To not know what's going on in the world. No news!

[OdinFlower]

I began to stop watching the news in 2020. It was an awful time. My elderly mum had a mental breakdown because of the lockdown loneliness. I so regret sticking to the guidance and not seeing her more. She died recently. She never recovered from the mental torment.

I was so sick of the news...COVID, Brexit, Trump, Putin etc. It was affecting my wellbeing. Endless political crap, useless celebrity rubbish. So I've not watched or read about the news for several years. Of course, I can't fully escape it. Other people discuss it but I can honestly say I feel so much better not knowing about world politics, the latest celebrity nonsense etc.

Now I know a lot of people will find my attitude rather uncaring. But this is how our ancestors would have lived. I know what's going on in my local neighbourhood but that's it. If there is a nuclear war or comet about to hit, I don't need to know about it. I'm living my life and the peace is lovely. Selfish? Maybe....but I don't care.

I hate the news all doom and gloom and crap i dont care about.
The only time i ever see the new is if im at a friend's home.
I binned my tv 4 year ago.

That wasn’t a news site. Read a decent newspaper - The Guardian is free online for example. Or even BBC News website

Not where I get my news 🤷🏻‍♀️

I read Private Eye, watch HIGNFY and listen to the News Quiz on R4X.

If it's important, one of those will cover it.

I don't bother with newspapers or news programmes, too depressing and same-old same-old.

You picked the news source.

Spiteful reply. Why are you on the thread? I find other people's opinions and habits interesting. Off you pop.

I was always very informed, have a degree in Politics, always had the news on in the background when working (work from home), etc., but I've been almost doing the same for years now, bar a subscription to Private Eye. I don't think having so much access to so much information (a lot of it bad) is necessarily good for us. If it works for you, I don't see the problem. I'm certainly a lot happier and healthier since taking a low news approach to life.

I'm exactly the same OP. Stopped watching the news in 2020 and even came off Mumsnet for 2 years.

Still don't watch or read news now. If a major event happens like the recent Liverpool tragedy, I normally find out about it first on here.

As someone in their 60's nothing in the news is "new" - threat of war, living costs. Same ol' same ol'.

My life is better from not watching the news.

Some people follow the news others don't. You are one of those that don't and I am one of those that do. I find it hard to connect with people who don't because I really enjoy discussing current affairs and I think of it as a lot more than politics. It's a lot of psychology and philosophy involved for example.

Do you think that the philosophy and psychology varies that much between events, or are they the same psychologies/philosophies repeated over and over?

I stopped watching the news during covid. It was pathetic some of the stuff they were all coming out with . I got rid of the TV and the licence fee, I refused to pay to be lied to.
Haven't looked back since.
I've learned so much about other things, gardening, cooking, walkinging in nature, weird things, nutrition, the human body etc. And much happier in general.
News is depressing, especially when I constantly wanted to throw things at the TV.😑

I think there is probably more interesting variations to discuss when it comes to psychology.

I don’t think it’s a bad thing, but it is a privileged thing.

To avoid the news because it’s stressful means it doesn’t affect you and that you’re lucky.

I can't avoid all needs as it's impossible. I'm on mn while bbc news is on in the background. I avoid the ten pm news. I turn down the volume when they talk about horrible things.

I try to get news from other sources Like the BBC etc website. See the headlines but choose if I want to read more. Definitely doesn't effect who I vote for as local news is very different. My mp is a household name for decades but I doubt anyone beyound his constituency care why I reflect him.

You can't avoid big headline news like the free school meals for UC or winter fuel etc. Plus they all lie. It's fine to vote on a high level basis. I don't need to watch pmqs to get a good feel of backtracking etc

I think a lot of news is rubbish now anyway. I stopped looking for a while as it exacerbated my anxiety. I'll have a look if there's something that interests me or it's important. You can't be totally oblivious as stuff pops up on social media, people talk about things, I hear it on the radio etc so I don't feel I ever miss out on anything important.

I get there are other sites, my point is the "Mainstream media" is toss and utter BS - not news at all.

Its not like it was 10 years ago when news wasn't expected to be rolling 24/7. The news was told, the paper was run, the programme was run and then that was that til the next programme.

Now with "Mainstream media" its more about having something that people will click, respond too, comment on - because that income generating. Their aim isnt to arm you with knowledge, its to gain your interaction...

Humans aren’t designed to know as much as we do beyond our own communities, so you are just protecting your headspace. I do the same sporadically, I didn’t watch during Covid etc and I’m back off news again at the moment. It’s not about caring it’s about what suits you.

Oh yes. A news detox can be very good indeed. It’s all whatever the flavour of the Tory press is anyway. I remember an article “why news is bad for you”, citing it being mostly negative, and is somebody’s agenda, and many other reasons. It recommended cutting out all news cold turkey, for thirty days; sell your telly, stop buying papers, and that afterwards, you will be far more relaxed about news.

On classic FM, I always mute the news, they do the “tearful interviews” a lot, or they give Trump airtime.

I used to listen to radio 4 regularly until August 2020, when I had heard “corrrrrronavirus” once too many, and the final nail in the coffin was Saint Boris drawling “ I’m going to squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze the brakes on reopening”, while we were watching our businesses and children’s mental health crumble.

I take the view that if something important happens in the world, I’ll hear about it one way or another.

I’m the opposite - I enjoy keeping up to date as what is happening in the world - politically and socially. It’s part of life - ignoring it won’t make it go away.

Oh well done, are you feeling superior now with your attempt at a belittling comment?

I get there are other sites, my point is the "Mainstream media" is toss and utter BS - not news at all.

Its not like it was 10 years ago when news wasn't expected to be rolling 24/7. The news was told, the paper was run, the programme was run and then that was that til the next programme.

Now with "Mainstream media" its more about having something that people will click, respond too, comment on - because that is income generating. Something on repeat, being told over and over again to fill space, Their aim isnt to arm you with knowledge, its to gain your interaction..

I don’t agree with your definition of “mainstream” media - the examples I gave are two sites that are generally reasonably balanced and don’t typically touch on the issues you mentioned and are definitely “mainstream”

Yes, i suppose there are variations on themes.
Wasn't asking to be challenging. I enjoy analysis and psychology, but I'm of the fairly firm suspicion that if you take any of the "troublesome" figures on the world stage you could strip each and every single one of them back and find the same sets of traits performing the same routines ad infinitum.

This chimes with me. I really cannot understand why people wouldn’t be curious as to why their bills are more expensive, or why their kid’s school buildings are crumbling, or want to feel uplifted by stories of people overcoming difficulty or doing something brave or adventurous or whatever. Reading a decent newspaper everyday gives me an enormous amount of pleasure, educates me on things outside of my own little world and informs me on why things are the way they are. I talk about these things with my family and friends a lot.

I don’t either, it’s mostly a load of BS!

I choose no to watch the news/read online news I find it very depressing