Community Chat

[handygal2]

First, let me say that this is not meant to be political in nature...

I'm finding that, during this holiday season, there's nothing pleasant to watch on the news: Stories about terrorism, murder, drug addiction, scammers and thieves, flu epidemics, poverty and homelessness, child abuse, sexual harassment, the wrath of Mother Nature...

And then there's the commercials-- drugs for every sort of affliction and condition. It's enough to make me go to Cozi TV, Antenna TV, or TV Land, to escape reality by watching the classic old sitcoms...  

[chrystaltree]

That's how the news goes, it's always been that.  If it depresses you, the solution is simple.  Don't watch the news or just watch a half hour of your local news.

[Greeneyedlady21]

I agree. I always want to stay informed but I'm also aware of the impact of the negativity. It's reality and I don't want to divorce myself from reality. But it drags me down and my life is tough enough right now.

The local news where I live is obsessed with hyping snow. Even when it doesn't snow the weather is usually the lead story. Snow=24 hour coverage. 

[EdithEllenLily]

@handygal2 I agree! All of the stories with details of inappropriate workplace behavior are nauseating. I have a friend who says he doesn't watch the news. At first I thought he was out of the loop for doing that. Now I think he is the wise one! All of these stories are depressing for sure! 

[RainCityWoman]

News by its very nature is not always good. In fact, any time of the year it leans toward the negative. There are horrible things going on everywhere in the world. Yet, it's important to be aware. To me ignorance of events is not bliss, so no matter how much on screen is upsetting, I still watch. I just try to limit the amount of time per day that I tune in.

[Skididdy]

@handygal2, I totally agree. NEws is just ridiculous these days. I would rather watch 25 presentations of MY pillow...lol.

Have a GREAT holiday.

[Yardlie]

@handygal2 ... I hear what you are saying. There are plenty of people who don't watch the news because it is so depressing. I believe there should be an option for people who don't like to hear about all the negative things going on in the world. Someone (or maybe some church) should start a network that emphasizes the positive things going on in the world, acts of kindness, etc. I'm sure there would be more than enough viewers.

[OKPrincess]

This is exactly why I quit watching the news and started interacting with the fine folks in these forums. Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 to all!

[just bee]

This holiday season?  Nah, it's been like this for years.  Local news is especially dismal.  Whenever I'd travel I'd tune in the local news and wherever I was the news was as bad as it was at home.

Good things happen all the time but they're not newsworthy.  I had a friend who worked for a local TV station.  Child and animal abuse stories were their bread and butter.

[Sooner]

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The so-called "news" is very different than it used to be.  It used to be that stories were carefully vetted, reporters and editors worked hard to verify stories and not to take viewers to places where they didn't need to go, like showing violence, actual shootings and other horrors on air.

Today the news is filtered to get all the shock value they can, show news bites that are out of context, and inflalme, anger and shock viewers.

That's the big difference.  They will hype and play up some story, often blown all out of proportion then when that story cools a little move on to some other sensational angle.

The National Enquirer can't compet with national news shows today.  And I'm talking any and all of them.  Oh and half of any story is talking to the man on the street, and usually the dumber ones they can talk to the better.  Now what good is that?