Just What is Your News Like?

[AsianBlossom]

Mine's enough to want to flee this country. This morning alone, there were several stories of shootings, stabbings, and murders. And they wonder why Americans are so high-strung. I can't blame them though; even the mall isn't safe anymore, and I'm kind of far from Omaha.

Basically, I'm getting this from part of a documentary I saw called "Bowling for Columbine" by Michael Moore. We had to watching part of it in my social problems class, and it showed me some interesting things. Like, is it true that Canadians don't really worry about locking their doors? If so, then wow. What kind of news do you guys have in the mornings and evenings?

Anyways, I just needed to rant about how unsafe I feel in my own country. It's getting to the point where so many people down here seem to be killing so many people, because that's ALL I'm hearing about on the news. Geesh.

Anyways, thanks for listening if you did. Does anyone else here in America wish we had better news that focused on more than just how many people died or were murdered? And if you're in another country, what kind of news do you have there?

[Momo-P]

Bad news is inevitable. I'm not saying this because America is dangerous or anything, but I'm simply saying this because it's what the public wants. People fear danger, but that's exactly why we tune in. We want to know if our lives are being threatened, if we could die at any given moment. We also enjoy explosions and chaos, so it's like a bug being attracted to the light. There's no way the news stations are going to give those ratings up, bad news is just something we can't escape.

In terms of wanting better news though?...Actually yes, I probably would. I really don't watch the news to begin with (only know stuff through my parents or boyfriend), but when I do? It's always the exact same. People getting shot, people getting kidnapped, terrorists making new plans, blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.

Who the heck wants to watch that?

Though at the same time, I must admit it would be strange living in Japan. Most people know their crime rate is low, but low enough for ice cream in the mailbox to make the prime time news? Ya, I actually read something like that once. Somebody put ice cream in somebody's mailbox and not only did it make the news, but I'm pretty sure it was the nightly news too. Just...weird. ._.;;

[GeneD]

Hi. I don't live in America, but our news here is definately on the same level! I hardly ever read newspapers or listen to/watch it on the radio/TV, it just depresses me. I often vow to establish a colony on the moon to get away from it all, so if anyone's interested... But seriously, don't let it get to you too much and you can even avoid the news for a while if you have to. Also remember we have the greater advantage that we can talk to the Ruler of the Universe about it! Ask him to show you His Good News!

[ChristianKitsune]

This may sound harsh...but this world we live in isn't a land where bad things don't happen. Like Momo-P said they do happen.

And as a person who actually works on a newspaper, I gotta say, that negatively makes the news. There is a saying, "If it bleeds, it reads." and it's REALLY true. I mean we can look at the war, and see that they really only cover the negative things that happen over there, and so no wonder the war is unpopular. If all we hear is negativity, why would we think they were would be anything positive?

I watch multiple channels, that encompas Fox News, CNN, Local news, and I am even beginning to listen to some stuff from NPR and even some foreign news broadcasts.

And that shooting in Ohama was important..of course it would make the news!

Unfortunately, in our world today, there probably isn't a SAFE place for anyone to be. And wanting to give up and run away from it all won't work. Anything can happen at any time, which is why it's really important that we get The Truth out there! It's good to be proactive and not pessimistic.

Other than that, I would say, if the news bothers you, turn it off... I find it valuable, because its important to know whats goingo n in our world.

We should rely on God that he will always keep us safe, and if it's our time to die, the its our time.

And you actually believe something from Micheal Moore? The creator of Farenheit 9/11 and Sicko, Micheal Moore? ._. Why are they showing that propaganda in colleges?

[Puguni]

Why are they showing that propaganda in colleges?

You must not go to a real college, then.

[Technomancer]

Like, is it true that Canadians don't really worry about locking their doors?

In some places maybe, but definately not in most major cities or their suburbs. Granted the odds are probably such that you can get away with, since most house breakers don't go door to door checking the locks. Canadian cities may be safer on the whole, but you'll still want to lock your doors.
http://www.toronto.ca/quality_of_life/safety.htm

If so, then wow. What kind of news do you guys have in the mornings and evenings?

There's always some crime, and other sensational news, but the better broadcasters (like the CBC) don't focus on that.

Anyways, thanks for listening if you did. Does anyone else here in America wish we had better news that focused on more than just how many people died or were murdered? And if you're in another country, what kind of news do you have there?

I got to admit that having travelled in the US and watched your broadcasts here, your news services are pretty bad overall. I find they lack depth and tend to be very parochial. Personally, I prefer to read the newspapers or watch "The National" on CBC, which is an excellent newscast.
http://www.cbc.ca/national/

[beau99]

And you actually believe something from Micheal Moore? The creator of Farenheit 9/11 and Sicko, Micheal Moore? ._. Why are they showing that propaganda in colleges?

"Bowling For Columbine" and everything he did before that wasn't propaganda. It was mostly true stuff that was slightly exaggerated. And even in "Sicko", although highly exaggerated, it has some true facts in it.

[AsianBlossom]

To Technomancer: I take it you live in Canada. Cool.

I mean, we do have the ocassional happy story (or bizarre; either could make it on), but it's mostly bad news. I mean, do I want to know that my chances of walking across campus and getting shot are really high? Personally, I'd rather just have God protect me so I don't have to live in constant fear.

It's like we really shouldn't be worried about the terrorists who want to kill us, but the terrorists who do their job of scaring us to death under the sad guise known as "the news." Yes, important things we should hear about, like the Omaha shooting, but pile that with a bunch of other murders and deaths and accidents in your own area that have happened over the past few days and it can get pretty overwhelming.

BTW, I can't control what they make us watch in college, propaganda or otherwise. You just gotta weed through and believe what you want to believe. (But I did find it interesting how he went around this one suburb and started opening doors to see if they were unlocked. It was like, "Oh, I'm sorry!" XD )

[Shao Feng-Li]

Newsflash- Something blew up!

[Etoh*the*Greato]

All my news is gaming and mac news. I can custom block out all the hype and/or bad news. Sure, it's exclusivist but I don't think I'm missing much by only getting to hear part of the story.

[bakura_fan]

and that my friends is why I watch Fox news. Please no bashing of it. It just seems to be the only news channel that tells both the good and the bad.

[Technomancer]

(But I did find it interesting how he went around this one suburb and started opening doors to see if they were unlocked. It was like, "Oh, I'm sorry!" XD )

I didn't think it was that remarkable since the owners were home at the time.

It's like we really shouldn't be worried about the terrorists who want to kill us, but the terrorists who do their job of scaring us to death under the sad guise known as "the news." Yes, important things we should hear about, like the Omaha shooting, but pile that with a bunch of other murders and deaths and accidents in your own area that have happened over the past few days and it can get pretty overwhelming.

More important than these events are the "why" and the "how" questions that never seem to be meaningfully addressed by CNN and the like.

BTW, I can't control what they make us watch in college, propaganda or otherwise. You just gotta weed through and believe what you want to believe.

I think you have to be able to develop the skills to determine what is propaganda, lazy journalism and so forth. One needs a solid grounding in the factual background as well as the standards of good research in order to make that call.

[Alexander]

All my news is gaming and mac news. I can custom block out all the hype and/or bad news. Sure, it's exclusivist but I don't think I'm missing much by only getting to hear part of the story.

Add video gaming and Anime and you have me. XD

As for me, I've despised mainstream news for a long time. Mainly for the ridiculous amount of negative stories, and secondly for the usually one-sided viewpoints given on most stories. Because I know that the reporters sometimes know next to nothing about the story their reporting, it feels very shallow to me.

I've chosen to ignore news outside of my interests almost completely unless it's something of major importance.

As for safety and all these shootings, I honestly don't believe it will be any better if you go to another country. Sin exists everywhere, and yes, sadly, the moon too. XD You just have to put faith in Him. (Although I wish I could say that for myself).

[Wave]

Here's my two sence. I never watch the news (There was a shoting in Omaha Nebraska!! 0.o) I feal perfectly safe in this contry. (Amarica) For one thing I have the right to keep a loaded gun in my house, witch I do. For another thing God has taken verry good care of me. Thats enogh change for now.

wave. (no spell check)

[Stephen]

[Okami]

Our news is quite graphic....more than I can really disclose because it just disgusts me.

[mitsuki lover]

Not bad really compared to those of you who live in the Megapolises.
Yes,there are bad news and good news but in general more good than bad.No,I am not living in some fantasy land out there but if you look hard enough you will find out that there really is more good than bad news going round.The only reason why the bad news gets mentioned more is,quite frankly,it makes for more of a eye popper to say
Wild Dogs Eat 50 Babies In Park than Wild Dogs Save 50 Babies From
Starvation.
The more sensational a story the more likely people will listen and let's face it folks bad news tends to the more sensational than good news.
And speaking of the news the top story today in the Spokesman Review:
UNCHAINED ENTHUSASISM:WSU 51 GU 47.
Gotta love it when the top story is the Cougs beating up on the Zags.

[Jman]

This ladies in gentleman, is why i plan on owning a gun.

America is seemingly controlled by violence now...

[ChristianKitsune]

To Technomancer: I take it you live in Canada. Cool.

I mean, we do have the ocassional happy story (or bizarre; either could make it on), but it's mostly bad news. I mean, do I want to know that my chances of walking across campus and getting shot are really high? Personally, I'd rather just have God protect me so I don't have to live in constant fear.

Then why worry at all? :/ You can get shot, hit by a car, or die in a terrible car crash in the next 24 hours (I pray that won't happen ^^; that would be very sad) Heck, you can go outside your house and slip on some ice and die too, but are you going to be afraid to walk outside? To go drive a car? :/

XD you seem to be contradicting yourself. So don't fear for your life or fear that you will get shot. XD it's really stupid to think that. Just have faith in God, and don't worry!

It's like we really shouldn't be worried about the terrorists who want to kill us, but the terrorists who do their job of scaring us to death under the sad guise known as "the news." Yes, important things we should hear about, like the Omaha shooting, but pile that with a bunch of other murders and deaths and accidents in your own area that have happened over the past few days and it can get pretty overwhelming.

So we are supposed to live in ignorance? The news is important...without we wouldn't know what the heck was going on. Why would is the price of gas going up? Without the news, we wouldn't have any clue what was going on in the world.

for instance, it might be helpful to know if we suddenly were attacked by terrorists and the airports suddenly had to change their policy, or do what happened during 9/11.

And I wonder just how many people prayed for those involved in the attacks that summer morning 6 years ago? Because they were watching the news...

BTW, I can't control what they make us watch in college, propaganda or otherwise. You just gotta weed through and believe what you want to believe. (But I did find it interesting how he went around this one suburb and started opening doors to see if they were unlocked. It was like, "Oh, I'm sorry!" XD )

XDD I know...but don't believe everything you hear either. Colleges, themselves are also very biased.

[Dante]

I greatly dislike "the news" and view most of it as biased yellow journalism... In the words of V for Vendetta... Bullocks. That harsh critism comes on the fact that my parents watch it nightly and enforce rules and regulations of the household based on their judgement... "Mustard CAUSES cancer... no wait, mustard helps STOP cancer..." (Replace mustard with the internet, or non-sporsored car/toy/food you name it) By the way, ever notice that the news never reccomends that Americans stop watching them to go out and spend time exercising, or spend time with their families despite the fact that they gripe about it all the time? Then they could be part of the solution instead of just reporting the problem.

I'd personally suggest a tad bit of caution against anything that tells you that it is going to inform you of something vital to keeping you alive... after a commercial break... and a story about a skateboarding dog.

Frankly I have never found any bit of information given to me via the media to be truly relovent to my life, both local and especially international news. Furthermore, knowing that something bad is happening without doing anything about it disgusts me, nor do I see any means to aid in halting the activity. Praying seems like to much of a cop-out, I know that in my heart that if I really cared enough to help, I obviously would have gone and done something and taken action...

Thus I'd rather not know (even though I'll end up finding out half the time) because knowing reminds me that I'm too busy with my own life to do anything, and that just disgusts me if I'm truthful. Because what it means is that I just don't care enough to get up and leave my comfortable life to take action and do something about it. I'm not saying anyone else is like that, but I'm convinced that it is at least somewhat true for me as much I dislike it (but apparently there is not enough pain caused by it to take action otherwise... well you get the point).

Overall though, in case you were worried (at least not about the news), its unlikely that anything you see on there will effect you... your own death (God forbid it should happen any time soon) will likely be unreported save as yet another statistic. Its the things unreported and the pains ignored by society at large that scare me in the dark hours of the night, the least of which is certainly not the remaining darkness in my own soul which I fight daily with the love and patience of my lord Jesus. Its the pain of rejection from my own society, it is the dehumanization of man and woman into objects instead of souls in bodies and emotions and feelings. It is the cumulation of so many things, most of which are close to me and few are far... for I am old enough to know that I fear not death as the news and others would have us fear, for in death is God, and he's all I really wanted anyways. For somehow, even though it is strange to me, I feel that it would be better to die by anothers hand then to take the life of one who has done nothing to me, whom I see no threat from and has asked from me mercy that he claims I can give... that I should die, that is a fact of life intertwined with my action of sin, it was my choice... that I should not have mercy and not even cry out in the streets when someone that has asked for mercy is struck down by means of national decree stemmed in media hype... that is frightening.

The news though? It is nothing more then passing wind. Let it pass, and if you are going to fear something, take a look around you and at least find out what the real antagonists of your life are...

Pascal

[Danderson]

This ladies in gentleman, is why i plan on owning a gun.

America is seemingly controlled by violence now...

Pft, who needs guns when you know self-defence. But, hey, Im not much of a gun guy either (FPS is my least fav video game genre...my accuracy sucks!!! I'd rather roundhouse someone than shoot em with even something as small as a pistol...)...

But, anywhoo, as for news in my area it usually depends on which channel u turn (The ABC channel being the one that seems to look for the most juciest and graphic stories...I'd say their just losing viewers)...National news is usually worse then our local stations.....I usually watch Morning news while eating brekfast, just to see what their saying. Usually, there's always another side to their stories (especially if it's political) so I definetly do not take them at their word all the time...

But hey, we were commanded to be in the world, but NOT of it...

For me, I guess that means seeing what's going on in the world so that I know what I can do about it...and I'm too tired to explain...but hopefully u get the picture...

[Warrior4Christ]

I'm not a huge watcher of the news, but I do not get the impression of being overwhelmed by shootings/murders/stabbings from watching (or reading?) it. There are also positive/neutral stories (probably more so in the newspaper). Lately much of the media has been about the recent election.

EDIT: I mean, there's plenty of topics covered that don't involve people dying or getting injured by another person, such as politics, water, climate change,...

Also, just this morning I saw a report on the snowball trial in Colorado... I mean seriously.. going to court over a thrown snowball?? That made it to our news, probably because the ridiculous has become reality.

In general, I don't think the population here lives in fear of being shot or murdered or otherwise... (just have to be careful if you're alone at night in the city)

I've found SBS World News gives a more balanced and broad view of the news (more so than the narrow news shown on the commercial channels). Yes, there are more than 10 countries in the world!

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Worst things going on in Australia at the moment is the serious lack of water and climate change.

[mechana2015]

I generally don't watch news other than comedy news. If I listen to news it's generally NPR or BBC news on the radio, and their associated shows. Other than that I usually pick up RSS from various sites. If something strikes my eye I just independantly research it, rather than rely on the simplistic views expressed in most mainstream media outlets.

[Stephen]

This thread is just waiting for a nasty debate to pop. Sooo.....