News is bad for you • Hacker News Board

Re: News is bad for you

#51

Post by untog » Thu, Dec 12, 2013, 2:50 PM UTC

AlexandrB wrote: post #43

admstockdale wrote: post #11

This is a rather ignorant stance to take. I know a lot of people don't like the doom & gloom of news. But it's needed. I recently discussed with someone who doesn't consume news about the NSA revelations. They were shocked. They said "why didn't anyone tell me?" Instead of blocking things out and being happy with our ignorance, we need to change how news is done. If you whine about something, change it. The Guardian…

> I know a lot of people don't like the doom & gloom of news. But it's needed. I recently discussed with someone who doesn't consume news about the NSA revelations. They were shocked. They said "why didn't anyone tell me?" So I've been following the NSA news closely. But I'm not American! What actionable information has following the minute of the NSA revelations provided me? I can't influence the US government in an…

What actionable information has following the minute of the NSA revelations provided me?

Encrypt your data better, perhaps. But that's kind of besides the point - are you suggesting that there is no point knowing about things you have no control over?

Re: News is bad for you

#52

Post by JeffJenkins » Thu, Dec 12, 2013, 2:51 PM UTC

furyg3 wrote: post #37

JeffJenkins wrote: post #8

For anyone who isn't ready to completely turn off the news spigot, consider switching to a weekly (or monthly) source of news. I get all of my (non-HN) news from The Economist's audio edition. It's released weekly and they have a section right at the start about big things happening in business/politics around the world in the last week. It's no more than a couple minutes to scan, and 10-20 in normal speed audio. The…

Is this only a soundcloud thing or is this available somewhere as an (offline) podcast? Soundcloud link: http://l.economist.com/204894&t=v1g49i1qmlsq6a25ld8r6j8u40

You have to be a subscriber, and then it's available on their website: http://www.economist.com/audio-edition

If you just want to read The World This Week it's available online for free: http://www.economist.com/printedition/

Re: News is bad for you

#53

Post by aaronem » Thu, Dec 12, 2013, 2:52 PM UTC

Aqueous wrote: post #44

If knowing the reality of what happens in the world leads to fear and aggression then perhaps we should be angry and afraid? We can't just shut reality out if we don't like the emotional state it puts us in.

If there's something one may usefully do, and which one would not have otherwise recognized, about whatever it is that's producing those emotions, then sure, you've got a point. But I don't think what's under discussion here would be such a universally recognized experience, were that the case. And if you're already doing whatever you can, or if there's nothing you can do, then why keep abusing yourself with constant exposure?

Re: News is bad for you

#54

Post by smtddr » Thu, Dec 12, 2013, 2:53 PM UTC

furyg3 wrote: post #37

JeffJenkins wrote: post #8

For anyone who isn't ready to completely turn off the news spigot, consider switching to a weekly (or monthly) source of news. I get all of my (non-HN) news from The Economist's audio edition. It's released weekly and they have a section right at the start about big things happening in business/politics around the world in the last week. It's no more than a couple minutes to scan, and 10-20 in normal speed audio. The…

Is this only a soundcloud thing or is this available somewhere as an (offline) podcast? Soundcloud link: http://l.economist.com/204894&t=v1g49i1qmlsq6a25ld8r6j8u40

FWIW, I think all soundcloud stuff have download options. http://i.imgur.com/DzaoYSK.png

Re: News is bad for you

#55

Post by base698 » Thu, Dec 12, 2013, 2:53 PM UTC

oskarth wrote: post #20

While I agree with the sentiment, Rolf Dobelli himself is a plagiarist. This whole reasoning is basically stolen from Nassim Taleb. http://fooledbyrandomness.com/dobelli.htm http://blog.chabris.com/2013/09/similarities-between-rolf-do... EDIT: For another take on not reading the news, see http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/hatethenews

So? It's a summary article with the high level points easy digestible by current news addicts. It's A lot easier to get someone to read this article than Fooled by Randomness.

Re: News is bad for you

#56

Post by aaronem » Thu, Dec 12, 2013, 2:55 PM UTC

admstockdale wrote: post #11

This is a rather ignorant stance to take. I know a lot of people don't like the doom & gloom of news. But it's needed. I recently discussed with someone who doesn't consume news about the NSA revelations. They were shocked. They said "why didn't anyone tell me?" Instead of blocking things out and being happy with our ignorance, we need to change how news is done. If you whine about something, change it. The Guardian…

The Guardian is the dynamic. Either it's working out well enough to suit them, or the institution has grown too sclerotic with age to behave other than how it does.

Re: News is bad for you

#57

Post by etfb » Thu, Dec 12, 2013, 2:55 PM UTC

iambateman wrote: post #18

The irony of reading this article on a news website. My man Rolf became a journalist, worked his way up to the Guardian, and wrote a story about how busted up news is. I look forward to the similar press release from Jony Ive telling us to stop using those blasted iPads.

One could argue that it's not news, so it's not ironic.

Re: News is bad for you

#58

Post by jweir » Thu, Dec 12, 2013, 2:56 PM UTC

oskarth wrote: post #20

While I agree with the sentiment, Rolf Dobelli himself is a plagiarist. This whole reasoning is basically stolen from Nassim Taleb. http://fooledbyrandomness.com/dobelli.htm http://blog.chabris.com/2013/09/similarities-between-rolf-do... EDIT: For another take on not reading the news, see http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/hatethenews

He mentions Taleb in the article, and is it Taleb who came up with the idea that news is bad?

Re: News is bad for you

#59

Post by normloman » Thu, Dec 12, 2013, 2:56 PM UTC

admstockdale wrote: post #11

This is a rather ignorant stance to take. I know a lot of people don't like the doom & gloom of news. But it's needed. I recently discussed with someone who doesn't consume news about the NSA revelations. They were shocked. They said "why didn't anyone tell me?" Instead of blocking things out and being happy with our ignorance, we need to change how news is done. If you whine about something, change it. The Guardian…

I'm willing to wager many people who do consume news don't know about the NSA revelations, or don't care, because they're too busy reading about the tragic vehicular manslaughter of an attractive teenage white girl who lives 1000 miles away, or about this one weird old trick for increasing productivity at the office, or about the 10 new indie releases you should be listening to right now.

Junk news can cause as much ignorance as no-news. And we have to concede that most of the news we read is junk, especially what you find on Hacker News.

But I agree that a self-imposed news fast is silly. If we didn't get news, we'd be blind to the NSA's betrayal, among other things. So lets keep consuming news. But we need to consume far less news. Far better news. A small amount of high-quality reporting, as opposed to the usual firehose of bullshit.

Re: News is bad for you

#60

Post by normloman » Thu, Dec 12, 2013, 2:57 PM UTC

LionRoar wrote: post #42

mnw21cam wrote: post #4

http://xkcd.com/1299/ I grew up without a television - deliberate choice. My friends couldn't believe how much cool stuff I could get done because of this.

I grew also up without a television. That was no deliberate choice, my parents are orthodox christians. I was very creative in that period and I kinda miss that now :)

So return to that period by giving up the tv again.