I'm Done with MSN, and Others................

asphaltgambler · 07:25 AM

Hey guys, this is not hate against MSN specifically, but news organizations in general. I have noticed that there has been a significant uptick in really bad news in general, not just politically. I come in to my office everyday and usually read MSN's web page like my daily newspaper to catch-up on events. I'm now aware of my mood change after finishing it. Downward, angry, some depression.

In general, I'm a very up-beat kind of guy, I always see the glass as 'half-full' regardless of the circumstances. In short, I always have hope for better days largely because I'm Christian.

I've been thinking about this over the weekend and today first thing, deleted the short-cuts on all my devices to MSN. In addition, I'm no longer looking at serial news casts on U-tube on the latest crisis political or otherwise. I am not sticking my head in the sand, or am willfully becoming ignorant of what's going on in the world, I'm choosing not to look at it everyday, to start my day off negatively. One thing I'm not ashamed of sharing with the PPOT Brain-trust is while having thick skin, I have a very sensitive heart. And when reading these things; mostly really terrible, I carry it like a heavy weight throughout the day.

Friday for instance there were two main stories where in 1, two men took a guide dog away from a child, tortured and killed it. The other story was about 'parents' who starved their daughter to the brink of death.

That was the breaking point, I only saw the headlines and my day was ruined.

I know these things go on in the world, my strong belief is that they are evil, driven by evil. I don't think that has changed much since the beginning of time. I don't think people today are any worse than people say.......... 75 years ago. It's the amount of reporting and instant 'feed' to the interwebs supported by advertising dollars where every line is another bait-click to see the the rest of the story. OR when something remotely positive is reported, showing a video - good luck with actually getting that to load with 200 ads popping up and video freezing so another commercial IN the video can show.

The old saying remains that: "If it bleeds, it leads". Great, but how 'bout something positive? Not gonna happen. We're so conditioned to awful news, never mind if it has any basis in truth, I believe a large part of the population is disappointed when there isn't something awful reported, like they got 'gipped'

TV programming is no better. I have DirecTV and I ran down the list of possible shows to watch: My 600Lb Life, Jeffrey Dalmer killer revealed, I buried him in the backyard, 20/20 investigates killing of parents, I almost got away with it, That D**n dog!, and on and on. Whatever happened to sitcoms? Silly or not, they at least made you laugh.

Just a summary of my thoughts, and how I'm changing my habits for the better.....

masraum · 05-23-2022, 07:26 AM

Yep, I don't watch or read the news.

I used to read BBC news almost daily, and that seemed better than most of the US based stuff, but I haven't read it in 3-5 years, so I don't know if it's changed or maybe my memory is just selective. Even then, there was some bad news, because there always is.

URY914 · URY914's Garage

Yahoo news is pretty much the same thing. Click bait

JackDidley · JackDidley's Garage

I generally avoid the news. Too depressing. If I have the news on, I usually have the sound off. If something looks good I can turn the sound on.

Baz · Baz's Garage

Which is why I watch the old westerns and other TV shows like "Tour of Duty" and "Hawaii Five-O".

Etc.

Yesterday I watched "The Cowboys" for the umpteenth time and really enjoyed it. Even though The Duke was killed - he went out in style!

"The War Wagon" came on next but I only got through the first 1/2 hour before falling asleep.

As far as news is concerned - you are spot on, Gambler.

My fav. news show now is "Dan Abrams Live" on News Nation every night at 9pm. At the end of each show they show a segment of a law enforcement event highlighted by body cam footage. Stuff you'll never see on other programs unless it's to smear law enforcement.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

I read our on-ine local newspaper every morning. It was once a great paper, but is now owned by USA Today. I can scroll past the endless worthless stories.

It is so annoying that the real who what where when and why are just not mentioned, or maybe partially near the end of the article. Most articles start off with how someone feels about the story, or some irrelevant trivia to set a mood. I just ignore all those articles. And if it is something like an election in another state, or country, I really don't care much. I can vote in that election, and I am not affected by the results of who was elected in some other corner of the world. Scroll on down.

They do have some articles about local events and politics that do affect me. Those I read more carefully if the writing is understandable and about the even, and not some reporter's feelings about it.

Chocaholic · 05-23-2022, 07:57 AM

You should avoid the news and spend more time lubing your ratchet.

Nuff said.

LEAKYSEALS951 · 05-23-2022, 08:07 AM

I was just watching "classic weather channel" reruns from the 1980's when you typed this.

No s#$%. That's what I do.

Something about the smooth jazz, weather on the 8's, no reality show crap or BS presentation. Only problem was the weather was 30+ years old,

but it didn't matter.

It didn't pander

Shaun @ Tru6 · 05-23-2022, 08:09 AM

Pool noodle fight over the name Josh again attracts hundreds

Evans, Marv · 05-23-2022, 08:16 AM

You and others are exactly right about the news/media situation. It's almost all click bait and sensationalism intended to attract the most attention for monetary gain. It's that and the fact we're all experiencing mega fatigue over the general situation of the world - war, political squabbling, bad economies, inflation, corruption at all levels, evil countries and regimes not being dealt with. famine, disease, race for money, and on and on. Basically we're always presented with choosing anymore between the lesser of two (or more) evils in elections, economic decisions, political policies, education policies, decisions in daily life. I think we all feel we're sinking intoa dark morass of poor decisions, policies, and situations we have no way out of and those making those decisions and policies are never the type of people making them in the the population's interest and the country in general.

pwd72s · 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by URY914

Yahoo news is pretty much the same thing. Click bait

LOL! I use Yahoo as a home page and as an email for spammers...but agree about the "news"...slanted left pieces with "See this star in a bikini and see her toned abs"...LOL!
Never bother reading Yahoo these days.

I often wonder if life would be better if I just tossed cable & internet, had only radio and stereo...

asphaltgambler · 05-23-2022, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

You should avoid the news and spend more time lubing your ratchet.

Nuff said.

Definitely one of the positive things to do! especially with my mild OCD, taking care of those expensive Snap-on ratchets!

herr_oberst · 05-23-2022, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baz

Yesterday I watched "The Cowboys" for the umpteenth time and really enjoyed it. Even though The Duke was killed - he went out in style!

Darn it Baz! Spoiler alert!!!

(That Zappa pic is hilarious!)

asphaltgambler · 05-23-2022, 08:46 AM

The other thing, being captain obvious here is that there are @6 corporations that own all the news organizations, whether it's fit to 'print' (or show) or not. I believe that has a great deal to do with it.

My mother-in-law, God Bless her in her retirement, has become almost addicted to Fox news and has it on constantly and can't wait to unload over the phone to my wife on her drive home the latest crap. Which, of course winds my wife up like a 8-day clock so when I get home regurgitates the worst of the worst stories angrily..............

LEAKYSEALS951 · 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

You should avoid the news and spend more time lubing your ratchet.

Nuff said.

and make sure to use plenty of "rubber lube" to prevent damage to your highly polished shaft. (perhaps where the weather channel began to jump the shark)

https://youtu.be/MzRjdTm6Bd4?t=972

pwd72s · 05-23-2022, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

Definitely one of the positive things to do! especially with my mild OCD, taking care of those expensive Snap-on ratchets!

You have Snap-on ratchets? Wow, a high roller. Anyway, Snap on says to use a synthetic grease called super lube.

asphaltgambler · 05-23-2022, 08:52 AM

Yeah, a sucker for quality^^^^^^in my former day-job profession, but now limited to my hobby.

Rodsrsr · Rodsrsr's Garage

The news, along with most new movies and streaming series for the most part are all garbage.

The majority of news stories are either about random acts of violence, propaganda, or stories meant to further divide the country.

95% of new movies have an overt cultural message: LBGTQ, Feminism, extreme equality of outcomes, token characters, etc...This leads to lazy writing with no character development. I believe its why the majority of new movies are remakes, which allows the producers to rely on brand equity from the original. The same goes for most streaming series. As others, I try and stick with some of the older stuff and I stopped watching, reading the news. If something important happens, I'll hear about it.

pwd72s · 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

Yeah, a sucker for quality^^^^^^in my former day-job profession, but now limited to my hobby.

Evidently, Snap on includes a small bit of the grease in their repair kits. If all your ratchet gears are okay, super lube available in 3 oz. tubes for around $10. Synthetic dielectric grease..so also good for electrics work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6auf20dH-E&ab_channel=Snap-onTools

herr_oberst · 05-23-2022, 08:59 AM

Seriously, it really is the crime of the century, this thing that news has become.

I'm sure all of us here are ancient enough to remember reading the daily paper as THE start to the day.
The 4 main sections, national, local, sports and entertainment, then when we got to school or work, we could discuss current events with our friends and peers and develop our own thoughtful opinions.
FF to 2022, the news is so fragmented that even a political crisis like the war in Ukraine is overshadowed by a meaningless trial in Virginia, and our opinions are formed for us in boilerplate depending on what narrow narrative we've chosen to believe...

It would be sad enough if it were just the once-proud Republic that our fathers fought for that's dying, but to know the whole world is chasing the same bottom like water down a drain makes it pretty hard to maintain an overall optimism about daily life.

Yet, I still feel the need to know at least the overall outline of what's happening in the world, so every day I look at my three news sites to get an overview...