Do you watch/read/listen to the news?

[Paul the 6th]

So after touring Scotland for a week & 1200 miles with Robh539, it suddenly occurred to me that I hadn't seen any news for about 9-10 days..

Since I've got home I've actively avoided watching any news/reading the fronts of newspapers in shops etc. and I can honestly say the world feels like a far better place for it, probably similar to how nice a place the world was when we were dominating the olympics = no time for bad news. I used to routinely walk into my living room and flick to channel 602 or 601 for sky or bbc news, just because that's what my parents always did and I picked that up from them without really realising.

Just wondering who else tries to avoid the news and if it benefits them in the same way. If not, have any of you considered trying this maybe? Ignorance truly is bliss.

P.S. the only news I've accidentally come across was Julian Assange hiding in an embassy (WHAT THE FECK?), Prince harry got his wang out in las vegas (facebook) and a guy on a KTM ran over a dog down south england somewhere (posted on here)... That's about all I know of the last 2 weeks happenings in the UK and around the world.

[DarrenSV650S]

Yeh I don't watch or read much news. It's just depressing and doesn't really benefit me much.

[Spank86]

I don't avoid the news, I just don't seek it out.

Most of it isn't news anyway, just filler.

I occasionally read my dads newspaper if I'm over the parents house and bored and my usual conclusion is that bugger all must have happened today for them to put so much rubbish in it.

[Milky Bar Kid]

I keep an eye on the news through the BBC news app on my phone. That way I can avoid all the international stuff and just pay attention to more local stuff and UK stuff.

Not overly interested in the international stuff because it's just history repeating itself most of the time.

[Fallout]

I watch the news quite a lot, but not because I want to be informed. It's mainly because TV is normally so sheeeet that when I get bored I flick the news on for some sort of vaguely educational entertainment.

I remember there was a period of time when I didn't watch the news and I would get mocked quite a lot for not knowing about anything. I think you're seen as a bit of a pleb if you don't know about the latest goings on in the world. Also it makes voting more challenging when you don't have the bigger picture. But really, I think the propagation of bad news does damage society as a whole by reducing overall morale, trust etc. But the flip side to that is, a lot of people aren't trustworthy, so you need to know about scams and crooks. It's a double edged sword.

[Spank86]

Solution: don't vote.

Not a man jack of them has shown any knowledge of economics anyway so none of them are fit to run the country.

[Fallout]

I think the ORG would be good at running the country. I vote myself for Prime Minster, but I would like to adopt a Silvio Berlusconi style.

[Paul the 6th]

bunga bunga

[Bibio]

welcome to the darkside Paul. your new name shall be Darth Bunga Bunga.

stopped watching, reading and being interested in the so call news about 25 years ago. its great when someone asks you about something going on in the news and you stand there with a blank expression on your face, yes it's total bliss :-)

the money i have saved is better in my pocket 20p a day over 25years is a tidy little sum.

[Thunderace]

I must admit I watch the news quite a bit, mainly due to early starts at work and there is bugger all else on while I'm having my morning brew, but it is all padding, virtually none of it is relevant, wow prince Harry got his knob out, I do that every time I'm ****ed, doesn't mean it's news worthy!

Does anyone else remember the time before American teenagers shot their classmates, back when paedophilia wasn't a news worthy subject?

I put myself forward for transport minister in Fallout's new regime!

[Fallout]

I put myself forward for transport minister in Fallout's new regime!

Let me guess, no more bikes under 1000cc, no more speed limits, motorcycle over mother and child parking priority, and definitely no more MOTs?

[Berlin]

Welcome to life without constant negativity. This is one of the reason's (and quite a high up one on the list) why I left the UK. I found when I travelled I forgot just how insidious the pessimism is, when in the UK. On returning it was nothing but doom and gloom... constantly! And it *really* affects you whether you realise it or not.

I now choose which news I watch and don't use UK media if I can help it. I now use the Canadian CBC which seems not only more balanced but has a more equal mix of good and bad news. I definitely belive the UK media are responsible not only for ridiculously prolonging the recession but in helping cause it in the first place.

Just think. If you didn't watch the news - at all - how would you know there's a recession going on? How would you know you're supposed to be worried about it? if you have a secure job you'd not know there was anything wrong except by listening to whining colleagues that still watched the news.

If everyone turned off their TV's and radio for 6 months, the UK would explode out of recession because folks want to naturally be positive and without the constant force feeding of negativity and dread, the country would bounce back in months... in about as much time as it takes to forget what was in the news the last time you saw it.

As an experiment I've just clicked on Yahoo.co.uk news. 25 headlines, three of which are even remotely positive.
The BBC? One out if 37!!!

Turn off those radios, TV and internet News sites and welcome toe stress free and happy thinking!

C

[Fallout]

I definitely belive the UK media are responsible not only for ridiculously prolonging the recession but in helping cause it in the first place.

You're right. The media/TV is the catalyst for the majority of problems society faces as a whole. The "people have a right to know" attitude irresponsibly ignores the affects that knowledge causes.

[garynortheast]

Ooh can I be minister for defence - I could creosote it. I'll do the gate at the same time if you like....

[Bibio]

i like my tinfoil hat and it's staying on. i watched a very interesting program that was shown a few years ago on 'stoner TV' that was showing interview clips of primemisters from just after the war to the late 90's and they were spilling the beans about the 'master plan' where they had a plan put in place to turn the UK into a consumer and debt ridden society by 2020 at the latest and that was from the horses mouths. this program was cut short about 2/3 the way threw. there was supposed to be something else aired but they decided to show this program instead.

either that or i was tripping out my nut.

[Paul the 6th]

Welcome to life without constant negativity. This is one of the reason's (and quite a high up one on the list) why I left the UK. I found when I travelled I forgot just how insidious the pessimism is, when in the UK. On returning it was nothing but doom and gloom... constantly! And it *really* affects you whether you realise it or not.

I now choose which news I watch and don't use UK media if I can help it. I now use the Canadian CBC which seems not only more balanced but has a more equal mix of good and bad news. I definitely belive the UK media are responsible not only for ridiculously prolonging the recession but in helping cause it in the first place.

Just think. If you didn't watch the news - at all - how would you know there's a recession going on? How would you know you're supposed to be worried about it? if you have a secure job you'd not know there was anything wrong except by listening to whining colleagues that still watched the news.

If everyone turned off their TV's and radio for 6 months, the UK would explode out of recession because folks want to naturally be positive and without the constant force feeding of negativity and dread, the country would bounce back in months... in about as much time as it takes to forget what was in the news the last time you saw it.

As an experiment I've just clicked on Yahoo.co.uk news. 25 headlines, three of which are even remotely positive.
The BBC? One out if 37!!!

Turn off those radios, TV and internet News sites and welcome toe stress free and happy thinking!

C

This is basically what I was getting at in my OP but far, far more eloquently articulated... by a Geordie... :razz:

We met and had dinner with a french woman on our tour (touring scotland on her own for 5 weeks, on a CB500 - absolutely legend hero woman!) and I offered to put her up for the night if she was passing through yorkshire on her way back to the channel tunnel. When she came to stay, what struck me was just how positive and empathetic she was about life & people in general, and it made me realise constant pessimism/negativity really is one of the defining British traits..

So I've gone nearly 2 weeks without watching/reading any news and although it sounds a bit melodramatic, I feel genuinely cleansed and happier about life. Give it a whirl if you can.

[Thunderace]

Let me guess, no more bikes under 1000cc, no more speed limits, motorcycle over mother and child parking priority, and definitely no more MOTs?

How did you know?

Not so much no speed limit, just get rid of 30 and below, 40 for built up areas, extremely loud exhausts for everyone to let the kiddies know to stay off the road, national speed limit set to 120 with a minimum speed of 90 on dual carriageways and motorways, punishable by death to all those Sunday drivers!
And bus lanes resurfaced and re-named racing lanes, and all forms of mass transit to be melted down and recycled into after market bits and bobs, train tracks to be removed and tarmacked for use by bikes only, all HGV's banned from minor roads!

[davepreston]

Ooh can I be minister for defence - I could creosote it. I'll do the gate at the same time if you like....
sorry no that jobs taken by myself along with police, drugs, and all alcohol matters
if in doubt see my creditshails (sp) below

[maviczap]

I'm in agreement with you here Paul, although I do watch the news, but more out of habit than actively seeking out news.
I get my local paper, for the local news, but I never buy national newspapers, far too much political bias in them.

When I was in France last year, I saw no news progs for a whole week. I just read my books after returning from cycling with Luckypants and his bro. Apart from the great roads, I came back from that holiday in a really positive frame of mind.

What really irritates me is the way the news has been dumbed down & the way the newsreaders treat us like village idiots and speak to us like nursery school teachers, the BBC especially.

I like the way the news is done in Germany, in the old style (like the BBC used to do it), one news reader, no fancy graphics, no special Political correspondents standing outside No10 in the dark. They just tell you what the news is in a 10min slot, then feck off. But usually once an hour.

But perhaps I'll switch the national news off and just watch the local to start with.

[Spank86]

But thunderace, without mass transit we'd have to tolerate MORE people on our roads.

[Thunderace]

But thunderace, without mass transit we'd have to tolerate MORE people on our roads.

Ah but that is when natural selection takes over, all the inexperienced, dull witted and ignorant would be naturally culled by their own stupidity!

Thus leaving the highways and byways free for those that can use them for what they were intended, enjoyment of your vehicle as we all know automotive transport should be fun not just a means of conveyance from A to B!

[Spank86]

But In the mean time the stupid people might be taking us with them in fiery collisions,

[Thunderace]

But In the mean time the stupid people might be taking us with them in fiery collisions,

Just man up mate you'll be fine!:rolleyes:

[Spank86]

It's not me I'm worried about, you can barely stay on the road when hordes of idiots AREN'T trying to kill you :p

[Thunderace]

That's called enjoying myself, if it aint a near death experience it aint fun!;)

[punyXpress]

" train tracks to be removed and tarmacked for use by bikes only, all HGV's banned from minor roads!" part-
Hope your Ministry will make those train tracks reet twisty

[missyburd]

I used to enjoy reading/watching a lot of news but now I just feel crap after doing so. I seem to hear about most important news stories through Facebook, not bothering with a tv any more I occasionally flick through stories on the BBC website but tend to concentrate on the science/environmental stories to hear about exciting new inventions/discoveries and general positiveness. I get the local paper once a week but that's depressing enough.

Everyone should read this :)

http://positivenews.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pn-fan-385x250.jpg



We met and had dinner with a french woman on our tour (touring scotland on her own for 5 weeks, on a CB500 - absolutely legend hero woman!) and I offered to put her up for the night if she was passing through yorkshire on her way back to the channel tunnel. When she came to stay, what struck me was just how positive and empathetic she was about life & people in general, and it made me realise constant pessimism/negativity really is one of the defining British traits..

In other words you're basically saying a) you managed to seduce a french woman b) you were rejected by said frenchie or c) you actually met a German bloke? ;)

[widepants]

I read "the Sun" does that count?

[punyXpress]

I "read " the Sun does that count?
There: corrected for you free of charge. ;)

[Spank86]

I read "the Sun" does that count?

Not if you only bought it to ogle Harry's todger.

[Littlepeahead]

I listen to Radio 4 news at midnight, the Today programme, World Service news at 1am and 5.30am. Plus I watch Cgannel 4 news each evening. I get all the papers delivered to my office and have Sky news on at work. I also have a cricket news keyword search which forwards to my phone as emails. But I've never watched a soap opera or talent show.

[maviczap]

Do you ever sleep LPH

[Littlepeahead]

Not a lot. Radio helps calm the monkey chatter in my brain at night.