Over the Weekend: Life Without the Media
Resolved over the weekend: Radically limit, if possible eliminate, all contact with news media. Rate of success: not bad, really. Results: increase in calmness and sanity, a cold splash of clear thinking. Oh, and I managed to avoid even an echo of "Harvey what's-his-name." Let's carry on through the coming week, and highly recommend the same to you. The example of the media vs. Donald Trump might serve as a good example of why you might pursue lighten-up-on-news-media regimen starting this week.
The war between elements of the media (aka Main Stream Media, aka MSM) and Donald Trump continues. Do you follow the various skirmishes and battles? Let's hope not. Frankly, it's mostly a waste of time.
First off, whatever you think of Trump, let's face it, the media's got it in for him. Even if you think some of the criticism levied at the President is deserved, it should be clear to you that the motivation has less to do with the truth then with a certain agenda. And even if you agree with the agenda being pushed, can your really justify spending the precious time allotted to you in this life following not only the stream of stories but the endless tranches of tweets? You must have more important or even enjoyable things to do. Don't you?
Second, and perhaps more importantly, the media runs with stories that garner the greatest attention. They need viewers and listeners, the more the merrier. They're not about digging deep to find nuggets of truth. They'll go with whatever hits a nerve. This normal tendency has been exacerbated in recent years as readers of newspapers and viewers of network news have dramatically dwindled. Past a certain point, journalists who work for MSM organizations lose their jobs. So it's a kind of life and death struggle. Do you need to get swept up in that? Is that really your battle?
To be clear, this isn't about CNN vs. Fox. It's about both. And it isn't about left vs. right. It's about whether it makes sense to present yourself as a target for the cross-hairs of journalists who, for the most part, impart little knowledge, even less wisdom, in their scribbling and babbling. Sure, you'll occasionally stumble on a pearl if you sift through the dung heap of media droppings, but is it worth the time and effort?
Now, lest you think of lowering or even eliminating your dose of news media strictly as some sort of "loss," review the first paragraph, wherein reference is made to "increase in calmness and sanity, a cold splash of clear thinking." There's more where that came from. Just think of what you might accomplish with that time now not wasted: finish personal projects you've begun by not completed yet; read a good book: the list is endless. You could even binge watch some dumb series on Netflx if you can't think of anything more constructive to do with your life. You'll likely get more out of that than dousing yourself with all those "facts" about Trump's connection with Russia.
Even the coverage of the rumored tax reform can't justify reading, listening or watching. Just look back at the many such reforms that have been proposed in the past: most resulted either in no substantive change. And when change did occur, it was the result of endless debate and compromise that dragged on for months, if not years. Off the top of my head, I can only remember the change in the estate tax that began under Bush - a tax that effects a relatively small percentage of Americans, even in its original form. The so-called exemption from taxes did eventually rise to its current elevated level, but only after a series of annual changes that made little sense, and ultimately lined the pockets of lawyers and accountants who were paid to advise rich clients about what the heck was going on.
So, really, do yourself a favor and try to live without your daily shot of news media. You'll survive. Maybe you'll even thank me.
The war between elements of the media (aka Main Stream Media, aka MSM) and Donald Trump continues. Do you follow the various skirmishes and battles? Let's hope not. Frankly, it's mostly a waste of time.
First off, whatever you think of Trump, let's face it, the media's got it in for him. Even if you think some of the criticism levied at the President is deserved, it should be clear to you that the motivation has less to do with the truth then with a certain agenda. And even if you agree with the agenda being pushed, can your really justify spending the precious time allotted to you in this life following not only the stream of stories but the endless tranches of tweets? You must have more important or even enjoyable things to do. Don't you?
Second, and perhaps more importantly, the media runs with stories that garner the greatest attention. They need viewers and listeners, the more the merrier. They're not about digging deep to find nuggets of truth. They'll go with whatever hits a nerve. This normal tendency has been exacerbated in recent years as readers of newspapers and viewers of network news have dramatically dwindled. Past a certain point, journalists who work for MSM organizations lose their jobs. So it's a kind of life and death struggle. Do you need to get swept up in that? Is that really your battle?
To be clear, this isn't about CNN vs. Fox. It's about both. And it isn't about left vs. right. It's about whether it makes sense to present yourself as a target for the cross-hairs of journalists who, for the most part, impart little knowledge, even less wisdom, in their scribbling and babbling. Sure, you'll occasionally stumble on a pearl if you sift through the dung heap of media droppings, but is it worth the time and effort?
Now, lest you think of lowering or even eliminating your dose of news media strictly as some sort of "loss," review the first paragraph, wherein reference is made to "increase in calmness and sanity, a cold splash of clear thinking." There's more where that came from. Just think of what you might accomplish with that time now not wasted: finish personal projects you've begun by not completed yet; read a good book: the list is endless. You could even binge watch some dumb series on Netflx if you can't think of anything more constructive to do with your life. You'll likely get more out of that than dousing yourself with all those "facts" about Trump's connection with Russia.
Even the coverage of the rumored tax reform can't justify reading, listening or watching. Just look back at the many such reforms that have been proposed in the past: most resulted either in no substantive change. And when change did occur, it was the result of endless debate and compromise that dragged on for months, if not years. Off the top of my head, I can only remember the change in the estate tax that began under Bush - a tax that effects a relatively small percentage of Americans, even in its original form. The so-called exemption from taxes did eventually rise to its current elevated level, but only after a series of annual changes that made little sense, and ultimately lined the pockets of lawyers and accountants who were paid to advise rich clients about what the heck was going on.
So, really, do yourself a favor and try to live without your daily shot of news media. You'll survive. Maybe you'll even thank me.
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