with it, haven't really missed it or regretted not knowing more.

@CharlotteRumpling Sometimes we do just need a break, social media can be really grim even on here where women are talking about relationship issues and there are men weighing in with misogynistic red pill rhetoric, its all so toxic.

@Createausername1970 Sounds like a nice way to stay lightly informed!

I am definitely trying to do more IRL and less online. Of course, it is a privileged position.

OK well in that case you do you. Interesting choice to join mumsnet to start a thread about it, if you are confident in your choice and that disengaging won't affect you.

I think there's a lot of misinformation out there and a lot of people who have a vested interest in pushing the line "they are all as bad as each other/there's no point engaging". So I'd encourage people to stay engaged as much as they are able, and actively seek out sources of information that appeal to logic and rational thought rather than emotion.

I think it’s important to be informed, but once a week is fine. The week is good and waffle free.

@AdamRyan Perhaps your comments are more valuable for those who were never much engaged in the first place and have little knowledge of politics.

I think it’s problematic if everyone who is centrist disengages from politics, we need more moderate and tolerant voices, not less. There is absolutely nothing wrong with turning off the 24/7 news cycle and not going on BBC each day though as that’s really tough mentally. But I would still subscribe to a weekly magazine (like the week or the economist) or listen to a podcast like the rest is politics. Once a week to stay abreast of events and trends, without needing to know minute by minute “news”

I do listen to The Rest is History and enjoy it, so may give The Rest in Politics a whirl. Prefer not to look at gruesome videos and have blocked anyone who sends me any.

I struggle with this too, not least at my parents place a high value on being informed and my job demands it too. I skim the headlines on the BBC but generally just read the FT and then Politco's two daily newsletters which keep me informed about political developments in a light touch way.

My colleagues and friends who are following events minute by minute appear to be having full blown breakdowns, in some cases. Or become very sanctimonius. Tweeting 50 times a day and berating others for not doing the same.

I dip in and out. Like you I’m very interested in current affairs and have followed politics avidly in the past, often being amazed and a bit judgmental by friends complete lack of knowledge and awareness 😬. However since turning 40 I’ve had some really stressful life events (including a family situation right now) so I’ve just stopped reading the news. I feel so much better for it. I will go back at some point but right now having a break from it is one of my coping strategies. It sounds like you need a rest too - I hope your recovery goes well.

I did the same with a bad bout of depression OP. Reading the news, watching it and listening to it was making me so unwell.

Unplug, disengage, have a break - you'll hear from others if there's anything catastrophic in your area that might directly affect you.

Thanks everyone, I am appreciating the solidarity and all the tips on how to stay informed without drowning in the sheer amount of information available. @CharlotteRumpling I know what you mean about those video's really horrific stuff that gets shared online these days. I'm not saying we shouldn't know about atrocities but some of these video's do not respect those affected and its obvious many take a perverse pleasure in watching and sharing them.

No one has to watch the news

I don’t have haven’t for a long time. Imagery and heightened news cycles aren’t for me

I’m pretty well informed though, as do hear political and economic analysts on the radio

I haven't watched TV news since the start of the pandemic, mainly because it has been so dumbed down for many years, and then just became hysterical nonsense in the pandemic. So, different reasons to you OP, but I find I am perfectly well-informed thanks to Radio 4 and a couple of quality newspapers (online). Just don't rely on social media, because you won't get a balanced view.

@EasternStandard and @Hbh17 I do listen to the Today program on R4 most mornings prior to getting up and I probably won't change that.

I wish I could zone out but we have a friend who was taken hostage at the music festival. We can't focus on anything else.

Do it OP. News is broadcast 24 hours because that's the business model. You don't have to engage with it all. The majority of the time you can't do anything that would make a difference anyway - and that includes tweeting about things : tweeting is a pointless activity.

You'll find the balance that works for you. I read the FT most weekends and dip into The World At One a couple of times a week. I don't watch the news on telly any more. I stopped during Brexit because there was lots and lots of news and nothing actually happening. I did watch it a bit at the start of covid but again found there was a lot to get through without much information or action.

I'm much happier now and informed enough.

Incidentally I've caught a few episodes of Yes, Minister on BBC4 recently - don't know if you remember it, it's a very funny sitcom about govt/civil service. Literally all the issues it shows are the same issues being hashed out now - refugees, NHS spending, terrorist threats ... the programme is over 40 years old. Those issues, they'll still rumble on without you paying close attention to every twist and turn, you can pick them up when you please, they're not going anywhere.

@PurpleChrayne That is totally understandable and I am so horrified at what has happened. I really hope your friend is ok.

@tabbycatty I go between R4 and Times Radio. And R6 when I just want music

The best stuff lately has been The Briefing Room R4 on a range of political issues

It can be hard to find quality stuff (even the Today programme isn’t always delivering) so I appreciate it