6 ms·

> The future was much more certain a couple of week ago. Turn off the news and you’ll be much happier. Remember they only make money if they’ve scared you into

> The future was much more certain a couple of week ago. Turn off the news and you’ll be much happier. Remember they only make money if they’ve scared you into watching.

mcbutterbunz 5y ago
> Turn off the news and you’ll be much happier. Rather, be informed and watch whats happening with a critical mindset. Ignorance may be bliss but its also irresponsible.
- ScoobleDoodle 5y ago
  I’ve been thinking of splitting the difference and looking at news once a week. I guess that’s like the traditional Sunday newspaper. Now I think it needs to allow for exceptions for events like now with Russia invading Ukraine.
  - Tijdreiziger 5y ago
    I installed NOS's (the Dutch public broadcaster's) app on my phone and turned on push notifications. This way I get informed about important news, but can easily avoid everything else.
    - Beltalowda 5y ago
      Why don't you just travel in time and get the news from the future?
      - Tijdreiziger 5y ago
        Sorry you got downvoted, I thought it was a funny joke. (Joke explanation: my username is Dutch for 'time traveller'.)
        Beltalowda 5y ago
        It's just internet points :-) I knew most wouldn't get the joke, but that was part of the joke.
  - mrfusion 5y ago
    On the contrary your whole goal should be to avoid the exceptions.
  - CyanBird 5y ago
    Just read Lemonde Diplomatique Cut NYT, CNN, The Guardian and all the rest, you'll be happier and will be better informed
    - MobiusHorizons 5y ago
      Thanks for the recommendation, I’ve been looking for long form news.
    - Godel_unicode 5y ago
      I'm extremely skeptical of any suggestion to get your news from only one source, what do you think makes that source different?
- thatguy0900 5y ago
  The irresponsible thing is a whole industry bent on demoralizing and causing hate within the masses, ignorance might be less irresponsible
- Beltalowda 5y ago
  I don't think "the news" is actually all that good at informing people. "This happened and then this happened, and now for the weather" are facts and information without context, and without any real meaning. I haven't watched the news for years, or read the newspapers. I do real articles from magazines and newspapers and books and such (from HN, among other places), which are far more useful. I don't really know what's going on in Ukraine right this moment, but most will have forgotten that in two weeks time anyway, so what's the point? Instead I spent some time reading up on the context a few weeks ago. The news is also strongly biased towards negative events. The classic example is that "plane crashed" is big news, but that planes are actually very safe. "Man spills pint and gets punched" is news. "Man spills pint and it's all fine" is not. etc. It's not a particularly good reflection of reality.
- kortilla 5y ago
  If you’re watching the news to be informed you’re still ignorant, but now unhappy and indignant about things you don’t understand.
- bilater 5y ago
  Agree but also disagree. This tweet captures it perfectly I think: https://twitter.com/nntaleb/status/1497943606962839552 https://twitter.com/nntaleb/status/1497943606962839552
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
Raed667 5y ago
>Turn off the news and you’ll be much happier what a privileged thing to say
- cpsns 5y ago
  Maybe, but it's the truth. Most events don't matter on a local or individual level and having access to global news updated every single second is a very recent development, one that seems to be contributing to an incredible amount of anxiety and stress for many people/society as a whole. Perhaps a more reasonable approach is reading the news once a week. You stay informed, but it's not something you worry about daily.
  - spicybright 5y ago
    It's not the truth. You can absolutely read the news and live a happier life from it. I feel better knowing what's going on outside my little bubble even if it's bad stuff. It's on the individual to find a happy balance of media consumption for their mental health in the same way it's on the individual not to eat candy every day for lunch.
- ejb999 5y ago
  really, you have to be privileged to not watch the news? Then I guess by your reasoning, all those folks that can't afford tv or internet at all are the most privileged of all, correct?
- coolso 5y ago
  > what a privileged thing to say Yeah! Imagine being so privileged you’re allowed to turn off the news and feel happier without mom and dad grounding you from the internet or the government aiming a nuke at you in response, which would thereby prevent you from typing words into a text box and clicking the Reply button when you’re done writing your thoughts. That would suck because then someone else wouldn’t be able to come along and not actually provide a counterpoint to your comments, but instead just write “what a privileged thing to say”, undoubtedly smirking while simultaneously sipping a latte and clicking Reply to submit their effortless snarky reply from their $5K/month apartment located in the heart of some tech city.
dessant 5y ago
Yes, when there is a heightened risk of nuclear contamination in Europe because of a stray rocket in a war zone, we should tune out instead.
- mrfusion 5y ago
  You’ll always find a reason the latest crisis is worth being scared of. But we’re just going to go from one crisis to the next so we need a way to make peace with that. I think CS Lewis explained it well when the atomic bomb was created: > In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. “How are we to live in an atomic age?” I am tempted to reply: “Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.”
  - dessant 5y ago
    Remember that not everyone lives at a safe distance from the events that you prefer to tune out. We haven't been referring to low probability threats that are ever present in our daily lives, but acute issues that could change our lives very fast, especially if we don't pay attention.
    - spicybright 5y ago
      To add, there's no requirement that you must keep tabs on every atrocity in the world at all times. No one is forcing people to check twitter every hour to tank your emotional energy every day.
    - dragonsky67 5y ago
      And of course in that case the information is of immediate importance to you, however if I'm 16000 km away, I'm not sure that I need blow by blow reporting on events that may only impact me through increased costs of goods. I have absolutely no way of impacting events in the Ukraine, even if I decide to contribute to a charity or try to influence my local member of parliament there is still absolutely no benefit to be gained by anybody (except perhaps the media) of me consuming this coverage. I can however benefit significantly by avoiding news reporting that is going to continually trigger primitive fight or flight instincts and leave me in a high state of stress.
dasil003 5y ago
If the default MO of the news media is to stoke fears and sensationalize the mundane in order to profit off higher viewership, then it's all the more important that we fight through the de-sensitization and pay attention when meaningful world events happen.
- qzx_pierri 5y ago
  The juice isn't worth the squeeze.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
jeromegv 5y ago
Is turning off the news in Ukraine allowing you to live your life? What if your city was bombed, would you advocate to avoid the news and be happy?
- dageshi 5y ago
  How much should we watch? Serious question. Because we can completely fill our days with what's going on in Ukraine and yet be able to do very little about it at an individual level and I'm really not sure that's good for someone's sanity.
  - thetallstick 5y ago
    I was thinking the same thing. It’s not like I’m being asked to direct troops or something. Instead of watching/reading news for hours. Take 30 min to donate some money and email your representative in Congress on your beliefs. You’ll have done way more to help your cause than watching news and you get your day back.
- Aperocky 5y ago
  Don't deal in absolutes. For me personally, I find the war to be incredibly distracting, because my attention was almost constantly drawn to it. But throughout the past few days I learned a few thing: The situation on the ground does not change that quickly, fresh reports are often wrong or fabricated. But most importantly: I've gotten myself to be constantly obsessed over a distant war which made me forget what I actually wanted to do over the past few days. I'll continue to follow the news, but not every hour and minute, and I'm just thankful a place like this exist.

> The future was much more certain a couple of week ago. Turn off the news and you’ll be much happier. Remember they only make money if they’ve scared you into watching.

mcbutterbunz 5y ago

> Turn off the news and you’ll be much happier. Rather, be informed and watch whats happening with a critical mindset. Ignorance may be bliss but its also irresponsible.

ScoobleDoodle 5y ago
I’ve been thinking of splitting the difference and looking at news once a week. I guess that’s like the traditional Sunday newspaper. Now I think it needs to allow for exceptions for events like now with Russia invading Ukraine.
- Tijdreiziger 5y ago
  I installed NOS's (the Dutch public broadcaster's) app on my phone and turned on push notifications. This way I get informed about important news, but can easily avoid everything else.
  - Beltalowda 5y ago
    Why don't you just travel in time and get the news from the future?
    - Tijdreiziger 5y ago
      Sorry you got downvoted, I thought it was a funny joke. (Joke explanation: my username is Dutch for 'time traveller'.)
      - Beltalowda 5y ago
        It's just internet points :-) I knew most wouldn't get the joke, but that was part of the joke.
- mrfusion 5y ago
  On the contrary your whole goal should be to avoid the exceptions.
- CyanBird 5y ago
  Just read Lemonde Diplomatique Cut NYT, CNN, The Guardian and all the rest, you'll be happier and will be better informed
  - MobiusHorizons 5y ago
    Thanks for the recommendation, I’ve been looking for long form news.
  - Godel_unicode 5y ago
    I'm extremely skeptical of any suggestion to get your news from only one source, what do you think makes that source different?
thatguy0900 5y ago
The irresponsible thing is a whole industry bent on demoralizing and causing hate within the masses, ignorance might be less irresponsible
Beltalowda 5y ago
I don't think "the news" is actually all that good at informing people. "This happened and then this happened, and now for the weather" are facts and information without context, and without any real meaning. I haven't watched the news for years, or read the newspapers. I do real articles from magazines and newspapers and books and such (from HN, among other places), which are far more useful. I don't really know what's going on in Ukraine right this moment, but most will have forgotten that in two weeks time anyway, so what's the point? Instead I spent some time reading up on the context a few weeks ago. The news is also strongly biased towards negative events. The classic example is that "plane crashed" is big news, but that planes are actually very safe. "Man spills pint and gets punched" is news. "Man spills pint and it's all fine" is not. etc. It's not a particularly good reflection of reality.
kortilla 5y ago
If you’re watching the news to be informed you’re still ignorant, but now unhappy and indignant about things you don’t understand.
bilater 5y ago
Agree but also disagree. This tweet captures it perfectly I think: https://twitter.com/nntaleb/status/1497943606962839552 https://twitter.com/nntaleb/status/1497943606962839552
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

Raed667 5y ago

>Turn off the news and you’ll be much happier what a privileged thing to say

cpsns 5y ago
Maybe, but it's the truth. Most events don't matter on a local or individual level and having access to global news updated every single second is a very recent development, one that seems to be contributing to an incredible amount of anxiety and stress for many people/society as a whole. Perhaps a more reasonable approach is reading the news once a week. You stay informed, but it's not something you worry about daily.
- spicybright 5y ago
  It's not the truth. You can absolutely read the news and live a happier life from it. I feel better knowing what's going on outside my little bubble even if it's bad stuff. It's on the individual to find a happy balance of media consumption for their mental health in the same way it's on the individual not to eat candy every day for lunch.
ejb999 5y ago
really, you have to be privileged to not watch the news? Then I guess by your reasoning, all those folks that can't afford tv or internet at all are the most privileged of all, correct?
coolso 5y ago
> what a privileged thing to say Yeah! Imagine being so privileged you’re allowed to turn off the news and feel happier without mom and dad grounding you from the internet or the government aiming a nuke at you in response, which would thereby prevent you from typing words into a text box and clicking the Reply button when you’re done writing your thoughts. That would suck because then someone else wouldn’t be able to come along and not actually provide a counterpoint to your comments, but instead just write “what a privileged thing to say”, undoubtedly smirking while simultaneously sipping a latte and clicking Reply to submit their effortless snarky reply from their $5K/month apartment located in the heart of some tech city.

dessant 5y ago

Yes, when there is a heightened risk of nuclear contamination in Europe because of a stray rocket in a war zone, we should tune out instead.

mrfusion 5y ago
You’ll always find a reason the latest crisis is worth being scared of. But we’re just going to go from one crisis to the next so we need a way to make peace with that. I think CS Lewis explained it well when the atomic bomb was created: > In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. “How are we to live in an atomic age?” I am tempted to reply: “Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.”
- dessant 5y ago
  Remember that not everyone lives at a safe distance from the events that you prefer to tune out. We haven't been referring to low probability threats that are ever present in our daily lives, but acute issues that could change our lives very fast, especially if we don't pay attention.
  - spicybright 5y ago
    To add, there's no requirement that you must keep tabs on every atrocity in the world at all times. No one is forcing people to check twitter every hour to tank your emotional energy every day.
  - dragonsky67 5y ago
    And of course in that case the information is of immediate importance to you, however if I'm 16000 km away, I'm not sure that I need blow by blow reporting on events that may only impact me through increased costs of goods. I have absolutely no way of impacting events in the Ukraine, even if I decide to contribute to a charity or try to influence my local member of parliament there is still absolutely no benefit to be gained by anybody (except perhaps the media) of me consuming this coverage. I can however benefit significantly by avoiding news reporting that is going to continually trigger primitive fight or flight instincts and leave me in a high state of stress.

dasil003 5y ago

If the default MO of the news media is to stoke fears and sensationalize the mundane in order to profit off higher viewership, then it's all the more important that we fight through the de-sensitization and pay attention when meaningful world events happen.

qzx_pierri 5y ago
The juice isn't worth the squeeze.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

jeromegv 5y ago

Is turning off the news in Ukraine allowing you to live your life? What if your city was bombed, would you advocate to avoid the news and be happy?

dageshi 5y ago
How much should we watch? Serious question. Because we can completely fill our days with what's going on in Ukraine and yet be able to do very little about it at an individual level and I'm really not sure that's good for someone's sanity.
- thetallstick 5y ago
  I was thinking the same thing. It’s not like I’m being asked to direct troops or something. Instead of watching/reading news for hours. Take 30 min to donate some money and email your representative in Congress on your beliefs. You’ll have done way more to help your cause than watching news and you get your day back.
Aperocky 5y ago
Don't deal in absolutes. For me personally, I find the war to be incredibly distracting, because my attention was almost constantly drawn to it. But throughout the past few days I learned a few thing: The situation on the ground does not change that quickly, fresh reports are often wrong or fabricated. But most importantly: I've gotten myself to be constantly obsessed over a distant war which made me forget what I actually wanted to do over the past few days. I'll continue to follow the news, but not every hour and minute, and I'm just thankful a place like this exist.