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Negativity drives online news consumption

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Re: Negativity drives online news consumption

#191

Post by Dalewyn »

paulmd wrote: post #151
claytongulick wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

State sponsored media generally hasn't worked out too well.

BBC is one of the best news sources around. For a long time, Al Jazeera was great on anything that didn't directly impact Qatari domestic politics. PBS is pretty fantastic overall and serves a lot of niches that aren't served by commercialized media and really shouldn't be . Like yes if you set out to make a state-sponsored propaganda agency then that's what you get (see: Voice of America, etc), but state sponsorship…

>BBC is one of the best news sources around.

If I was drinking coffee my monitor and keyboard and mouse and desk would be ruined right now.

Re: Negativity drives online news consumption

#192

Post by wil421 »

bpm140 wrote: post #186

About a year ago, I stopped consuming news cold turkey (save technology and movie news [the former work-necessary and the latter a personal vice]). I took the extra step of banning Twitter and Memeorandum at the router level, so that I couldn't revert easily. I didn't read a single political news story in the ensuing six months. Some of the happiest months of my life. These days I will read the section headlines on M…

I like to watch my favorite local news station. They have a lot of minor stories that never make the National media. Although there are local issues like murders, thefts, and controversial topics. It’s still a huge downgrade from the rage inducing large outlets.

Re: Negativity drives online news consumption

#193

Post by siva7 »

Dalewyn wrote: post #188
bpm140 wrote: post #186

About a year ago, I stopped consuming news cold turkey (save technology and movie news [the former work-necessary and the latter a personal vice]). I took the extra step of banning Twitter and Memeorandum at the router level, so that I couldn't revert easily. I didn't read a single political news story in the ensuing six months. Some of the happiest months of my life. These days I will read the section headlines on M…

One of the most common bit of wisdom I've heard from older folks is to ignore the news. Don't read the newspaper, don't watch TV news, don't listen to radio news, etc.; they all say nothing in them is worth our time. It's among the most useful piece of advice I've ever had.

Very true but does HN count? Would you be happier without your daily influx of GPT news and tech layoffs?

Re: Negativity drives online news consumption

#194

Post by Dalewyn »

throw__away7391 wrote: post #140
nonethewiser wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's interesting. I'm not sure what you point is. I think it reinforces my point that news in the past wasn't necessarily more informative. I'm not really sure though.

That it has never lived up to being the bastion of truth and democracy it's sometimes made out to be, it has always been about getting eyeballs and selling ads. These examples are more "sensational" than negative, but it is essentially the same idea.

>it has always been about getting eyeballs and selling ads.

And setting the record straight, where "straight" is whatever the powers-that-be want.

We even have an age old saying for this: History is written by the victors.

Historical records, and by extension journalism, have never been concerned about recording the facts. They have always been concerned only about defining the narratives and truths for the powers of the time.

Re: Negativity drives online news consumption

#195

Post by RockRobotRock »

siva7 wrote: post #193
Dalewyn wrote: post #188

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of the most common bit of wisdom I've heard from older folks is to ignore the news. Don't read the newspaper, don't watch TV news, don't listen to radio news, etc.; they all say nothing in them is worth our time. It's among the most useful piece of advice I've ever had.

Very true but does HN count? Would you be happier without your daily influx of GPT news and tech layoffs?

HN definitely counts

Re: Negativity drives online news consumption

#196

Post by LoganDark »

Dalewyn wrote: post #188
bpm140 wrote: post #186

About a year ago, I stopped consuming news cold turkey (save technology and movie news [the former work-necessary and the latter a personal vice]). I took the extra step of banning Twitter and Memeorandum at the router level, so that I couldn't revert easily. I didn't read a single political news story in the ensuing six months. Some of the happiest months of my life. These days I will read the section headlines on M…

One of the most common bit of wisdom I've heard from older folks is to ignore the news. Don't read the newspaper, don't watch TV news, don't listen to radio news, etc.; they all say nothing in them is worth our time. It's among the most useful piece of advice I've ever had.

Going too far in the other direction can be pretty annoying, too, though.

I'm autistic and vehemently ignore and reject most pieces of news, especially political, and that causes tons of terrible things to happen whenever some sort of spoiler gets out and I happen to see it.

It's like I'm proud of my great ignorance and having that threatened with mere knowledge sends me into a panic of some sort.

It's not just news. If I say "I don't know what that is lol" to someone, 9 times out of 10 their default response to tell me what it is (if it is some cultural/media thing) is the complete opposite of what I want, which is usually just for the other person to move on without telling.

Knowing things can't be undone, so I strive not to know most things, apparently.

Re: Negativity drives online news consumption

#197

Post by Dalewyn »

siva7 wrote: post #193
Dalewyn wrote: post #188

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of the most common bit of wisdom I've heard from older folks is to ignore the news. Don't read the newspaper, don't watch TV news, don't listen to radio news, etc.; they all say nothing in them is worth our time. It's among the most useful piece of advice I've ever had.

Very true but does HN count? Would you be happier without your daily influx of GPT news and tech layoffs?

Yup. I ignore 99% of the threads that come by here, and I wish I could do that without bothering to read the clickbaity (and generally sensationally false) headlines.

Re: Negativity drives online news consumption

#198

Post by wil421 »

t12hrow wrote: post #139
ar-nelson wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The way I see it, news serves three purposes: --- 1. To let you know about local or world events that could affect you and those close to you. 2. To let you know about world events that affect others far away, in order to judge the effectiveness of political decisions and the necessity of future political decisions. 3. As a form of entertainment derived from the ongoing story of world history (or celebrity gossip, or…

> perhaps government-funded I suggest the opposite. I'd like a proof that there is no government involvement. Believe it or not, I think the closest to this is ideal is 4chan /pol/. It's not backed by any major corporation (unlike HN which is backed by Y Combinator), it's not partly owned by Tencent/China (unlike Reddit), and so on. There's no algorithm, there's no karma, there's no blue badge, it barely scrapes by u…

4chan is a sick community where mental illness is coveted. You are correct about the 90s and finding true niche communities you could hang with, sharing ideas and ideology like the BBS days. Today is very different and the amount of brain washing put forth by anti-America bots and propaganda/make a buck machines is ridiculous.

The reality these places are pushing, including HN, is out of touch with society. Even the European stuff is so out of touch I get crazy looks and responses when I’ve asked people (Europeans) about them.

Re: Negativity drives online news consumption

#199

Post by uncletammy »

wil421 wrote: post #192
bpm140 wrote: post #186

About a year ago, I stopped consuming news cold turkey (save technology and movie news [the former work-necessary and the latter a personal vice]). I took the extra step of banning Twitter and Memeorandum at the router level, so that I couldn't revert easily. I didn't read a single political news story in the ensuing six months. Some of the happiest months of my life. These days I will read the section headlines on M…

I like to watch my favorite local news station. They have a lot of minor stories that never make the National media. Although there are local issues like murders, thefts, and controversial topics. It’s still a huge downgrade from the rage inducing large outlets.

I expect youre being downvoted for the same reasons I felt the need to reply. I'm skeptical that any "local" news station is able to give you useful content without also pushing strong partisian agendas.

What station is it? Asking with an open heart and mind. I would love it if such a thing exists in this day and age.

Re: Negativity drives online news consumption

#200

Post by wil421 »

uncletammy wrote: post #199
wil421 wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like to watch my favorite local news station. They have a lot of minor stories that never make the National media. Although there are local issues like murders, thefts, and controversial topics. It’s still a huge downgrade from the rage inducing large outlets.

I expect youre being downvoted for the same reasons I felt the need to reply. I'm skeptical that any "local" news station is able to give you useful content without also pushing strong partisian agendas. What station is it? Asking with an open heart and mind. I would love it if such a thing exists in this day and age.

Hesitant to give out my location but I guess if you combed my comment history someone could find out.

I like WSB-TV and the early morning broadcast only. Lots of local news less the 5 o’clock prime time breaking news type stuff. Perhaps the key is picking the right time of day.

I also pay for PBS/GPB but I am someone who can filter out partisan topics and welcome both liberal and conservative discussions. At the end of the day I make my own conclusions and I’m not afraid to break party lines.

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