The challenge of maintaining a healthy relationship with the news:

[Moonbeam]

News Addiction Linked to Not Only Poor Mental Wellbeing but Physical Health Too - Neuroscience News

Those who addictively consume news are more likely to suffer from stress, anxiety, and physical health problems, a new study reports.

neurosciencenews.com

Of importance to note in my opinion is that as with so many things we deal with on a political level, there are always complexities to any black and white solution to to them.

For example, after suggesting that obcessive addiction is hard to break without total withdrawal the article adds the following caveat which I think is worth considering:

“However, not only does tuning out come at the expense of an individual’s access to important information for their health and safety, it also undermines the existence of an informed citizenry, which has implications for maintaining a healthy democracy. This is why a healthy relationship with news consumption is an ideal situation.”

 

[Zor Prime]

True. I used to be part of the media. Editor, writer, and owner. Paid the bills until I sold my business to a competitor who has a Lambo in his garage these days he doesn't want anyone knowing about -- he took it further than I did.

To pay the bills, you need to border on sensationalism to get your inflow of readers. If you don't, you're going to starve.

Even better if you can get your audience riled. It's a very delicate, fine line to balance. The power trip is pretty amazing, all that influence when you're syndicated. It's important to keep yourself in check.

Always be aware of the slant and origin of where your information is coming from. You can't just buy whatever CNN or FOX is selling you. Ideally you want to read external sources of information from outside your country (edit: be on the lookout of blatant propaganda, though, especially if it's a hostile nation.) If you do read domestic news, don't be a sucker.

 

[Zor Prime]

I spend more time exercising and trying to set new personal records in rowing these days than I do reading the news. If something important comes up, I'll know about it. Like you shared Moon, it's an addiction. Best to be consumed in small doses. Get a hobby. Do something fun. Go outside. The world will continue to spin whether you want it to or not.

 

[Moonbeam]

I spend more time exercising and trying to set new personal records in rowing these days than I do reading the news. If something important comes up, I'll know about it. Like you shared Moon, it's an addiction. Best to be consumed in small doses. Get a hobby. Do something fun. Go outside. The world will continue to spin whether you want it to or not.

I had quite a bad case of Trump-Makes-Me-Sick Syndrome that was based on an assault on my faith that no majority of Americans can fooled by a Maffioso fascist wannabe dictator all of the time. And while the jury has yet to be impaneled I decided to back away from a constant state of skeptical anxiety and trust my instincts more. I stopped watching the nightly news. My latest substitute and pacifier is DeadPool on Netflix. Very relaxing.

 

[nakedfrog]

Sounds like... news addiction can be harmful in the same way as many other addictions?

 

[Zor Prime]

I had quite a bad case of Trump-Makes-Me-Sick Syndrome that was based on an assault on my faith that no majority of Americans can fooled by a Maffioso fascist wannabe dictator all of the time. And while the jury has yet to be impaneled I decided to back away from a constant state of skeptical anxiety and trust my instincts more. I stopped watching the nightly news. My latest substitute and pacifier is DeadPool on Netflix. Very relaxing.

I've lost friends and family over politics. It's insane. Usually I can get along with anyone, sometimes they don't want to get along with me though I've discovered. I don't always need to be right, sometimes I'm not right. I am very much imperfect. But I try! That's key.

People presume there's a good side. There isn't a good side. There's a side that is going to screw you the least but you're still getting screwed. If I allow it to get to me I find it gut wrenching someone can be so deeply entrenched with "they bad" that they no longer can see the forest for the trees. There's black Muslim Republicans out there. I shit you not. I know some. That's the kind of open mindedness I can admire. Not due to the fact they're affiliated with any particular religion or party or color but due to they should probably auto-detonate from being such a cocktail but they don't and sometimes have fascinating insights to share. I like learning.

News is entertainment and downright predatory. It's not easy to find real independent journalism. Again, news is entertainment. As aforementioned, it's addicting -- intentionally to get those dolla' dolla' bills, yo. Trump was brought down from the heavens and gifted to CNN, if you believe in a God only he / she / it could have provided such a golden goose. I don't have to look at stats to know this, all you have to do is hit up CNN's website on any given day over the last 6 years to see for yourself. Headlines that are not pulling money in like a black hole are jettisoned.

People blame Trump for being divisive and that is accurate. Actions removed, just the way he says things is divisive. But we should place equal blame where it is due, across the entire news industry. Every time we get pissed off a group of people are watching money printers go brrrr.

So let's relax. Calm down. Do something pleasant, fun, be nice to people wherever possible. Sometimes people aren't deserving of your good nature but it's usually not my first option. Needlessly being rude without it being due for some reason is very repulsive to me. I'm not some enlightened person, I just want to chill and have fun because I don't like myself when I'm angry. Sometimes my jokes go too far, I've always been the school clown and not everyone shares my dry humor or finds me serious when I'm not. I grew up on Monty Python, it's not everyone's cup of tea.

Oh well. Like I said. World will continue to spin. I can be miserable or I can do something about it and place myself in a probable position of not being miserable. I tend to stick with jokes and not really dive in on P&N topics because the shit hurts my soul more than I like.

tl;dr: Enjoy life, it's finite. Don't sweat the small stuff. Avoid being a marionette. Today might be your last day. Live a full life with lots of fun.

Interesting topic, I wish it had greater traction. I do like seeing what people have to say, main reason I swing by.

 

[Moonbeam]

I do like seeing what people have to say, main reason I swing by.

Appreciate your post and sympathize with the feelings you express. I was reminded of the first words in a book I once read many many years ago, which I was about to put into a paraphrase, certain I would not find it quoted on the internet, but which I decided to check for anyway: Voila:: Hazrat Inayat Khan:

Vol. 7, In an Eastern Rose Garden Love, Harmony, and Beauty How the words "love", "harmony", and "beauty" delight the heart of everyone who hears them! One may wonder what it can be in these words that is able to exert such a natural power upon the human soul. The answer is that if there is anything in life which appeals to the human soul, it is love and beauty. If one asks, "And what besides those?" then the answer is, "There is nothing else." Why is this? Because they are the very nature of life. Love is the nature of life, beauty is the outcome of life, harmony is the means by which life accomplishes its purpose, and the lack of it results in destruction. Here is a link in case you would like to read more: Hazrat Inayat Khan Study Database

 

[hal2kilo]

News addiction? Try just TV addiction.

 

[trenchfoot]

The pressure relief safety valve kicks in for me when I decide whether or not something said is beyond any doubt a lie. The Repubs and their constant lying makes things easy for me in that regard. Beyond that, knowing that I can and will make informed choices come time to vote is relief in and of itself. I donate to causes that reflect my own values, keep my cash away from those who support the Repub's efforts to create a fascist state from which to lord over the people of America and accept the fact that there are things that affect me that are beyond my control or influence, so better to apply my influence to those things that I can rather than worry about things that I can't.

 

[iRONic]

I operate in the same way basically. The only real difference is that we donate locally only. We use any spare money we have to help organizations in this town or the state. It just makes us feel better knowing where our money goes.

 

[Lezunto]

I don't have an addiction to news as much as I have a thirst for information.

I enjoy when people relate facts that I was unaware of. On a thread about Britain's failed PM Boris Johnson, someone suggested deporting the man. Which would have left him with a country.

Fskimopsy countered that under European Commission or EU rules, one cannot be made stateless. I never knew that. That is the reason I continued coming here. It's to pick up nuggets.

So, I don't absorb much TV news. It is nearly impossible to find any that is not slanted anyway. Or free.

 

[Lezunto]

I had quite a bad case of Trump-Makes-Me-Sick Syndrome that was based on an assault on my faith that no majority of Americans can fooled by a Maffioso fascist wannabe dictator all of the time.

I can't stand the guy. But once Biden beat him and his victory was confirmed and legally ratified, a lot of angst disappeared. I had always fought back with humor, parody poems and some of my own memes anyway.

But such things appear to be verboten on threads.

Whatever happens is just gonna happen.

 

[Muse]

I spend more time exercising and trying to set new personal records in rowing these days than I do reading the news. If something important comes up, I'll know about it. Like you shared Moon, it's an addiction. Best to be consumed in small doses. Get a hobby. Do something fun. Go outside. The world will continue to spin whether you want it to or not.

I try to quad skate 10 miles every day. One day I'm occupied by my volunteer gig, so I just do my bike ride there on that day. The skating has helped me stay in 1/2 decent shape during the pandemic (I was going to the gym 3x/week before that). The skating for me now is essential. Hope to get back in the gym soon. I figure by next fall with the nasal inhalers we will have a leg up on covid.

 

[Zor Prime]

I try to quad skate 10 miles every day. One day I'm occupied by my volunteer gig, so I just do my bike ride there on that day. The skating has helped me stay in 1/2 decent shape during the pandemic (I was going to the gym 3x/week before that). The skating for me now is essential. Hope to get back in the gym soon. I figure by next fall with the nasal inhalers we will have a leg up on covid.

That's pretty awesome. I never much cared for exercise but I was compelled to find some sort of exercise I could do that wasn't going to make me hate life as much. Eventually I ran across rowing. Man, I love rowing! I was getting old enough that I was on the brink of a midlife crisis of sorts and couldn't imagine myself being this feeble old fuck that has health issues so fortunately I found rowing. I actually feel better in my 40s than I did in my teens, definitely in better shape anyway. I started right before I hit 40. I row 10k (meters) on my days off, 5k on week days I do work. So like ... give or take 50k a week unless life dictates I need to be doing something else. It might change if I participate in a Concept2 challenge (I have a Model-D rower I ship wherever I'm going for a while, my rower is virtually an extension of myself anymore.) The only thing rowing doesn't really hit are biceps, so I do some lifting to work on those. I noticed one day I looked disproportionate, larger forearm muscles and basically zilch for biceps. lol!

</derail>

 

[Muse]

That's pretty awesome. I never much cared for exercise but I was compelled to find some sort of exercise I could do that wasn't going to make me hate life as much. Eventually I ran across rowing. Man, I love rowing! I was getting old enough that I was on the brink of a midlife crisis of sorts and couldn't imagine myself being this feeble old fuck that has health issues so fortunately I found rowing. I actually feel better in my 40s than I did in my teens, definitely in better shape anyway. I started right before I hit 40. I row 10k (meters) on my days off, 5k on week days I do work. So like ... give or take 50k a week unless life dictates I need to be doing something else. It might change if I participate in a Concept2 challenge (I have a Model-D rower I ship wherever I'm going for a while, my rower is virtually an extension of myself anymore.) The only thing rowing doesn't really hit are biceps, so I do some lifting to work on those. I noticed one day I looked disproportionate, larger forearm muscles and basically zilch for biceps. lol!

</derail>

So, all your rowing is with the concept2 or do you row in boats ever? When I lived on Maui back in the early 1970's I made some friends. I built a 14 foot dory rowboat, had some fun with it on the north shore, skin diving. Sadly I had to leave it when I left.

When the pandemic hit I didn't know what to do. I'd been so used to the gym 3x/week, which included 5 miles each way which I'd negotiate by biking 1/2 way there, then locking my bike up and skating the rest of the way. Reverse on the way home, after my ~90 minute workout. But I haven't been in the gym since March 2020. I started kind of running up and down my back stairs with my heartrate monitor on (I used to wear that when I went to the gym), then my knee started bothering me IIRC, and I got a contraption to attach my bike to and used that for a while. When I decided I wanted to be able to use my bike on the street, I posted in these forums looking for suggestions for an indoors exercise bike. I was recommended the concept2 Model D rower. By that time I had started skating a local street near me (smooth!), but I wanted something for when it rains. The Concept2 Model D were in high demand but that guy helped me snag a new one, which was cheaper than used, they were in such high demand.

If it rains I can use the concept2, but I much prefer skating. I get a better workout, partly because my bum hurts using the rower. I skate for 75-80 minutes straight but 20 minutes on the rower becomes torturous. I bought a couple cushions, not sure if they help. Anyway, it doesn't rain here a lot, at least not the last few years - serious drought in N. California (Bay Area). I'm skating 10 miles something like 300 days a year, maybe more like 275, not sure.

I should row more, it engages the arms some, shoulders too. My biceps are atrophying. In fact I think I've lost a lot of muscle mass due to the pandemic. My hands have developed arthritis, so I don't know how I'm going to deal with that. Just acquired a book that should help.

Now, I had a couple skating accidents this year due to wheels coming off my skates, the first one because a wheel nut came off, the 2nd because the front king pin broke. 1st time I got off easy, 2nd time bad sprain of dominant hand pinky, over 4 months ago. I have been wearing a splint on it 24/7 recently, but I think it will come off shortly. I'm trying to focus on taking better care of my skates so I don't have any more equipment failure. My skating technique is pretty good, it doesn't worry me, it's the skates failing that is the concern. As long as my body can handle it, skating is a lot of fun and a good workout. As someone noted, it works the core muscles more than rowing... my back's been pretty good!

 

[Zor Prime]

No, I don't row in actual boats. I can't swim. I can't even float, part of why I don't swim. Yeah, I actually can't float! Maybe I'd excel at diving. I might take up to 4 showers a day, not unknown for me, but I do tend to avoid deep bodies of water.

I can't skate either. haha. Then again I'm from hills and mountains, so I never really had an opportunity to try to learn that. Maybe I should try to learn, you're making it sound appealing.

The stock seat on the Model-D sucks bad. I picked up a seat cushion made by Vapor Fitness on Amazon and it's so, sooo much better. Sometimes my butt starts to hurt going on an hour but sometimes not. Without it, it's guaranteed to start hurting. Vapor Fitness also sells a really slick siicone phone holder you can rest on top of your PM5. I absolutely love the thing.

My rower is responsible for more than exercise. I like to watch music festivals on YouTube while doing it, so I ended up with a 15" subwoofer etc etc to feel like I'm there in person. Keep on skating!

 

[Muse]

No, I don't row in actual boats. I can't swim. I can't even float, part of why I don't swim. Yeah, I actually can't float! Maybe I'd excel at diving. I might take up to 4 showers a day, not unknown for me, but I do tend to avoid deep bodies of water.

I can't skate either. haha. Then again I'm from hills and mountains, so I never really had an opportunity to try to learn that. Maybe I should try to learn, you're making it sound appealing.

The stock seat on the Model-D sucks bad. I picked up a seat cushion made by Vapor Fitness on Amazon and it's so, sooo much better. Sometimes my butt starts to hurt going on an hour but sometimes not. Without it, it's guaranteed to start hurting. Vapor Fitness also sells a really slick siicone phone holder you can rest on top of your PM5. I absolutely love the thing.

My rower is responsible for more than exercise. I like to watch music festivals on YouTube while doing it, so I ended up with a 15" subwoofer etc etc to feel like I'm there in person. Keep on skating!

I have a 43" 4K monitor in front of the Model D. For sound I use my Etymotic Research ear buds. Maybe it's my bad hearing (tinnitus), and rolloff at higher frequencies, but earbuds let me hear the highs much better than speakers. I watched some Ken Burns documentaries rowing: The National Parks, Jazz, Country Music. Some nature docs too. I should connect the antenna, but I don't watch much TV. News and some sports pretty exclusively. Guess I should check out those music festivals! I'll check out that seat you like! Thanks. Have you thought of swim lessons? Skating takes a while to pick up. I did it as a kid but taking it up again at 46 took a while. I had protective gear, but eventually whittled that down to just gloves. Now I wear my bike helmet just because why not? Plus the gloves, of course. Gloves have saved my body quite a few times! Important is good skating environment. Smooth streets or sidewalks or paths.