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Reading too much political news is bad for your well-being

theatlantic.com

31–40 of 333 posts

Re: Reading too much political news is bad for your well-being

#31
The debate between Trump and Biden epitomizes why political news is a mental health risk. No questions about long term goals and how we get there. Yes Trump is bad but I don't think it would be any different without him. Just questions that lead to petty, divisive tit for tat.

Re: Reading too much political news is bad for your well-being

#33
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It would reward reporters who are honest and courageous. The incentives right now punish objectivity and reward conformity.

I won’t call some of these reporters journalists, they are more like activists. They aren’t interested in keeping society informed, they just want to push their agenda.

They're like that because that's what the current system rewards. I think that's why the user you replied to said what they did.

Re: Reading too much political news is bad for your well-being

#35

What are we supposed to read then? Politics is the current day s soap opera

I agree with this approach. However, politicians and talking heads generally lack self-irony. Many refuse to acknowledge the farce they are participating in.

Even worse, audiences have a tendency to take it all a bit too seriously.

Everyone would be better off if pundits would look into the camera and wink occasionally. Just let us know that they know we know it is all a spectacle. A little acknowledgement goes a long way here.

Re: Reading too much political news is bad for your well-being

#36

What are we supposed to read then? Politics is the current day s soap opera

You do other things to improve your life and the lives around you. This culture where everyone is compelled to be a participant in politics is relatively new, or wasn't common once civilization made small tribes obsolete.

Re: Reading too much political news is bad for your well-being

#37

Its living in a fucked up society that is bad for your well being. These fucks would rather have you stay ignorant happy and complacent. Fuck them. I wish I could jam political news down the throat of everyone that is dumb enough to say I dont give a shit about politics.

Does this approach seem like it will bring people around to your point of view? I think this sort of toxic aggression is exactly what produces the partisanship that leads to a lack of progress on all sides.

I think this article is pretty constructive. It specifically argue there’s value in being informed. And it even goes on to suggest active involvement in the community over passive consumption of news.

Re: Reading too much political news is bad for your well-being

#38
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It would reward reporters who are honest and courageous. The incentives right now punish objectivity and reward conformity.

I won’t call some of these reporters journalists, they are more like activists. They aren’t interested in keeping society informed, they just want to push their agenda.

The only worthwhile journalism is activism. Discomfort the powerful. Unfortunately it's dangerous to be too good at this, see Daphne Caruana Galizia.
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