My words of wisdom to myself in the shower this morning:
Must. Stop. Reading. Newspapers..
To wit:
–Good news is not “news.”
–Data and Statistics are not “news.”
–Research, polls, and surveys are partial and biased if not entirely wrong.
–No important decisions about the future of humanity are made by reporters and pundits.
–St. Teresa of Avila advises against relying on this source of information.*
So…I’ll put on my rose-colored glasses and proceed with the day…the week…the life.
Hope you can do the same!
*Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away,
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God
Lacks nothing.
God alone suffices.
–St. Teresa of Avila
Delighted to see St. Teresa on your blog!
So good to see your writing! For some reason, your blog dropped into my inbox. I am thrilled to connect with you again.
MORE
Peggy
The reason “good news” isn’t news is that news is what happens out of the ordinary. So it’s not news that I drove to Chicago and didn’t die in a car wreck. Crime and war will always be news because crime and war are out of the ordinary. For which you should give thanks. Cheers.
Glad to get this in my inbox, but in these challenging times I think we need to read about what’s happening in the world MORE not less. How else can you arrive at thoughtful conclusions and decisions. This is not the time to hide your head in the sand.
As the Buddha says, “Everything in moderation.” I agree with Tina that we need to be aware of what is going on in these turbulent times, but I also agree that we need to not overwhelm overselves with bad news.
When I realized a while ago that I was spending the first part of my prayer time reading the news on my phone, I decided to stop that! But I love the New York Times on Sunday. (Which I read before church)
If we consider how often the same news story is repeated on different networks and 24-hour services and notice how often their time is actually filled by “experts’ predictions” about the future, we will also realize that actually not much is happening in the world.
No one on Earth knows what the future will bring, but dire warnings DO increase the ratings and how much advertisers will pay.
So, I watch 1/2 hour of local news, the first 15-20 minutes of national to keep up, and live broadcasts of things like presidential speeches/press conferences. I interpret for myself.
Back in the last century, advertisers realized that “sex sells”. It still does, but fear “sells” even better!
This former journalism teacher and news junkie ain’t buying!
I’m enjoying the responses to this conversation you sparked. As a mediocre college journalist who made the switch to advertising (and then greeting card) copywriting, I still carry some snobbery and idealism with me. Yes to news by credible sources. Yes to ethical reporters. Yes to knowing the difference between news, analysis, opinion, and propaganda—and to checking for bias and facts. No to reading the comments and doom-scrolling.
Hello, Everyone. I’m delighted to see you here…again! The new MailChimp feedback form–sent out to an email list based on earlier blog responses–seems to be doing the job. I’m grateful to my knowledgeable administrative person for getting that set up.
Y’all can tell, I think, when I’m writing a bit tongue-in-cheek. I see comments offering a more balanced or nuanced perspective, and I thank you for participating.