5 ms·
I'm sorry but this is just total nonsense. The author argues very that being informed is an unimportant article of faith. I can name a number of recent examples
by mdoms 5y ago
I'm sorry but this is just total nonsense. The author argues very that being informed is an unimportant article of faith. I can name a number of recent examples where being uninformed of the news would have had significant impacts on my life. For example,
1. New Zealand is still under various Covid restrictions and they are in constant flux. These impact real-world decisions I need to make like should I plan to attend a particular event, should I plan a trip for the winter or even go to the office next week. If I don't stay on top of the news I will be helpless. Even the event organisers and shop owners use phrases like "Red Light Phase 2" which must be gleaned from the news - Red Light today doesn't mean the same thing it did 2 weeks ago.
2. The Ukraine crisis. Even if you don't think it's important to be aware of such a monumental ongoing geopolitical event for its own sake, if I ignored the news I would have no idea why so many people on my island on the other side of the world are carrying blue and yellow flags, changing their avatars and vocalising their support for an Eastern European country they have never even mentioned before. You can argue it's not important to be informed about this kind of event but that assertion is no less an article of faith than the claim that it IS important. And quite frankly if it became obvious someone I was talking to wasn't aware of the Ukraine conflict it would sharply diminish my respect for them.
3. We had an ongoing weeks-long protest in my city recently which blocked several important streets and caused a lot of chaos. Is it in my interests to not be aware of road closures and massive police operations in my area? Even if I don't care about the protestors, their cause etc, it's still directly impactful for me to know where I can, can't and shouldn't drive my car.
- EsperHugh 5y agoWhy are you conflating being informed or following one particular event with being obsessed with the news? If Covid restrictions are so malleable in your city then you should find avenues that keep you updated, but once it's over you should also quit with the updates. Knowing what happens in Ukraine every single minute is useless. If you see all those hints around you about a conflict you are unaware of, why can't you just ask around or at most read a recap article or two? Why would this event entail being glued to your screen 24/7? Just like with other people in this discussion it feels as though exceptional events somehow justify the constant consumption of the news.
- mdoms 5y ago> Why are you conflating being informed or following one particular event with being obsessed with the news? I'm not. This article isn't about "being obsessed with the news", it is arguing against following the news at all - in fact he addresses this directly. Did you read the article? > So what are you supposed to do instead, you might ask? Well, reducing news consumption is a good start but like Dobelli I would say mere reduction is probably not enough. Personal experience of attempting moderation has made me more of a hardliner. Personally, I vote for going cold turkey and simply walking away from the whole idea of news and the illusion of staying informed.