I started an experiment a few years ago to avoid the news. I'd moved house so that I could walk to work, rather than take a bus (and read a paper). The results of the experiment are that I sometimes feel stupid when people tell me I shouldn't reference Peru since it was destroyed in an earthquake in 2011, but mostly it doesn't have the slightest impact on me.
And yes, I know how bad that is. I watch political debate on Thursday evenings and I'm vaguely aware of what has gone on in the world since I pulled the plug, but I feel so powerless and that the bunch of morons who have power over me aren't listening to what I want, that I've stopped listening to them. David Cameron doesn't give an airborne intercourse what I think. And I've started to grant him the same courtesy; I don't give a flying fuck what he thinks either.
I try to avoid sensationalism wherever I can. That means reading "boring" shit, but luckily I find it rather interesting. Independent news organizations are where it's at.
Avidly. Okay, avidly might be a bit far, but as far as I see it it's pretty important; certainly much more important than most other things I might otherwise dedicate my time to :P If everyone knew what they were talking about in terms of politics, the people would probably realise they have a lot more pull than they think and the government would be a little bit better. In that light the whole thing is interesting and feels worth following.
I just personally find news boring. Especially politics. It wrecks my head. Never understood it. I'm in tune enough to know the latest headlines if they're big enough (like natural disasters or something) but otherwise I'm pretty closed off.
Whether or not I watch politics, vote, ignore it all together, or die tomorrow, nothing will change. The only thing paying attention gets me is a lot more stress. I worry about myself and my loved ones, and the rest of it will keep running without me.
To me, that's such an odd line of reasoning. That's like saying "cancer is depressing, so let's just forget about learning medicine." I know you're not arguing that everybody should avoid politics, but I do think that if everybody was well-informed, the government might be slightly less shitty. No matter what the naysayers will have you believe, the people actually have significant power in most developed countries.
I can see where you are coming from. I know the basics of what is going on in politics through the news, but it seems as one thing gets better, another gets worse. I wouldn't go as far as to say 'get rid of the government', but I think it could be improved. I am more interested in peoples reactions to the world of politics, rather than the politics.
And yes, I know how bad that is. I watch political debate on Thursday evenings and I'm vaguely aware of what has gone on in the world since I pulled the plug, but I feel so powerless and that the bunch of morons who have power over me aren't listening to what I want, that I've stopped listening to them. David Cameron doesn't give an airborne intercourse what I think. And I've started to grant him the same courtesy; I don't give a flying fuck what he thinks either.
Newspaper - No
Politics - Yes
Newspaper - Yes
Politics - No.
Signed,
Knight Nigel Wellington XXI