How To Get A Guy To Stop Liking You
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Why You Should Stop Watching The News
Cut it out. Improve your business. Improve your life.
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Niall Doherty Founder and lead editor at eBiz Facts
"There are many things of which a wise man might wish to be ignorant." – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Two common reasons why people struggle to build a successful online business:
- They don't believe it's possible.
- They don't have enough time.
I've written about these issues before but today I want to address what might be the biggest root cause for both: watching the news.
What is "the news"?
I'm referring to traditional news from traditional media, reporting on stories which are predominantly depressing or shocking:
- Job losses
- Natural disasters
- Crime
- Celebrity scandals
- Etc.
If you want to build a successful online business, that's the type of news you should stop watching, reading and listening to.
Why?
Because reasons…
7 Reasons Why You Should Stop Watching The News
The news is depressing
Many news outlets try to throw in a few positive or cute stories every now and then, but I'd estimate that the ratio of negative to positive stories for the vast majority of them is at least 9:1.
So every time you watch or read the news, you're feeding yourself an overwhelming amount of negativity which infects your thoughts.
Napoleon Hill wrote about the power of our thoughts in Think and Grow Rich:
Our brains become magnetized with the dominating thoughts which we hold in our minds, and, by means with which no man is familiar, these "magnets" attract to us the forces, the people, the circumstances of life which harmonize with the nature of our dominating thoughts.
In other words, the predominant thoughts you allow into your mind actually affect your reality.
Knowing this, I'm not sure why anyone would subject themselves to all the negativity in the traditional news media.
Not when optimism is such a crucial ingredient to success in life and business.
If you really want your news fix, ditch the negative stuff and subscribe to some positive news sources instead.
The news is a poor representation of reality
At this point you might raise an objection:
"But Niall, you're just ignoring the real issues, deluding yourself to believe that the world is all sunshine and rainbows. That's not realistic!"
Yes, I guess you could say I'm deluding myself, but no more than those people who do watch the news. I'd argue that their view of the world is just as skewed, if not more so.
They're led to believe that the world is a brutal and heartless place. All that bad news breeds fear and distrust. Aspiring entrepreneurs have the wind knocked out of them by daily reports of economic crisis and companies gone bust.
News consumption engenders the belief that failure lurks around every corner. Don't take any risks, better to play it safe!
That's not the world I want to live in.
In fact, it's a world I can't afford to live in when my goal is to build a successful online business.
Now I'm not advocating that you avert your eyes whenever you walk by a TV tuned to CNN, or recoil from every newspaper like a vampire from sunlight.
- What I am suggesting is that you stop going out of your way to invite all that negativity into your life in the first place.
Everything in the news is beyond your circle of influence
"It is imperative that you learn to ignore or redirect all information and interruptions that are irrelevant, unimportant, or unactionable. Most are all three." – Tim Ferriss, The 4-Hour Workweek
Pretty much all the issues reported on TV and in the newspapers are beyond your circle of influence.
You can't help solve the problems in the outer circle, and so it's a waste of your time and energy to worry about them.
You'd be infinitely better off using that time and energy to solve problems in your own life and business (ie within your circle of influence).
I look at it like this:
- Watching the news does nothing to move me closer to my goals, and anything that isn't moving me closer is holding me back, so I ditch it.
You don't need to stay informed
The most common response I hear to the above arguments goes something like this:
"I watch the news to stay informed. I like to know what's going on in my area and around the world."
First of all, I'm not sure how anyone can "like" absorbing information that affects their thoughts and emotions in a negative way. That's certainly not my idea of a good time.
But let's address this idea that you might be "uninformed" and "miss out" if you don't keep up with the news.
Say you didn't watch any news television, listen to any news radio or read any newspaper for a whole year.
What would be the worst thing that could happen if you managed to avoid all that?
Would your business suffer?
I very much doubt it.
A far more likely outcome is that your business would become more successful than ever due to the lack of distraction and less pessimistic influences.
You'll never know it all anyway
Even if you try your best to stay up to date with all the latest news, you'll still fall well short of knowing everything.
There is so much happening in the world and so much written about it, that the most you can hope to learn is "a lot about a little."
Henry Ford knew this well.
During World War I, Ford sued a Chicago newspaper for libel after they referred to him as "an ignorant pacifist."
As part of their defense, the newspaper's attorneys set out to prove that Ford was indeed ignorant by putting him on the stand and asking him a series of general knowledge questions.
Ford admitted that he couldn't answer most of them, but noted that he had the means to, with the touch of a button, summon to his aid people who could supply any knowledge he desired.
What then, would be the use of him cluttering up his mind with such information?
You can catch up quickly if you need to
To find information nowadays, you don't have to be rich and connected like Henry Ford, because, luckily, there's this thing called the internet that levels the playing field.
Thanks to Google, rather than letting all kinds of unfiltered and irrelevant information find and consume you – as is the case when you browse news websites – you can search for specific information relevant to your situation.
Get in, get what you need, get out.
As Napoleon Hill wrote when recounting the Ford story in Think and Grow Rich:
An educated person is not necessarily one who has an abundance of general or specialized knowledge… Any person is educated who knows where to get knowledge when it is needed and how to organize that knowledge into definite plans of action.
Consuming the news takes time
This is probably the biggest reason of all to stop watching the news.
- Every hour you spend reading or watching the news is an hour you could spend building your online business!
Instead of getting all depressed watching talking heads discuss the latest economic crisis on the evening news, you could be doing proactive things like:
- Finding your next client
- Taking an online course to sharpen your skills
- Applying for freelance gigs on Upwork
Those kinds of activities would surely serve you much better.
Beyond The News
Now that you understand the foolishness of watching the news, I hope you'll take action to reduce your information intake.
And hey, if your goal is to build an online business, consider signing up to our eBiz Weekly newsletter.
We wade through multiple news sources each week and pick out the most helpful and inspiring stories and resources to help you build your online business.
Join 19,596 other people who've happily replaced mainstream news sources with our value-packed newsletter.
Do you still watch the news?
If so, why?
Let me know in the comments below.
About The Author
Niall Doherty – Founder and Lead Editor of eBiz Facts Born and raised in Ireland, Niall has been making a living from his laptop since quitting his office job in 2010. He's fond of porridge, once spent 44 months traveling around the world without flying, and has been featured in such publications as The Irish Times and Huffington Post. Read more...
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How To Get A Guy To Stop Liking You
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51 Comments
Great Article!! It's a great idea to manage what we watch for the sake of our mental health. News is not helpful to this cause.
I completely agree with this. I have been watching, addictively, the news for at least 10 years, believing it would improve my ways and understanding the ways of the world. Also I thought being up-to-date would prepare me for when anyone brings up a particular issue or about something reported on the news. Recent years I have realised, especially on social media, that there's too much politics and the spreading of hate dominating and, I guess, controlling peoples thoughts. So many people now act like they are an MP or a reporter. I remember times when I'd be glued to the news channels for hours, like when 9/11 and the EU referendum results, and occasionally checking the latest headlines every 15 mins, while so much was developing and I found very entertaining, in a sense. However, I do feel it is time to really cut it out of my life and start focusing on myself before I hit a certain age with a shock of accomplishing very little. Anyway, I can go on about this topic, but we all have a finite time. So lets wake up and start living, loving, in the most positive, successful and peaceful way.
Couldn't agree more, John. I've been pulled back into the news too much recently. Stepping away again now and already feeling better.
thanks for the article, i have been news-free on and off for the past couple of years, currently about 3 weeks. actually going to be going news-free all next year.
thanks anonymous for your post – i agree – the tv is everywhere and is such a presence everywhere that people don't question it – i shudder to think that so many millions of people out there watch it night after night for hours – what the hell for? i will be going tv-free for next year as well (did that in the 90's but simply replaced with internet/gaming!).
in my view, people need to spend more time being comfortable with being by themselves, slowing down and appreciating life and being not afraid to listen to that inner voice.
My fiancé and I have eliminated all social media and I'm considering the internet news as a TERRIBLE source of stress and worry!??? There is no sense of right and wrong and literally NO common sense in the world news. The mentality of the masses is so disturbing.:-(
You people are all so fortunate to be able to turn off the Tv.Years ago I took the tv out of our living area and put in basement as to not use and get rid of the tv.and only put up for special events.This outraged my Husband so much that He threatened to leave so I had to put it back.For peace in our home.Before we were married when I visited my Husband's home the tv never shut off. Now its repeated cycle in our home which I despise.I felt ignored by everyone when visting(watching the TV) and it set up bad and furure inlaw relationships.Im very conscious of it now,and when any family come and visit I will always try to shut off completely or lower sound completely. The news is on from morning to nite.Wee hours since now my husband is retired. Political news non stop show after show all day. The same news with different anchors all day and nite.Since we both own our home I feel there should be some compromises
I have noticed tho now I have gotten addicted to the internet news websites where none of it on it is good and makes me feel worse how bad our world and humanity has sunk by the troubling storys. theres nothing I can do politically except when time to vote know my candidates and their values and beliefs.Im not gonna go to marriage counseling for a tv disagreement but this is what our home is like.Tv and news on morning to nite.Its disturbing.Its on even when no one is even in the room watching it and I go in and shut it off. Im sickened that every doctors office I wait in they have to have the Tv on or some show with a bunch of women cackiling about news that I cant stand spewing out of their mouths making the world seem like their views are the only correct ones. Im so happy for those of you who can ditch the tv.It wouldnt work in my situation. I also fell into the trap of talking so much in my conversations about the latest news.I know our minds take in everything we see and hear.The need to know every thing and news 24/7 is horrible for family life and not good for family living and good relationships.Those of you who can do this(ditch the tv) God Bless you.(also I fear for the cable tv shows that our older adult children have access to and alot of them filled with porn giving the impression to the world that this is normal entertainment and nothing wrong with viewing it.I wouldnt invite the stripper into our living room so why invite this into our living rooms with movies. We just have the news problems TV.or live PD shows
Now we have to view crime happening in real time and watch it upfront in front of it.What purpose does this serve besides the tv show making money or people's thrill for violence?I dont know The only hope I have is warmer weather coming and my Husband will be outside but when He comes inside the news will be on non stop all evening and any free time not outside.Its sad. Thankyou for this article. Ive thought of breaking our Tv but then it would just cost us money to get it fixed. Over and over again. Our children barely watch it(they are on technology so it mostly affects me).Im just glad to see other people's comments that Im not alone. I can try and have the conversation with my Husband to try and watch news on his computer and not the Tv so much for a start .Then its not so disruptive to entire home.I get it that its good to be informed of world events and or to pray or is there anything we can do but at what cost are we doing this for our health or our family relationships.
I suppose if you live alone or both husband and wife agree on this it works but if not seeing eye to eye on this its a problem
Nice article. Thanks for the reinforcements and reminders. Ave Maria
How can you influence someone that doesn't read the papers, listen to Radio or watch TV?
What a great damn article. Every point is spot on, and I never expect that from articles on the internet. Bravo. Nothing more needs to be said about the article.
I'd take the concept even further, though. Don't even engage in conversations with people who start talking about the news, politics, current events, whatever. Just walk away, ask to change the subject, whatever…just avoid it. What I've found is that it doesn't matter whether you agree or disagree with the person; you're going to end up depressed, angry, anxious, and every other negative, unhealthy feeling you can have. And those people that bring it up…screw them. They're intruding on your attempts to stay happy by bringing this crap up. Don't put up with it. And if you're that person bringing it up, piss off. Be kind to your fellow man, and talk about anything else.
It's so true, Niall. Ignorance is bliss. Or maybe, it's just ignorance.
H.T. Katt, well said. People who totally avoid the news live in a self-created bubble and are often woefully ignorant of important issues…and THAT is how Trump got elected!!
I wouldn't call it 'dribble'. Much of it is gut-wrenching horror. Part of me feels that I have a responsibility to know what is happening around the world to my brothers and sisters in humanity. Is the alternative to be like an ostrich sticking its head in the sand? I hope not. A better alternative is do what you can, however little, to improve the lives of others around the world, perhaps by giving to charities such as UNICEF and Smile Train. Being at least AWARE of what is happening does not require submersing yourself in horrific news on a daily basis. THAT, for sensitive souls, only leads to misery. You just have to limit what you're exposed to without being totally ignorant of what's happening in the world.
Rob.
Ever since I made a
firm Decision to
1.Listening to the radio,The TV News and Yes Reading The Newspapers add to
news Magazines.I found
Peace of mind.I strongly
Believe that I do not need to know all the ills of These World.
After all there is nothing I can do
STOP it all.Good and Evil events of all
Have and will
happen.It is not up to
Me nor should I try
play God.The News It is
Plainly and Simple Poising Garbage to one's
Soul and Mental health.
Please Take my advice from a recovering news Junkie the less you know
The better.In The end you are not the one who
Neither has the power nor the influence let alone the ability
change the suffering
miseries of this planet.
Maybe you will live a few years extra by ceasing to feed your mind endless dribble.
Thank You.And Good Luck.
You know, this article speaks volumes. We all, myself included, have way more televisions in our homes and are constantly plugged in to continuous news and information updates about things that have no impact on our daily lives. Think of it this way: News stations would not exist if it were not for the negative news…as a society we have always been engaged in the gossip of the day whether it was truthful or not. Although I live in a large metropolitan area (Denver) do we really need as many news channels updating the news as many times as it does throughout the day?
I'm 61 and I quit the news habit decades ago. Since Walter Cronkite got the Tet offensive all wrong (it was a stunning victory, not a whole new war)I spent some time scrutinizing news stories and found them full of garbage and made up crap. Then I was on grand jury duty for 90 days. I had a chance after serving to go back and look up the news articles about the cases we saw and I found the media again was full of crap, little if any was factual. The news just gives me gossip. I have better things to read or listen to.
I stopped watching the news and reading the newspaper several years ago. Any little news I want to know I can read online. 3-5 minutes a few days a week.
I never thought I'd give up the news. I'd always looked forward to the news – inquiring minds want to know. People wise up through the years, and I guess I gave it up when I wanted too. One of the best decisions I've made in my life!
I now focus on more important and positive things in my life, and I'm a lot happier – news free!
I love this article. I believe the whole concept of news should change. For instance, someone mentioned that we shouldn't just think of ourselves and we should change things. But that is not what happens. In the 80's people were kidnapping people and they still are today, so things are the same. However, what the news could implement is after showing a bad story, do a past story that was similar that ended well. This will give us hope and even encourage us to be apart of the solution. Most times news reporters say extremely sad stories with no sadness no emotion at all.
I rarely watch the news because it's too depressing…for an example, someone got shot, someone got robbed, this celebrity has died, ect…I don't need all of that on my mind, all I need to know is the weather then I'm good.
Really good article! Our brain is like an antenna, everything that we recieve will be stored in our brain. This is why we have to be carefull with what we put in.
I liked your article, keep going!
Have beautiful day!
Thomas
This is my first day staying away from the news. My husband had been telling me to give up cold turkey for as long as I've been depressed, which is years. I didn't realize the source of my depression was the news. All I thought about was the death, disasters, and destruction I read about. Internet news was the worst because there would be 12 more equally horrifying or disturbing articles linked on the bottom of the page I just finished reading. I was addicted and I just clicking more and more stories all night every night. Hours later, usually 3 in the morning, I would be too upset to sleep. It has ruined my faith in humanity and my paranoia is disrupting my family. I don't let my kids do anything outside anymore.
This is the best article I have read trying to get the encouragement to change. I am so glad I'm not the only one who is figuring out how bad news is to your soul.
The comment sections always got me down, too. So many rotten people and trolls made me feel completely alone. It was as if every story that had comments attracted the dregs of society making the news sound like a Disney fairytale. These 'peers' of mine were affecting me as badly as the news. I was almost afraid these comments, but I am relieved there are no ridiculous people posting just to get a rise.
Starting today I'm off news (and comments even if just for a recipe).
Thank you for writing this article. I am excited about turning a new leaf.
I've been news free since May. I'm loving it. My friends still buy into the fear mongering and get their brains fried by over-saturation and being distracted by false truths.
Very simple: I tune out broadcast news, podcasts, Facebook feeds, Twitter, talk radio, and newspaper. That takes care of eliminating politics, "bad news", speculation, etc. I'll check out "news" about science, archaeology, psychology, and my favorite TV show, but no more.
I went from $40hr to unemployment to nothing and became addicted to negative news internet sites. I've wasted the past 5 years on that crap and accomplished zero because of it. The same crap is still going on. I can't do anything about it except inform others and depress them as well. For the last few months i've deleted all the sites and tried focusing on positive notes and my small business. I have literally got more done in the past couple months than in the past 5 years. I am still struggling on a day to day basis trying to fly straight with all of this. Just a short note to show that the news can ruin your life it ruined a part of mine–several years of it.
people, this might be easy for to say, but not everyone's condition is the same. Not everyone has free wi-fi. And the same news are shown at least thrice a day, how is watching for 30 minutes a waste of time? Or maybe at least the highlights. If people watch news together and discuss about it, it helps to raise their voices for what's right, they can see which president to vote for, they can be grateful for not suffering what others go through, they can pray for others, show sympathy, give donations. We must not just think of ourselves in this world, we must know that there are others out there, and there will always be something new to learn from them, which will benefit us. Also, don't forget that these very reporters risk their lives everyday to bring us news and most of them exaggerate things in hopes that people watching those might raise their voices in protest.
Great post, mate. I still like to keep in touch with sources who I believe give a more accurate depiction and don't TELL ME what to think. A good example is the British paper "The Independent."
I wouldn't piss on most of the other tabloids. I must admit however, that I have said a few of your examples what others say in the past and I do feel it's good to have a certain amount of knowledge of what's going on, but we certainly shouldn't seek negative news. Which is what a lot of people do, and that's just nuts!
Dean's got it spot on, with the word'distortion.'
Thanks for getting me to think, Niall. I watch the financial news, check tonnes of financial sites, and listen to an investment related podcast almost every day. Now, it might help me buy in at a time that will get me a few more percentage points, but ultimately my strategy is a buy and hold one and I will do okay with dollar cost averaging every month. After reading this I'm starting to think it is a waste of time to keep up with it all. Right now I am young and have limited investment capital–my time would be better spent earning more. A couple percentage points don't mean much when I'm not investing much. I need to get my investment capital higher through working more hours instead of checking the financial media. Once I have large enough amounts where 2% is meaningful I'll re-evaluate whether I should be scanning the web for opportunities all day.
I might try limiting myself to a strict half hour per day and see if I miss any big opportunities. I doubt I will. Plus I'll probably become happier because everything is doom and gloom in the markets these days.
Thanks for the comment, Bryan. I don't know much about financial markets, but I suspect you're right about your time being better spent focusing on earning more.
Cheers!
Rock on, Lindsay Essburg! Glad you've kicked those habits and are making the most of the time you've reclaimed. I'm staying with my parents for a few weeks right now, and I'm amazed at how much TV they watch. Of course it's no more than they've always watched, but it seems so excessive to me now. All that time that could be spent learning a new language, or working on a new hobby, or meeting new people…
Anyways, glad this post resonated with you. Thanks a mil for the comment 🙂
It's a relief to run across opinions like yours. Direct writing plus humor doesn't hurt either! I gave the boot on July 23 to Facebook and to conventional broadcast and print news. I'm in the process of redefining what constitutes news to me, and I agree utterly with your 'actionable' critique. It's embarrassing to admit (and you can tell I'm not gainfully employed) that this has saved me 3 – 4 hours a day. It's not just those hours, it's the rest of my conscious hours that are sparked up by sloughing off useless blather that I either participated in (FB and all my 'friends') or passively lapped up ('the news'). I'm making a long slow and delicious list of all the benefits of this blackout, and they really surprise me. It's too long a story, but so far the list reads:
– Laughing with Husband
– Improved Digestion
– Disproportionate Joy over a Clean Desk
– Millipedes: Who Knew?
and
– This Could Be Contagious
The point is: right on, Niall Doherty! and to all your current and future readers: go get your life back; your real life.
I agree with you. Prodominantly, 95% of the world news is negativity and if the minds are conditioned to listening this negativity a person becomes a part of nagative world and endup attracting the same realities. Example, try to listen to African predo-negative news,99% is negativity. You become what you listen about most of the time.This is true, too much negativity on news.
Thanks for the comment, Mwansa! Glad this resonated with you.
I've subscribed to this philosophy for years for all the reasons you cited. I fill my inbox with GOOD news, which keeps me in a positive mood most of the time. When I am aware of bad news (floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.), I pray for those who are affected.
Thanks for the comment, Janine. Glad this resonated with you 🙂
Hi.
Firstly, I think it's engineered that way, the "news." Negativity breeds more negativity. Nevertheless, I disagree with hiding from the truth. It's like taking the blue pill of ignorance. Perhaps real truth news in short bursts are a good idea. I'm experimenting with that!
Secondly, I would say that often the news is a DISTORTION of reality, not just a poor representation, so if by "news" you mean the surface bs of the daily "newscasts" then I agree 100%. I haven't watched tv in about 5 years. If I do watch, I watch online, maybe with an hdmi cable attached to a big screen, and I choose what I want to see and when. In short bursts, of course, to avoid getting angry.
So basically,I've had a similar idea to yours for a long time now, avoiding "news" and all of its associated negative emotions but at the same time I believe that avoiding the REAL truth of what's going on in the world (say, with the "financial crisis") and the real causes of world events is actually a bad thing, because it is ignorance that allows, oh, let us say, banksters to do what they want with no visible resistance in the richer countries.
(That sentence was too long, I know)
See: Eire, for example. The taxpayers get screwed for the banksters' sins.
What a disgrace!!!!!!
Thanks for the comment, Dean!
I agree it's important to stay informed about certain things. It's just that most things we see on the news are completely outside of our control, so I find it pointless to dwell on them. If I'm not going to do anything about the earthquake in Haiti, it doesn't make much sense for me to watch extended news coverage about it.
But I get your point about needing to stay informed about certain things. I try to leave a little window open so I might come across news stories that are actually relevant to me. The great thing about the internet is that it allows us to pick and choose what information we leave into our worlds.
Oh, and good call on the "distortion" bit. That's probably a better way of putting it.
Wow. Just re-reading this site, which I bookmarked prior to terminating my relationship with the TV news. My family doctor had told me that I should stop based on his opinion that "the first 15 seconds of the evening news is the absolute worst 15 things that happened in in the entire world, exaggerated by 1000% and squeezed into that 15 seconds." That sounded quite radical at the time. He also said that no normal person, in his opinion, should be able to fall asleep after watching that, but that most of us had become desensitized to the point where it's not a problem for them. I now have six + months of no TV news, and about 5 months of no newspapers or internet "news", and my anxiety level has plummeted. It was your "sphere of influence" comment that did it for me. Eliminating this spurious concentrated negativity from my life is the best decision I have ever made, and will probably add years onto my life. For that, I sincerely thank you for your opinions. I'll not force my beliefs on others, people may do as they please, but as for me, a recovering tv news junkie, I am now committed to making certain that I don't let ANYBODY steer my thoughts in a negative direction ever again.
Really, thank you very, very much.
I owe you.
Kind regards,
Jan
Wow, thank you, Jan. That's one of the best comments I've gotten on here. I love your doctor's advice. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Kathy. That's a great point about the "news" not always equaling the truth. At the end of the day, news stations need to make money to stay alive, and so they need to lure viewers. The quick and easy way to do that is to sensationalize stories or put a controversial slant on something that's not all that controversial. Not all news outlets do this of course, but many of them do.
Glad you found my site 🙂
I found your website while I was looking for support to stop watching crime dramas, especially "Criminal Minds." When I watch episodes of Criminal Minds (on DVDs one after another!) I can't stop thinking about the horror I've seen. I know this can't be good for my mind and spirit. I'm now listening to Wayne Dyer and Eckhart Tolle and reading good non-fiction books. I don't have cable and rarely watch TV and actually stopped watching news shows for the reasons you've stated and for another reason–I don't think they tell us the truth about what is going on in the world news, and they can slant it any way they want to. I'm glad I discovered your website. I'm looking forward to visiting it a lot.
right on!
Caroline, thanks for reading, and for the thoughtful comment. I'll be recording the speech and posting the video on here afterward.
Great topic. You are so right. Television news and a lot of the radio news should really be classified as entertainment, it is so twisted and spun.
We saw this dramatically during the big fires we had in the Southern California mountains. People were evacuated from their homes and glued to the news. Most were sure that all of So CA had burned and their homes were gone. When they could return to the area, they had trouble finding signs of the conflagration depicted on the television 24/7 for that week.
I think the emotional damage done to these people was criminal. Some good came out of it though. At least one internet news service that monitors the local scanners and has local people reporting what is really going on here.
I'd love to hear your Toastmasters speech about this. Good luck!
Caroline
a member of the Bearly Speaking Toastmasters
Big Bear, CA
As for news outfits skewing the news…it reminds me of how in Buffalo, NY (where I used to live) if there was a snow storm, the reporters would always plant themselves next to a HUGE pile of recently plowed snow or a roof that had just caved in from too much snow! They seldom showed the nicely plowed streets with people going about their business. Buffalo knows how to deal with snow and it was never as bad as they portrayed.Sensationalism.
I do not watch the news a long time, since about entering college, my life has settled well, provided that there is something important I learn quickly without any problems.
Now I have much more time to do my most productive activities.
Thanks for the comment, Kathir. I'm considering giving up TV completely. I can definitely see the benefits.
I fully agree with you. Actually news sucks most of the time. I go one step further….I do not watch television at all…I catch up with sports updates next morning on newspapers.
Second, watching news is an absolute waste of time. After watching it you are no better off…probably worse off with negative emotions. Newscasters and correspondents project an hunkydory image of the world around us and thats pretty irritating.
What will be the mindset of the guys working in these news chanells(Editors,reporters) who always live in such hostile negative environment….A friend of mine who works as a tv cameraman told me this. During the horrific tsunami which destroyed south asia a few years back, the tv crew landed in one of the fishing communities and were interviewing the women. Women out there were composed while giving facing the camera…but the newsmen urged the women to cry and break down a bit so that it can create a sensation for people who watch….how mean and how sick…..
Most of the news I hear about these days comes via Facebook or Twitter, though I'm thinking of cutting back on the former a lot in the coming weeks, and I don't use Twitter as much as I used to.
Regarding minimalism, have you heard of zenhabits.net? Leo over there is the king of minimalism, as is this guy.
I'm liking your new blog design, Sarah. Very nice.
Niall, Thank you for your article…I needed this! I have been crying almost non-stop over the chemical attack in Syria. It's truly affecting my mind. When I go to the store and have to leave b/c I keep thinking about those little kids, that's a problem. I AM infecting my mind with issues that I can do nothing about…except give to those charities that help the refugees of this crisis. Aside from that, my misery is helping no one…least of all myself.Today I woke up and did NOT turn on CNN…rather I turned on my classical music :-)Turning over a new leaf 🙂
I have been recently exploring getting more minimal, with regard to focusing more on creativity, and I have also cut out news. Anything I care about is already in my RSS reader or I'm sure I will see it in my Twitter feed. I actually don't watch any TV at all except basketball. About 5 weeks ago I also cut out internet forums– all of them, cold turkey. I find I have a tendency to rant, and it is just a waste of time and emotional energy. I can't stop the anger and the ranting, it's just my personality, so I cut out the source instead. That's a whole list of things I don't have to see and places I don't have to go where I know I will be annoyed by something I don't need to be annoyed by.
That is a good idea. I pointlessly rant all the time at these news articles that are so freaking dumb and annoying. Maybe I should just cut it all out. Thanks.
Hey Sarah, I just read your comment and had to laugh because the only thing I watch on tv is nba tv haha. I hate the news, I don't even listen to the radio I have like 20 cds!
i hated watching the news..did not know why..found it depressing..i just don't. see it anymore and feel better
even though your comment was written more than 8 fucking years ago, I still wanted to say that I actually do the same thing. rant a lot, I mean. and it IS a waste of energy and I dint realize how much I rant until I read your comment, so… thank you!
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