Topic: Do you ever get out of the loop?

[marvel_moviefan_2012]

I don't watch the news much anymore, ever since the boston marathon thing I kind of realized there just wasn't a point to it anymore, when I first went back to school my major was originally Broadcasting and then I lost interest due to how depressing it is constantly. I don't follow the news much or stay up to date on current events I go to work, I study do my school work and spend my free time watching movies, playing video games, etc. So every once in a while I will hear about something that makes me shake my head and re-affirm my avoidance of the mainstream news outlets. But then something happens like this:


I was watching the newest AVGN and James and Mike plays videos on Youtube, I know they have become stale and boring but I keep watching anyways while I wait for the movie. Anyways along the side I see a video for Nostalgia Critic. Now I used to love that guy, his website, his whole crew, but I thought I watched a video suggesting he was retired or done or shutting down the character or something so I stopped watching and moved on. I didn't even bother to check the website I just assume okay his show was going downhill anyways so maybe he just ran out of material. Long story short I click on the video as it caught my attention, Top 11 things you never noticed about Ghostbusters and I go in expecting something cool. Instead I get a slap in the face with a dose of reality that shattered my world. He starts it off by telling me Harold Ramis died and I was in shock, then to make it worse he died more than a month ago and somehow I didn't even hear about it. This reminded me of the time when Nate Dogg died I heard about it like months latter and was so shocked at how did it go by without somebody I knew mentioning it. Well the Ghostbusters thing was depressing because I was still holding onto some baseless hope that there might someday be a Ghostbusters 3. Anyways has that ever happened to you, you take a break from "world events" or the "mainstream media" and then you find out about a major news event that you think someone would have told you about?

[Oblivion]

I haven't found myself in that situation yet. I tend to keep up with current events when I go on reddit on a daily basis, and subscribe to subreddits like /r/worldnews.

Though I have felt less interested in the happens in the world and greater appreciate the "news" of my various hobbies or interests.

[Caterkiller]

I listen to local talk radio all day if I have the chance. KFI AM640 keeps me informed to the max. The news can be very depressing but ultimately i'd rather know than not.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I stopped actively seeking world news and absolutely stopped watching local news a long time ago.

Local news is almost always depressing, focusing on fear for ratings (There is something in your home that you use everyday that could kill you in you aren't careful... tune in at 11 to find out what it is!!) or it's stupid puff pieces about things no one cares about.

And World news stations are just using shock tactics and horribly biased views and opinion pieces disguised as news that all they try to do is influence your thought and get you to choose sides instead of just simply reporting news without the spin. No one is trying to get to the truth, they are just trying to spin spin spin till everyone is dizzy and you only know which direction to go by listening to the sound of their voice. It's absolutely crazy and best if avoided.

Having said that, I did watch The Daily Show and Colbert Report for quite a while and that for as much as it was a comedy show that satirized the news, they sure gave you more informative takes on the news while also pointing out how misinformative the actual news stations really were.

At this point, I only know about what I happen across on the internet, what is talked about on the radio or what is told to me person.

[lolmonade]

I'd argue that it would be to your benefit to not attempt to keep "in the loop" all the time regarding news, whether it be entertainment, or real news. 
 
I used to watch news & skim through Google news obsessively in college/early post-college years. A few things resulted from it:
 
 

• I was terribly depressed over how insurmountable our problems seemed.
• I was well informed not just about the important news events, but also over incredibly unimportant things that were made into "news by CNN/MSNBC/Fox News, etc.
• I spent an inordinate amount of my free time browsing the internet for news instead of spending my precious free time doing something I actually enjoy.

I've been "out of the loop" for maybe about 2 years now, and the only thing I probably keep-up-on is video game news, but that's only because I have an actual interest in it.  I bet you'll also find that if you don't obsessively follow news, the important stuff will rise to the top and you'll catch wind of it one way or another.
 
Not sure if you're much of a reader, but i'd suggest reading a book titled "Amusing Ourselves to Death" by Neil Postman.  It covers the entertainification of news through television, and while it's a bit aged, its message of oversaturation of information is even more relevant now that the internet has multilplied on the original problem.
 
 

[King of Twitch]

The local news is full of lulz. They're always doing STORM WATCH as soon as there's rain (slight drizzle) in the forecast, and always ALWAYS do a recap of Dancing with the Stars (Rob Fukuzaki, you hack).

[Oblivion]

The local news is full of lulz. They're always doing STORM WATCH as soon as there's rain (slight drizzle)

Yes, that's what a storm is. They have to do that, it isn't the fault of the local news. The local weather people (not the ones at the station) put out alerts that are sent to the local stations.

[Nile Boogie Returns]

I honestly think the news and the drug companies are parallel demons. The u.s spends $318 Billion yearly on prescription dope. And every time I watch Local, Network or world news I see ads from some new dope I'm supposed to ask my doctor about.  I learn all my news from NPR, Sports Radio and word of mouth. Damn the "loop". "I'm just a spec on a pale a pale blue dot and the news don't matter a little or a lot".




Stormwatch kills me. I live in the Northeast (Philly) since when did we need Team Coverage of 4 inches of snow?

[Phil]

If it weren't for The Daily Show and Facebook, I wouldn't know much about what's going on. I get news from The Daily Show because the news is otherwise being covered so poorly by real news outlets. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who finds it embarrassing and maddening.

[King of Twitch]

There's nothing to alert us about, at worst it's just a bit of @(@!ing light rain. They don't "have" to be idiots, but they are!

[Stratos]

I'd argue that it would be to your benefit to not attempt to keep "in the loop" all the time regarding news, whether it be entertainment, or real news. 
 
I used to watch news & skim through Google news obsessively in college/early post-college years. A few things resulted from it:
 
 

• I was terribly depressed over how insurmountable our problems seemed.
• I was well informed not just about the important news events, but also over incredibly unimportant things that were made into "news by CNN/MSNBC/Fox News, etc.
• I spent an inordinate amount of my free time browsing the internet for news instead of spending my precious free time doing something I actually enjoy.

I've been "out of the loop" for maybe about 2 years now, and the only thing I probably keep-up-on is video game news, but that's only because I have an actual interest in it.  I bet you'll also find that if you don't obsessively follow news, the important stuff will rise to the top and you'll catch wind of it one way or another.
 
Not sure if you're much of a reader, but i'd suggest reading a book titled "Amusing Ourselves to Death" by Neil Postman.  It covers the entertainification of news through television, and while it's a bit aged, its message of oversaturation of information is even more relevant now that the internet has multilplied on the original problem.

I've heard that book referenced several times and keep meaning to read it. I even checked it out of the library but did not find time to read it before it was due again.


I think that as you acquire more responsibilities in life you begin to shave off the things that are not quite as relevant to you. This can be both good and bad. We choose to ignore the important things that are not desperately urgent as well as determine that certain activities are not truly worth our time.


Another good book is "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey. He writes about prioritizing matters so that you can attend to the "non-pressing yet important needs" while learning to control the "pressing important needs".


Though, my current job includes news monitoring and it is funny to switch between the "big three" (MSNBC/Fox/CNN). Everyone has their soap box and their "pet" stories they are pushing. The sheer deluge of downer stories got depressing my first few weeks before I learned how to tune out the unimportant matters (and finally muted the station unless something urgent was on).

[ShyGuy]

I need to get out of the loop permanently. The loop is a snake eating its tail.

[marvel_moviefan_2012]

It's kind of odd for me as a mass communications major most of my professors are always going on about how important it is to stay informed.

[pokepal148]

I LOVE THAT MOVIE,

seriously everyone watch into the loop