Ignoring the news

[GrowingSmaller]

3:14 Fair in the eyes of men is the love [hubb] of things they covet: Women and sons; heaped-up hoards of gold and silver; horses branded (for blood and excellence); and (wealth of) cattle and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of this world's life; but in nearness to Allah is the best of the goals (to return to).


I used to feel I had an obligation to keep up, politics, news etc. Nowadays, I think "Whats the point?"

Whatever opinions I have are likely to go unnoticed or ignored.

There seems to be so much tragedy and suffering, yet I cant do a thing about it. So I switch off, and relax.

Brain science wise, the news adds to "background stress" ...

Psychologically, I think this attitude gives me a healthy internal locus of control in that I don't feel like a powerless victim of world politics:

People say that prayer has no effect. It probably has more effect than voting, for most of us...

Being sociable in the community, by not backbiting, by saying salam to likeminded people etc, the "touch" of a handshake...may boost oxytocin:

Oxytocin: The Super Hero of Hormones

 

[Dave-W]

There seems to be so much tragedy and suffering, yet I cant do a thing about it. So I switch off, and relax.

 

[Eight Foot Manchild]

I do believe there is a social obligation to be aware of what's going on in the world.

But I also believe there is an obligation to maintains one's mental wellbeing, and sometimes the best way to do that is to unplug for a while.

So... find a balance.

 

[Greg J.]

I stopped following the news a few years ago. Simply by using the Internet I am exposed to all the major events in the world and I can look into any that interest me. I have depression and it seemed foolish to be taking a daily infusion of other people's evils and suffering in the world. It also simply had nothing to do with my experience of real life. People want to be titillated, and the news services provide that (that's what entertainment is, btw), but it isn't a balanced helping of real news in an objective sense.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

I do believe there is a social obligation to be aware of what's going on in the world.

But I also believe there is an obligation to maintains one's mental wellbeing, and sometimes the best way to do that is to unplug for a while.

So... find a balance.

Hey thanks for that. I used to feel really obligated as a teen to watch politics shows on TV. Now I'm in my forties, I relaise its done little good, and I see them (maybe unfairly) as attention grabbers for the system. I'm not anti system, but it seems institutionalised that the "suits" get respect, and that's not quite fair on me who looks daft in a suit.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

I stopped following the news a few years ago. Simply by using the Internet I am exposed to all the major events in the world and I can look into any that interest me. I have depression and it seemed foolish to be taking a daily infusion of other people's evils and suffering in the world. It also simply had nothing to do with my experience of real life. People want to be titillated, and the news services provide that (that's what entertainment is, btw), but it isn't a balanced helping of real news in an objective sense.

SO do you think local now like the Buddha. Ie focus on personal well being more, as an ethical imperative. Sorry to hear of the depression.

 

[Greg J.]

SO do you think local now like the Buddha. Ie focus on personal well being more, as an ethical imperative. Sorry to hear of the depression.

Through knowledge of the truth and faith, I am more concerned about the world than I was when following the news closely. I am more willing to set aside local problems than world problems. Having said that, personal holiness is commanded by God, and besides it is moral for me to spend my time and thoughts on what God wants me to spend my time on. We are to be led by the Spirit because God's plan for us as individuals is not in Scripture.

 

[Rajni]

I used to feel I had an obligation to keep up, politics, news etc. Nowadays, I think "Whats the point?"

Whatever opinions I have are likely to go unnoticed or ignored.

There seems to be so much tragedy and suffering, yet I cant do a thing about it. So I switch off, and relax.

Brain science wise, the news adds to "background stress" ...

I have found great advantage to avoiding the news. Since this Trump thing, though, I've been far more absorbed into it than I care to be.

But when it comes to the news, a lot of stress is generated by hearing / reading it. The kicker is that so much of it just might not even be true -- so much in the way of stress hormones is being generated by what very well could be false narratives.

Even if a piece of news is true, I'll never know for sure unless I'm personally involved in whatever it is that's being reported. I mean, seriously, who am I to say that something I see in the news wasn't staged? So much of what is seen isn't what it appears to be, but many forget that and get caught up in the illusion. Even those of us who are convinced that it's mostly bunk, still get caught up in it. It's crazy.

-

 

[Greg J.]

I don't think any of it is intentionally staged, but it is all reported by people who have a significantly different idea than God of what's important and what the truth is.

Homework: Examine how much news are attempts to predict the future without understanding the present.

A lot of news is subliminally a reaction to fear or anxiety or for the purpose of avoiding discomfort or pain. News that is oriented around what is important to you from God's perspective tends to be boring. A news business doesn't last long if it focuses just on the truth.

 

[bhsmte]

I really enjoy watching different news outlets, reporting the same news story. It is very interesting, how each outlet, will choose to magnify certain parts of a story and minimize other parts of a story. When you do this, you can create a completely different feel for a news story, that may not align with reality all too well.