World events seems to be unfolding like a bad telenovela show. Paying too much attention to the daily drama can suck the productivity out of life. I do not want to spend my days refreshing news feeds and reading the latest headlines. At the same time I do not want to be completely ignorant of current events. How are you all finding your balance?
I was suffering from "Trump overload" so I started some construction. I'm also making a conscious effort to not think about problems I'm not going to be able to solve.
>I'm also making a conscious effort to not think about problems I'm not going to be able to solve.
Yeah, that usually works for me, not so much lately.
One thing I am doing, I mentioned it in another thread a couple of weeks ago, is putting some thought into making a low cost desktop video magnifier for seeing impaired. Those things tend to be $2k -$5k and I think I could put something useful together for under $200 with off the shelf products -- it has been a nice distraction.
I have gone back to watching BBC America.
It is interesting to discover other countries have "issues"
I mostly tune out, although not 100%.
The world stage has many ugly corners these days but there's seldom much value in just watching someone else's train wreck.
I sometimes peek at the train wrecks but I try to keep my main focus on things that I could actually do something about.
I have narrowed my news intake to BBC America and a daily NPR news hour. Nothing is truly balanced, but if a guest starts spewing PR speak I'm out.
To fill the space, I listen to some non-political podcasts. Tim Ferriss, Kevin Rose, STEM Talk, etc... I can actually do something useful/beneficial with that information.
Also, side projects. Just put together a solar-powered kayak for fun. I'll post about that in another thread.
Started listening to self help books.
On the "lean Startup" at the moment. Can be a bit dry, but some good ideas.
>if a guest starts spewing
If an article I'm reading mentions that it's in any way related to a new book that's being published I nuke it immediately. This pretty much applies across the board, but definitely to news and/or politics.
I deleted all news apps and RSS off my phone and computers. I have a tablet that still has my RSS feeds and it stays in the living room. Never in the bedroom or workspace. So if I check the news it's more of a conscious decision.
I also bought a Kindle paper white so that it's easy to keep books available.
I keep only Le Monde and Vox in my news feed. And a max of once per day, I check CNN and Foxnews websites, neither of which I've ever paid attention to but it's more informative simply to see what's being covered by Trump's nemesis and his biggest propaganda arm. It is fascinating to see that on some days there is virtually no overlap. But you don't have to read the mostly vacuous articles on either one. Just front page lead stories tells me what I need to know.
CNN: G20 has Trump totally isolated in the world and this is the story of the year, so we have seven G20 stories on the home page
Fox: G20? What's that?
Le Monde: G20 is happening and the other leaders sort of don't like Trump, but this isn't like really big news or anything
Reading more books. Started reading HP Lovecraft, because I prefer my horror to be fiction not reality.
News: very selective feeds and subjects on my news reader apps.
Rely on NPR and BBC news via radio or Alexa. I avoid TV news.
For entertainment I listen to a lot of old time radio on Tunein app.
Quote from: Brad on July 13, 2017, 11:57:49 PM
Reading more books.
For 2016, I made a New Year's resolution to "read fewer articles and more books" and I also killed my Facebook account. That has served me well these last 12 months.
Quote from: Brad on July 13, 2017, 11:57:49 PM
I avoid TV news.
And I haven't had broadcast TV in my home since I had my own home... so I haven't had easy access to TV since 1988. That again is something I'm glad of, because I don't think I would have the self-control to not watch. It's like having ice cream in the freezer and not eating it. I just can't do it.
I don't think we are normal. :-\
I'm not normal 8)
>normal
No we are not normal. :P
I keep enough real time news to stay informed but I avoid reading 27 articles rehashing the same scandal du jour. One of the best things I did a few years ago after a thread here on the Core, was cut cable and go to antenna, so no 24 hour CNN or Fox.
I do get our local newspaper which focuses on hyper local news and what is happening on a county and state level. This is very important, since local government has a much greater effect on my life than stuff happening in Washington or Paris and I actually can directly influence local decisions. Most people overlook the local, but it is far more important IMO.
I do have one news app just set up only for things like archeological news, history and motorcycles which is great reading.
Good point about local news... We don't, but should reconsider.
Quote from: Brad on July 14, 2017, 11:45:01 AM
Most people overlook the local, but it is far more important IMO.
Keep an eye on what Sinclair Media is doing to local television news. They are buying up stations all over through individual purchases and large mergers and when they do they have "must run" editorials featuring op-eds from the ultra right-wing CEO of Sinclair, 99% of which have nothing to do with local news.
As you say, people aren't paying attention to local news, but it is ceasing to be "local" in the sense that it is increasingly owned by one company throughout the entire US.
>Sinclair
Good tip ergo, it sounds like they are buying up the Chicago based WGN, which is sad.
I'm really fortunate to have a local daily that has not become a regional newspaper, they pretty much stick to reporting on things that effect five or six small towns, the county and some state coverage. They not only tell what is happening but why it is important. Old school. It's a gem.
I'm getting close to where I'm going to have to start paying for some national/international papers online as more and more retreat behind the paywall. The Washington Post and The Guardian are about the only freebies left.
>Sinclair
Good video about Sinclair: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvtNyOzGogc
>Sinclair
Didn't know about Sinclair, but this follows the same aggregated path of radio and newspapers. The management M-O, at least for newspapers, is to maximize short-term profit to cover the cost of purchasing them,
then run them into the ground.
<added>
My local paper was bought out and management 'merged' with several other NC papers about 6 years ago.
THANK YOU Dr. Coolness
;D
http://th3core.com/talk/members-only/hacking-inoreader/
Whew!
>I'm also making a conscious effort to not think about problems I'm not going to be able to solve.
I think that is absolutely spot on!
I tell that to my kids (and wife) when they whine and yack about stuff. Focus on the stuff you're actually able to change.
>>Sinclair
Here's why your local TV news is about to get even worse
https://www.rawstory.com/2017/11/heres-why-your-local-tv-news-is-about-to-get-even-worse/
TL;DR - Bundled, centrally-produced, homogenized, generic news served through local stations
>Bundled, centrally-produced, homogenized, generic news served through local stations
Journalistic hell.
IMO we would have been much better off if we still had this at work:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_Doctrine
>Sinclair
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai accused of evading questions about FCC helping Sinclair expand media empire
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/11/lawmakers-demand-investigation-into-fcc-chairman-ajit-pai/
>Journalistic hell.
After having the tv on in Vegas for a few days, I'm confident that US is headed in downwards spiral. Holy sh##.
99% drug commercials speaking to the lowest common denominator. Following the US tv broadcasting for 10+ a few times a year REALLY shows how desperate it is getting. It takes an effort to shock me, but we'd hit rock bottom. Also CNN, Fox, Cnbc and all other news channels are stories about crime, drugs, sexual abuse, finacial problems etc. It's turned into a live living room discussion with your f-ed up drunk uncle spewing bs.
I, too am overwhelmed. I'm limiting what news I am reading, I have two or three that I will watch for national news, but that's it. I've turned off the cellular on my phone so I have to be at home when I see the news at a certain time.
I'm drinking more. That seems to help too. ;)
>I'm confident that US is headed in downwards spiral.
Yes, probably. One shining light is that it is that TV (particularly cable news) quickly becoming the realm of the old. If the trends keep up then 10 years from now all the shouting on FOX news will be necessary to get their user base to hear them.
Ditto what LM said.
Other than sports and -maybe- children's programs (used to pacify/occupy), I don't know anyone watching tv. OTOH, everybody is on Netflix. I rarely see mention of Hulu. HBO only because of Game Of Thrones.
Netflix Knows Some Very Strange Things About Public Viewing Habits
https://www.wired.com/story/netflix-streaming-in-public/
FCC plans to fine Sinclair $13.3 million over undisclosed commercialsQuoteThe penalty represents an average fine of about $7,700 for each of the improperly aired spots but is significantly less than the maximum fine Sinclair could have faced under the law.
I'll betcha those spots sold for a LOT more than $7,700 each
QuotePolitico, citing unnamed sources, reported in December 2016 that Trump's campaign made a deal with Sinclair to get favorable coverage in exchange for more access to Trump. Sinclair denied that allegation.
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat, told a congressional committee in October, "All of our media policy decisions seem to be custom-built for this one company."
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sinclair-fcc-exclusive/exclusive-fcc-plans-to-fine-sinclair-13-3-million-over-undisclosed-commercials-idUSKBN1E92C7
Thanks for the update
Joel Spolsky:
QuoteMy new year's resolution was to give up on reading Twitter and Facebook.
I gave up on the feeds because they were making me angry. A lot of times I was angry because of politics, but even on non-political things, the feeds seemed like they were full of conflict and stress.
I can't tell you how much happier I am without them. Am I the only one that hated reading feeds? Do they make everybody unhappy? And if they make people unhappy why are they so popular?
https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2018/01/12/birdcage-liners/
I'm watching more stuff like this. This is called "The Funeral" with Carol Burnett and a young Robin Williams. They do the skit twice and it shows how brilliant Robin Williams was.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfDyTUiL8xs
Old movies and shows are great, I watch them half-way to see how things use to be. I've also been getting into YouTube channels that deal with esoteric subjects.
I'm with you on old TV shows and movies. I confess I have a weakness for B grade 1950's monster and sci-fi movies. Rubber suit monsters cheesier the better.
YouTube has been good. I've gotten addicted to prepper videos, at least the sensible ones, like 50 things you can do with WD40 and duct tape.
I've noticed I've become reluctant to even open up my local paper and I don't turn the radio on in the car anymore. I think I'm in scandal and craziness overload thanks to Facebook. Time to give FB up.
Adding to the craziness on social media is that people get into competition over who can be more pro or anti something than everybody else. Then they start denouncing others that agree with them for not being as zealous as they are. Sigh.
Quote from: rcjordan on January 13, 2018, 03:45:08 PM
Joel Spolsky:
QuoteMy new year's resolution was to give up on reading Twitter and Facebook.
All the cool kids are doing it (Ta Nehisi Coates)
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/dec/20/ta-nehisi-coates-quits-twitter-after-public-row-with-cornel-west
>Facebook
Where you go to find out how crazy your old friends have become.
I still have an active account, to keep a channel of communication open with old friends, but I guess I'm lucky in that the main activity of FB never really held me.
"My Year Without News"
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jan/18/my-year-of-living-ignorantly-i-entered-a-news-blackout-the-day-trump-was-elected
I could really appreciate this statement:
Quote
For both of us, the decision to tune out was instinctive. It was about sanity and self-preservation.
Though, I have to say that I am not 100% there. I am still paying some attention to the current madness.
The media exaggerates negative news. This distortion has consequences
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/17/steven-pinker-media-negative-news
OK, I need a break for a while. I'm hoping to get three days without any hard news.
Quote from: rcjordan on February 17, 2018, 04:21:44 PM
The media exaggerates negative news. This distortion has consequences
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/17/steven-pinker-media-negative-news
The saying in the newspaper industry is, "If it bleeds it leads."
>bleeds
I used to filter on 'death & dismemberment' verbs such as murder, dies, death, etc. The list was huge. Then I noticed and found it interesting that certain 'relationship' nouns were very frequently used;
' aunt ','babies','baby',' boy ','bride','brother','child',' dad ','daddies','daddy',' dads ','daughter','deputy','family','father','fiancee','girl','groom',
'hero','husband','immigra','infant',
'minister',' mom ','momma',' moms ','mother','pastor','sister',' son ',' sons ',' teen','toddler','uncle','wedding','wife',
The Onion take on that was always great. Back in the day when The Onion was a local print newspaper in Madison, it ran on a shoestring and didn't bother with tweaking layouts and getting everything just so.
If they had extra space that didn't fill easily and was messing with the layout, they just created a block of text to fill it with this: "Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the quantity of blood. Passersby were amazed at the"
Sometimes it would run for a whole column
I set up my desktop to resolve reddit.com to localhost -- blocking my main window to the insanity for a while.
>Sinclair
Quid pro quo
https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/02/politics/sinclair-trust-in-local-news/index.html
That video in the link is really troubling:
https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/how-americas-largest-local-tv-owner-turned-its-news-anc-1824233490
The undoing of the Fairness Doctrine and the Telecommunications Act of 1996 have done their damage.
Sinclair must have missed greasing a few palms. Looks like our biz-friendly FCC is going to nix the Tribune deal.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-fcc-sinclair-tribune-wgn-order-20180719-story.html
When the Sinclair Media Group acquires local TV news stations, (1) coverage of local politics gets replaced by national politics, (2) the ideological slant shifts sharply to the right and (3) viewership slightly decreases. Sinclair stations will soon be viewable in 72% of US households. (cambridge.org)
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/local-news-and-national-politics/C8EEA488A777C37C7987964F8F85AEB5
We really need to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine.
This is slightly off-topic, but somewhat related - an account of detoxing his relationship with his phone, rather than toxic media. But interesting
Quote
Do Not Disturb: How I Ditched My Phone and Unbroke My Brain
Mostly, I became aware of how profoundly uncomfortable I am with stillness. For years, I've used my phone every time I've had a spare moment in an elevator or a boring meeting. I listen to podcasts and write emails on the subway. I watch YouTube videos while folding laundry. I even use an app to pretend to meditate.
....
Catherine had warned me that I might feel existential malaise when I wasn't distracting myself with my phone. She also said paying more attention to my surroundings would make me realize how many other people used their phones to cope with boredom and anxiety.
"I compare it to seeing a family member naked," she said. "Once you look around the elevator and see the zombies checking their phones, you can't unsee it."
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/23/business/cell-phone-addiction.html
There is a lot of truth to this.
When I was commuting to SF daily I would ride BART (the local subway system) daily. Nearly everyone was on their phones, sometimes I was too. BART is close to hell though. After a while I found that it was easier to just close my eyes and let my mind wander in and out of sleep. One time there was a short pregnant lady standing on a crowded car and no one was giving up her seat. For the most part I don't think people were being selfish, but instead were so wrapped up with their online distractions that they didn't even process the pregnant and uncomfortable person just inches away from them. I was sitting at the time and I had to physically touch a guy to pull him out of his phone and ask him to get the attention of the lady (who was about two body widths away from me) and then ask her if she wanted my seat.
Anybody remember the movie They Live from the 1980s?
QuoteWhen the Sinclair Media Group acquires local TV news stations, (1) coverage of local politics gets replaced by national politics, (2) the ideological slant shifts sharply to the right and (3) viewership slightly decreases. Sinclair stations will soon be viewable in 72% of US households.
Disney to sell Fox regional sports networks to Sinclair for $9.6 billion - Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-walt-disney-divestiture-sinclair-ma/disney-to-sell-fox-regional-sports-networks-to-sinclair-for-9-6-billion-idUSKCN1S920A
Court strikes down FCC's relaxing of media ownership rules
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/462628-court-strikes-down-fcc-media-ownership-rules
This could just as easily go into one of the CV19 threads, but I'm putting it in here. It is a bit granola for the Core, but I thought it had value.
I have forwarded that to several people LM. Most said they had seen it earlier in the pandemic, but appreciated seeing it again.
I was hearing a lot of people getting really bent out of shape over other people ignoring the stay at home order (like we're cancelling all our rental guests and one friend said when she reached out to cancel people, they were told that other rentals nearby were still taking reservations, so why not her?) So I hear a lot people wanting lodging that is ignoring the rule to pay stiff penalties. I sent them all this.
News avoidance during the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with better mental well-being (https://www.psypost.org/2021/10/news-avoidance-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-is-associated-with-better-mental-well-being-61968)
can confirm.
Ironic, but I came across this today.
Sharp decline in appetite for news in recent years, Reuters Institute says (https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65880999)
Quote
A report by Oxford University's Reuters Institute says 48% of people around the world are very or extremely interested in the news - down from 63% in 2017.
In the UK, the proportion is lower than the global average at 43%.
More than a third of people (36%) worldwide say they sometimes or often actively avoid the news.
>News avoidance during the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with better mental well-being
Can confirm. I removed Twitter and Facebook on my phone. Only on my pc now. Cancelled a streaming service for a local news station. I saw myself going down the rabbit hole too often and it affected my mood and well-being as I kept getting agitated over stupid people and stuff that didn't actually matter at all.
Refreshing to say the least.
Click bait headlines from MSM don't help. I constantly see headlines about some natural or man made tragedy that make it sound like it happened in the US, and even make you think that "if we just Did Something it could have been averted, but when you click on the article and read down far enough you find it's in some other country and nothing the US could have done anyway. And if it's on Twitter, some people are already expressing outrage and they don't even realize it's not in the US. But in the meantime it has provoked an emotional response in me partly for the tragedy but also anger for having been suckered.
We simply don't need to know about every bad thing that happens in the world. Bad stuff happens every second around the globe and we hit overload if we hear about it relentlessly 24/7.
CBS News effort shows the growth in solutions journalism to combat bad news fatigue - ABC News
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/cbs-news-effort-shows-growth-solutions-journalism-combat-100355957
Tim Ferriss always talks about making the one decision that avoids a hundred downstream decisions.
Having made a handful of political donations and having given my email address to various politicians when contacting them on issues, it seems that they share it like crazy. So years ago I made a decision to never donate to anyone who calls on the phone, since that's the most disruptive. That makes it easy to field calls.
But I still get email pitches from all sorts of politicians who do not represent me, most of whom I have never heard of. I have a new simple rule - any email that comes from someone for whom I am not a potential constituent, immediately gets unsubscribed. No figuring out whether or not I support their cause or oppose it.
And as a secondary thing, if it is not a one-click unsubscribe (like they make me fill in my email address in order to unsubscribe), then it gets marked as spam, even if I wholeheartedly support their agenda.
I've finally gotten to the point where I get few such messages and most of those go straight to the spam folder.
>unsubscribe
I rarely unsubscribe as I figure it confirms that the email address is legit and active. I mark them as spam ...even some newsletters from chatty acquaintances.
>politicians
I don't even send them to spam, I set up filters to delete upon arrival.
Quote from: rcjordan on September 30, 2023, 01:26:51 AM
I rarely unsubscribe as I figure it confirms that the email address is legit and active.
I think that's mostly an issue with actual spammers, of which there are few. Anyone using a modern email system will unsubscribe you.
And as I want to remain active in political races that I can actually vote in, I don't want to just block them all. I also want to get the updates from my representatives with the exception of the one who pisses me off every time I read or hear anything he says.
My goal is not to tune out of politics entirely, but it's to tune out politicians I cannot vote for or against (and presidential politics).