There might be something to this 'Ignorance is bliss' thing

[Exterous]

Between my two accidents and politics I started wondering if paying attention was worth it. Does it matter if I know the car 5 cars ahead isn't paying attention and causes me to get stuck at a red light. Maybe there is something to only caring about what the car in front of me is doing. What good does knowing its the red taurus 10 cars ahead going 45mph in the fast lane that is holding everyone up? Maybe paying more attention to the podcast is better than paying attention to much beyond my immediate surroundings. When I do that driving doesn't seem as bad because I don't know how many idiots are around me.

Same with politics. Detroit news is pretty much only about weather, traffic, potholes and who got shot\stabbed\runover in the last 30 minutes. National news...well thats a total shit show

So I've been reading and watching less news and things seem less stressful. I still pay attention to things like financial news but for the rest - only broad strokes. I'm kinda liking it.

Found this article a couple of days ago that was along the same lines:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeand...red-a-news-blackout-the-day-trump-was-elected

 

[Majes]

It's so true. I'm a lot happier now that I pay less attention to politics. I was so invested during Bush's stimulus and the Obama election that I almost had a meltdown about how things were going in this country. I kind of realized that the impact on my life from policy decisions wasn't enough to warrant anger and depression issues, and by the time the Trump election happened I was able to take that in stride pretty well.

So for me it's less ignorance than it is furthering my understanding of what's important in life and the prioritization of those important things.

Of course it's always hard to be angry/upset about something if you know nothing about it.

 

[Thebobo]

Those are so true, sometimes if you can't do anything about a situation it's pointless to worry about it, and it's bad for your health, stress.

 

[local]

Yep, if I find myself getting worked up about something I take a moment to consider if this is going to matter down the road. If not then I don't worry about it. As a rule I almost completely ignore politics as it is all BS and generally isn't worth the frustration. Stress is terrible for you both physically and mentally so I try to eliminate it whenever possible.

 

[soulcougher73]

Yeah ignoring news in general helps since all news is bad news pretty much. Staying off any social media helps a ton also. Just stop caring what other people think or their opinions are and happyness awaits

 

[Exterous]

Yep, if I find myself getting worked up about something I take a moment to consider if this is going to matter down the road.

Unfortunately that doesn't work well for me. I can't make my brain set aside stupid things quickly so its better if I just don't know they happened at all.

Staying off any social media helps a ton also. Just stop caring what other people think or their opinions are and happyness awaits

Oh man thats another one. I make a quick judgement after the first couple words about post and if it looks like it will be a long diatribe I just scroll past the whole thing. Whats new? People fighting on Facebook. About what? No idea.

 

[Noah Abrams]

I stopped watching TV (except some sports) ages ago. Very long time ago.

I quit facebook many years ago

I read newspapers but don't read all the crap masquerading as news because they need something to sell. It has zero relevance to me and to 99.9 percent of people in the country.

Perhaps ignorance isn't the right word. Useless information (of which there is a glut now) would be more accurate

I do read books and listen to audiobooks. Podcasts too, but have found only two or three interesting ones and they are all finished. Any recommendations?

 

[Thebobo]

I stopped watching TV (except some sports) ages ago. Very long time ago.

I quite facebook many years ago

I read newspapers but don't read all the crap masquerading as news because they need something to sell. It has zero relevance to me and to 99.9 percent of people in the country.

Perhaps ignorance isn't the right word. Useless information (of which there is a glut now) would be more accurate

I do read books and listen to audiobooks. Podcasts too, but have found only two or three interesting ones and they are all finished. Any recommendations?

https://www.amazon.com/What-Happened-Hillary-Rodham-Clinton/dp/1501175564


/runs away

 

[whm1974]

Yeah ignoring news in general helps since all news is bad news pretty much. Staying off any social media helps a ton also. Just stop caring what other people think or their opinions are and happyness awaits

I have found that this is the case. In fact I never had a social media account and don't want one.

 

[Noah Abrams]

https://www.amazon.com/What-Happened-Hillary-Rodham-Clinton/dp/1501175564


/runs away

haha...

Ok seriously, here is a book / audiobook which I recently finished and liked. I found it through a top books of 2017 list.

American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land

I am older, I understand the world more now. I know there is some reason the world is the way it is. I don't have the zeal I once did, because I know the unchanging nature of the crooked timber of humanity. Bit like the Sheriff character in the book / movie, No Country For Old Men.

 

[dasherHampton]

Thinking back on it, I was so much happier in college because I was ignorant about almost everything that didn't concern my immediate circle of life.

I didn't dwell on politics.
I didn't obsess over getting old and having enough money to live out old age comfortably.
I didn't care about having nice things like expensive cars.
I wasn't constantly stressed overthinking every little thing.

I made around $1500 a month and was ignorant as fuck about almost everything. And yet I felt "rich". I paid about $200 a month in rent and had plenty of money to do whatever I felt like doing. I think longing about having things is better than actually having them.

I know "I was happier in college" is a cliche thing to say. But I wasn't happier because I had unlimited freedom and no responsibilities. I was happier because ignorance about things that didn't matter to me at the time allowed me to be.

 

[DietDrThunder]

I have found that this is the case. In fact I never had a social media account and don't want one.

I've never had facebook, etc., but I do have a linkedIn account, and have had it for ages. What I hate is how much of a social media/advertising account it has become. I'm on the verge of shutting it down.

 

[Thebobo]

Whoa STOP the ignorance

You guys are not being fair to social media. For example if you don't select any newsy or political sites in facebook to follow guess what, you won't get any news or polical shxt.** Same with twitter and who you follow. Follow trump and you will be stressed. Follow Elon Musk and you will be inspired.

So it's all up to you, stop blaming the software.

** just want to add if your friends with that wacky uncle you might have to unfollow him...

 

[FeuerFrei]

I don't follow the news other than talk radio, now and then. Truth is now a luxury. I cherish the few sources of it.

But yeah, less contact with liberalism = less stress, less rage, less disgust, less persecution, and more tolerance of good, more peace, safety, and liberty.

 

[Exterous]

I do read books and listen to audiobooks. Podcasts too, but have found only two or three interesting ones and they are all finished. Any recommendations?

I don't have a ton yet - I'm still getting used to not paying attention. I like Freakanomics. It takes on a variety of topics and tries to figure out if the generally accepted behavior\viewpoint is really the right one. I also like Planet Money. Stuff you missed in history is ok. I also tried out Audible with Hamilton (I liked him before it was cool) and Artemis (Byt the Martian author) but its kinda expensive for what you get

 

[Thebobo]

I don't follow the news other than talk radio, now and then. Truth is now a luxury. I cherish the few sources of it.

But yeah, less contact with liberalism = less stress, less rage, less disgust, less persecution, and more tolerance of good, more peace, safety, and liberty.

Talk radio eh CBS NPR Blomberg?