Is news actually very useful or helpful beyond a local level?

Catler

kiwifarms.net
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May 24, 2022
Some will argue the world is interconnected and you must know of every political controversy, tragedy, and event that occurs globally everyday. The news media itself has sold the idea that you need to consume the news to be a good, useful citizen, but how true is that?

I have noticed that people who keep up with national and international news tend to be more unhappy, more depressed, and often anxious. Despite the negative affects it has on them they are convinced they absolutely must consume it.

I am left to wonder, how often does something thousands of kilometers away actually meaningfully impact your life? How often does something occurring in another part of the world change anything where you are? When was the last time you learned of something valuable outside of a local new source?

It is often argued that people who ignore most of the news are willfully ignorant, but as time goes on I am more convinced they are actually the ones who have it right. They often know what's going on around them, but largely don't concern themselves with things that don't have direct impact on themselves or their communities. They seem in my experience happier on average.

"...I start up out of dreams and am disturbed, trembling at every message, with my own peace of mind depending upon letters not my own. Someone has arrived from Rome. 'If only there is no bad news!' But how can anything bad for you happen in a place, if you are not there? Someone arrives from Greece. 'If only there is no bad news!' In this way for you every place can cause misfortune. Isn't it enough for you to be miserable where you are? Must you needs be miserable even beyond the seas, and by letter?"
 
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No, it's been crafted by amoral toadies to manipulate you. If actual national news manages to leak its way to the plebians, it's only done so because the alphabets are using it to influence public opinion.
 
Yes, news is very useful, because if you know how to read it, you learn what powerful people are planning. It gave me head start expecting ukraine for 10 years and covid for 3 months.

It's also useful if you're doing the programming. And when news started being enthusiastic about bitcoin and nfts it was a clear sign that it was time to sell.
 
Absolutely great question and it's something I pondered a while ago before I basically stop reading the news.
We don't need 24 hour rolling coverage, nor do we need to know what's happening in random countries all over the world. I'm convinced that it's not good for your mental health to hear about tragedies around the world and the ratio of pleasant to unpleasant news is way off.

I think covid sealed the deal for me. The death counter on the news just said it all.
 
I just tell myself what's going on and assume everyone else is living in their own little world

Still can't belive Obama sold his Cubs shares for a scrotum waxing
 
The only news I enjoy is
Serial Killers....which sadly are nowadays few and far between and nowhere near as cool as the golden age of Bundy,Gacy,Ramirez etc.

Joe Biden fails

Celebrities being arrested for deviancy

Everything else is crap
 
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I think general national and international news is good but it needs to be tempered with I don't need to hear about every time some dumbass gets justifiably shot by the police.

It's the 24 hour news cycle, to fill up the constant need for news they need to report on literally everything even if it has no bearing on anyone outside of the immediate area where it took place.
 
Most of the news is propaganda and commercial advertisement.

Even when they play something thats news for a change like an earthquake they'll find a way to cram propaganda and ads in there.

Is it useful to know whats the propaganda line? Sometimes it is good to know the weather, nothing is ever shilled in mass media that will be good for the working classes so be prepared to dodge when its obvious the news cicle and trending topics are pushing for something. Just look at the bullshit recently, climate change self flagelation, carbon, taxes, elon musk and his perverted plans with neural link and other tech scams, nfts, fake meat, eat the bugs, war on ukraine, AI, bitcoin, lgbt, etc. Yeah, sure, this will all "make the world a better place".

All news media in the west is owned by like 5 corporations. Whatever its being debated, whatever is being shilled is only for their interest or ot epuld have zero airtime.
 
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I don't think anyone who is ignorant of the US government and Constitution and significant matters happening nationwide or internationally should have the franchise.

Beyond that though, I don't think it matters too much...if you're interested in it, follow it, if not no big deal. Probably 80% of it is nonsense anyways.
 
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>MFW the novelty account that regularly gets featured in mass debates redpills. You should look at the media for what it has become, fictional at best malicious at worst entertainment.

Welcome to the hurtbox, you are going to have your whole world view fucked with a drill over the next few years as you accept the lies less and less.
 
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>MFW the novelty account that regularly gets featured in mass debates redpills. You should look at the media for what it has become, fictional at best malicious at worst entertainment.

Welcome to the hurtbox, you are going to have your whole world view fucked with a drill over the next few years as you accept the lies less and less.
I truly hope you're not suggesting that /pol/ is about pure, unadulterated truth lmao
 
Why worry about things you can't change?
I agree, but personally struggle with keeping an eye out for what I might be able to change...so I end up watching the things I can't control anyway... lately the news has been pretty surreal.
 
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There's a concerted effort to disempower individuals and local efforts in a way to push learned helplessness.
 
The news in current year is scholastic orthodontically-evil emotional terrorism.

Imagine if the news was a guy. He just walks up to people and interjects “hey, you wanna hear about the worst shit ever that happened thousands of miles away from you?” Would you like that guy? He’s keeping you informed!
 
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