General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why I cut off my cable TV service in 2001 . . . [View all]Picture presented.
On the left side we have things "[I/We] should know about". Ok, let's see, there are quite a few things there. I am aware of most. Most I would agree are important topics. However, quite a few are redpiller garbage, conspiracy mongering, and a few anti-tech/science positions I'd probably outright dismiss as ranting and lunacy.
On the right side we have things "the news tells [us] about". Yep, will not deny that there are quite a bit of not-so-serious things here. And I am with you on Lindsey and Kimmy and Kanye and Justin. However, there are some pretty interesting things in that list.
Who got murdered. You know, I'd call this "news".
Who said what that doesn't matter. I guess I can thank the person that wrote this trash for digesting this for me. Let's say "who" is Obama. Let's say that "what" has to do with healthcare. Or the economy. Or justice. Or some other completely not mattering thing. Do I still accept that this is more "who said what that doesn't matter"?
Car chases. I remember one that was kind of newsworthy... it involved a former NFL player and sometimes actor being placed under arrest under suspicion of murdering his wife. If you are referring to car chases of another sort, like when the Duke boys leave ol' Roscoe in the dust down in Hazzard county, I assure you that this is not on the news.
The stock report. Hmm. While there are those who disagree, there are still people who believe that the stock market still has a bearing on the strength of the economy. I'd be interested to know this. Seems like "news".
How many cars are selling. Also a good indicator of personal liquidity and general strength of the consumer markets. Seems like "news" to me.
Who got arrested. No, there is no way that could be construed as "news".
Drama in D.C. Well, considering that quite a lot of what happens in this country gets decided there, maybe the drama is something we should be paying attention to? Kinda why this website exists in the first place, but OK, not newsworthy or important, not in the least.
The housing market. Quite a lot of things of economic import in column B, not much at all in column A. Considering how the investiture of the middle class is almost exclusively in the value of what real estate it owns, do you not think this might be newsworthy in this regard?
Who got an award. Well, if its the Nobel Prize for X, I must admit a little curiosity there.
Gas prices. Seems to me knowing if they are going up or down gives me some insight into both mobility and future fiscal stress. Kind of like how the weather report gives me an indicator of how to dress for the upcoming days. NEWS.
Travel and leisure stuff. Yes, you are right, I don't need to know about any of this, because if I'm not going out of my mind with outrage about everything in the left column, I probably don't deserve a vacation or even a little fun. What interest could I possibly have in that when I must sit in the dark in a cold sweat thinking about the hazards of industrial pollution.
Reality show drama? I don't know what news you watch, but unless one of the reality show stars is engaging in racist commentary, I don't typically see this on the news.
Corporate products to buy? You mean advertising? I don't know which word in "corporate products to buy" I'm supposed to be bothered by. "Corporate"? "Products"? "Buy"? Judging by the list in column A, I'm certain that whoever penned this dreck expects me to be bothered by all three.
Who bought something expensive? Not newsworthy unless you count the merger between Time Warner and Comcast and the future implications it might have on telecommunications of every variety. No, not nearly important enough to mention.
Actually, given the topics I've listed, I'm genuinely surprised that "the weather" didn't make it on to column B. I mean, it only gives you insight on what you can expect from your atmospheric environment over the next week or so, and who gives a flying rip about that?
So... you're basically all proud of yourself because you've cut the cord and don't think the things in the second column are newsworthy. Some aren't. Some of them aren't even on the news, so whoever wrote this was clearly not up on what typically makes the news. This person can probably be forgiven because, presumptively, he/she probably hasn't watched the news for at least as long as you, probably longer. Memories fade and merge, so he/she can be forgiven a lack of accuracy.
However, the stuff in column A is no picnic either. Quite a few of those things belong on a survivalist reality show like Doomsday Preppers, and some are just fear or conspiracy mongering.
Congratulations, you've traded one impenetrable bubble for another. Kudos.