General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Regarding MSNBC [View all]ginnyinWI
(17,276 posts)Couple of years ago we gave up cable and went to free TV with a Tivo, so the only news I get is network and PBS with its BBC World News. I'm given straight news for the most part (especially from BBC). I'm not watching anything with a strong spin in either direction. I have been watching NBC's half hour plus BBC's live late-night news at 10 p.m. Central. I get a quick overview of what happened that day, and if I want more I can find it in other media. TV should never be the sole source of information.
The result is that I feel I have a more balanced life. Life is real, not divided into "us" v.s. "them" all the time. People are just people and some are bad, some good. The intense partisanship I used to feel is gone and that feels good.
I still have my opinions but without being cattle-prodded nightly by MSNBC or anyone, I feel balanced and okay--not filled with outrage or frustration. Leaves more room for other things. I'm actually a lot more active doing things that might actually make the world a better place instead of just being a spectator (volunteering at a local no-kill animal shelter). Feeling powerless is really immobilizing. The cables exaggerate everything, especially the negative stuff! Keeps the eyeballs glued in a tough market.
My dad poisoned himself in his old age with daily doses of FOX news network outrage. It made him a depressed and bitter old man until he died three years ago. He actually said, at 82, that he was glad he wasn't going to live much longer because the world was so bad! I would really hate to ever become a liberal version of that.