In which I preach (or rather relay someone else’s preaching about) what I don’t practice (and I’ll bet he doesn’t, either).
Swiss writer-entrepreneur-brainstormer Rolf Dobelli explains how news watching is wrecking our brains (.pdf) and screwing with our priorities.
A sample (which resonates with me because I’ve said the same thing in less elegant words many a time):
Out of the approximately 10,000 news stories you have read in the last 12 months, name one that – because you consumed it – allowed you to make a better decision about a serious matter affecting your life, your career, your business – compared to what you would have known if you hadn’t swallowed that morsel of news.
The point is: the consumption of news is irrelevant to the forces that really matter in your life. At its best, it is entertaining, but it is still irrelevant.
And here’s a follow-up (also .pdf) in which he conducts an imaginary interview with himself about his radical proposal of avoiding news.
Here’s a talk that covers some similar ground, including the analogy between junk food and junk information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhFSxycMJCA
Interesting. I’d just removed three news sources from my bookmarks this a.m. because I was getting fed up with reading lies, hyperbole, and excuses, and thought I had better sources to read, better things to do with my time, and figured what I “missed” wasn’t worth reading in the first place.
I’ve started to feel the mind-clutter that comes periodically when I want to chuck it all. I think Spring has come, and I’m ready to tend my garden. When the asteroid hits, I won’t care about the news anyway!
This author has become a hero in my book…
“I’ve started to feel the mind-clutter that comes periodically when I want to chuck it all.”
Pat, I also get those “mind-clutter” periods and know it’s time for a break or time for change. Spring is on the way and yesterday we have five inches of snow that we weren’t supposed to get. I newswatched to the point of lassitude. Yeah, take a mental-health break. It’s time.
I’ve discovered that the important news will still make itself known to me regardless of whether I seek it out or not. And this way I am not bothered so much by the things that won’t matter.
@Claire: “…yesterday we ha[d] five inches of snow that we weren’t supposed to get.” Where is global warming when you need it?
Global warming is in Al Gore’s profitable imagination. It sure ain’t here. Snowing and sleeting again today. (And just Thursday I was sitting on the deck drinking a bloody Mary. Sigh.)
And … er, thanks for correcting my word usage, Samuel Adams. I always tell myself, “DO NOT WRITE before having morning tea.” But do I ever listen? Nooooooooo.
Yeah, well… Claire, you got OUR snow! It’s 65 degrees outside and a warm wind is blowing. In March! In WYOMING, for pity sake. 🙂
I used to look at the National Weather Service page at least twice a day… but I can download much more entertaining fiction from Amazon, etc. now that I have an e-reader.
MamaLiberty — Have I mentioned that I hate you. 😉
Alas, you’re probably getting the 65 degrees we had here a few days ago. If so, expect Wyoming in March to look and feel like Wyoming in March a few days from now.
Usually, here in Wisconsin we still have a foot of snow and freezing temps this time of year. This winter we’ve only had a few snowstorms and they all melted quickly. I planted radishes last week, for heaven’s sake! Who stole our snow, and when will they give it back?
Just deleted all of my news bookmarks. Good riddance. You won’t be missed.
Wow, JP. Cold turkey. Be proud!
Oh yeah. And if you would, come back and let us know how it goes.
So far so good. Forgot to add, no more television either.
That’s the best piece of news I’ve read all year 😉