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https://stallman.org/articles/dont-watch-covid-tv.html https://stallman.org/articles/dont-watch-covid-tv.html "Don't watch TV coverage of Covid-19! (Or "social

https://stallman.org/articles/dont-watch-covid-tv.html https://stallman.org/articles/dont-watch-covid-tv.html "Don't watch TV coverage of Covid-19! (Or "social media"; the details are different.) Watching repetitive coverage of something frightening can interfere with clear thinking, even traumatize people. ... In addition, it will make you more and more anxious. Someone I knew in 2001, who lived in California. spent all day on Sep 11 and following days watching the TV coverage. Afterward perse was afraid to go outside, watching for terrorist airplanes. TV made it possible for per to be traumatized by events 3000 miles away." Spot. Fucking. On. Social media in my lefty social circle in a nutshell.

chapium 6y ago
I think its important to stay informed, but to an extent for the information received to be actionable. For example, if I want to know if I should wear a raincoat, I check the weather. I don't worry about every storm around the globe. Periodically, I'll check for storms in the winter. If a large system / blizzard is coming, I'll make provisions. I would apply the same to Covid-19, but there is a catch. Policymakers are making decisions in real time to respond to a crisis. Its apparent they are being swayed by interest groups that want to protect their businesses and rationalize the impact to public health. I am torn by this, because I don't want to be glued to the news, however it is necessary to hold politicians accountable for the factions they are currying favor for. This however, doesn't require 24/7 coverage. I can at least research the news on a weekly basis and do what I can with that. Stay informed for the next election, sign letters, etc.
enumjorge 6y ago
Not sure why you had to make this political and include “lefty” in that. Right leaning social media is just as alarmist. At the height of the BLM protests you would have thought Seattle and Portland were anarchist war zones based on coverage by conservative news outlets. That wasn’t the case at all.
- roflc0ptic 6y ago
  I live in a lefty bubble. I can (literally) only imagine how terrible right leaning social media is, but I don't personally experience it. I don't mean it politically so much as culturally: I am of the left, and I'm so tired of and saddened by watching people I care about celebrate traumatizing themselves as a moral imperative.
  - enumjorge 6y ago
    I understand. It's tough. On the one hand I don't want to stick my head in the sand and disconnect from what's happening in the world, but I also need to consider my mental health. I really hope we can ratchet back the insanity some after the election.
    - LargoLasskhyfv 6y ago
      It's not sticking the head in the sand. As mentioned above the info has to be actionable to be useful. Endless discussing in circles with persons of different opinion in your peer group is a waste of energy. Either they come to similar, or at least less controversial opinions as time passes, because of their own experience(es), or they don't. If they, or in reverse you in their position just agree to be left alone, nothing is won.

chapium 6y ago

I think its important to stay informed, but to an extent for the information received to be actionable. For example, if I want to know if I should wear a raincoat, I check the weather. I don't worry about every storm around the globe. Periodically, I'll check for storms in the winter. If a large system / blizzard is coming, I'll make provisions. I would apply the same to Covid-19, but there is a catch. Policymakers are making decisions in real time to respond to a crisis. Its apparent they are being swayed by interest groups that want to protect their businesses and rationalize the impact to public health. I am torn by this, because I don't want to be glued to the news, however it is necessary to hold politicians accountable for the factions they are currying favor for. This however, doesn't require 24/7 coverage. I can at least research the news on a weekly basis and do what I can with that. Stay informed for the next election, sign letters, etc.

enumjorge 6y ago

Not sure why you had to make this political and include “lefty” in that. Right leaning social media is just as alarmist. At the height of the BLM protests you would have thought Seattle and Portland were anarchist war zones based on coverage by conservative news outlets. That wasn’t the case at all.

roflc0ptic 6y ago
I live in a lefty bubble. I can (literally) only imagine how terrible right leaning social media is, but I don't personally experience it. I don't mean it politically so much as culturally: I am of the left, and I'm so tired of and saddened by watching people I care about celebrate traumatizing themselves as a moral imperative.
- enumjorge 6y ago
  I understand. It's tough. On the one hand I don't want to stick my head in the sand and disconnect from what's happening in the world, but I also need to consider my mental health. I really hope we can ratchet back the insanity some after the election.
  - LargoLasskhyfv 6y ago
    It's not sticking the head in the sand. As mentioned above the info has to be actionable to be useful. Endless discussing in circles with persons of different opinion in your peer group is a waste of energy. Either they come to similar, or at least less controversial opinions as time passes, because of their own experience(es), or they don't. If they, or in reverse you in their position just agree to be left alone, nothing is won.