To block GBNews from my parent’s TV?

[goslowly]

My parents retired 4 years ago. They’re both in their 60s, healthy, happy, comfortable financially.

Since they’ve retired they have been sucked in by every single thing they say on there. They can spend an entire day sat in front of the TV getting angrier and angrier. It’s to the point that if Starmer comes on the TV, they shout about how he should be killed.

it’s genuinely starting to concern me. You can’t have a rational conversation with them about anything. I miss my parents, how they used to be before all the conspiracy and anger took over.

I’m genuinely tempted to block it from their tv using parental controls and just pretending it’s some weird fault in their telly. They’d not be able to fix it.

Our views and opinions define us a human beings. I don’t like GB news because I don’t enjoy watching people endorse racism and promote division. I strongly dislike it. I cannot casually overlook those views because I consider them harmful. I feel sad and worried for the people the hate is directed towards.
Maybe think about why you consider these matters so unimportant ?

So you think that mumsnet is worse than people dying, and yet you're on here.

I think the key word there is "unless on private property". As in there is absolutely no problem putting them up in your own windows as the OP wanted to do.

Don't watch it then.

What an inspired response . Let me guess, your reasoning ability comes courtesy of GB news?

Perhaps your parents were reminded of Lake Como in August 2016?

BBC
Lake Como, Italy, the latest migrant frontline

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-37159461

Telegraph
How Lake Como became the unlikely hotspot of Europe’s migration crisis

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/11/we-have-no-maps-we-dont-know-where-to-go-how-lake-como-became-th/

The op implied that the only reason for not allowing flags on council property was for health and safety reasons - clearly not the case.

Yes, but that's the point. One bad/inconvenient thing happening somewhere is reported because its news. Eg, some celebrity was pickpocketed in London. That really happened. It's rightly reported on the news. But I can also go to London and have a lovely visit and not have anything stolen that doesn't mean the first story wasn't true. But if you are mainlining bad stories and fear and anger constantly you lose perspective. Hence the parents belief that you "can't go to lake Como". Saying "actually there were migrants at lake Como 10 years ago" doesn't make the belief that you can't go there now more rational.
It's why there's a difference in mental health terms between being up to date with the news and world events, and so completely consumed with them it distorts your view of reality and probably outcomes.

Persephonia1966
But if you are mainlining bad stories and fear and anger constantly you lose perspective.

On balance, I'm taking the op's claims with a pinch of salt. Quite an amusing diversion though.

Have you tried jumping to fewer assertions?

And more with the ageism.

Honestly, do it. I think it should be banned. I really don't understand why we allow this level of false reporting. Lies and liars are normalised at the moment.

Something that worries me is that people are becoming more authoritarian and less tolerant.

Media pluralism matters. Even and perhaps especially including views we disagree with.

Quashing of dissent, censorial approaches, and self justification all serve to exacerbate division, resentment, and rage.

We seem to have lost the ability to negotiate personal relationships.

Blocking their television is batshit.

Yes, maybe thats the key underlying issue. Loss of tolerance and the ability to navigate disagreement without jumping on the attack. I think a lot of that comes from tribalism. And stress, I suppose.

I mean, why not just make a cup of tea and say "you seem to be cross about something" listen a while, then change the subject. 🤷‍♀️

People will people. You can't control them.

I think that social media has had a highly corrosive effect on society, in a way likely to cause more long term harm to a greater number of people.

Indeed, it played its part in contributing to the pandemic's death toll.

It's probably also a reasonably assumption that social media has been a major contributor to more deaths than any of the events you list, save for Covid.

As a much as I disagree with GB news. Your parents are adults and can make their own illinformed choices

Honestly, I fucking hate boomers.

Have more money than anyone, have saddled the younger generations with mountains of debt for decades to come, vote for arseholes like Trump & Farage, and Brexit (despite often having a holiday home in the EU), and constantly watching brain rot like Fox News, GB News and Facebook.

Just an absolutely horrible generation.

I’m a boomer and I don’t tick any of those boxes nor do any of my friends. You’ve been very unlucky if all the ones you’ve met are like that.

You have changed the narrative from your initial posts

I don't watch GB news. It makes me laugh though that people like you rant about it but obviously watch it, how else would you know what is on the programme. Reminds me of people ranting about the DM, they must read it to know what's in it.

Your stereo typing is crazy and wrong and bitter and nasty. Never mind love....soon we'll all be dead and you can rejoice. But don't forget one day the generation below you will blame your generation for something and despise you too. After all you're a real piece of work so they'll have every right.

I'm a boomer, as is just about everyone I know well. They none of them do any of the things you describe.

And yes, my personal sample trumps your ridiculous generalisation.

Satire, yes?