Oh no I'm addicted!!!

[Dream of the iris]

.....to the news! I don't know why but I find this moment in history we're all living in to be the most fascinating time period since WWII. And some how I can't stop reading the news. For me its not a once a day thing for like an hour I mean I do it constantly. Like every time I'm not doing my homework I'm on the internet surfing the web for the latest news. Its rediculous and at first it was ok...in fact it was great because I was so well informed about so many important issues and every time I didn't understand something on the news such as basic economics or the no child left behind act I'd research the hell out of it. But now its starting to affect my brian. I'm processing too much information and I feel like my head is about to explode. I can't concentrate on school without thinking about the news. Every time I talk its hard to articulate my self properly so I end up coming off as a retard. I can't study, I can't talk right, and I don't even want to do anything except smoke and read up on the news. What's even worse is that I'm a history major so everything I learn comes back to current situations in the World which causes me to think and analyze the news even further. I know this sounds completely absurd that I'm addicted to such a thing but low and behold....I'm addicted to the news. I think I just need to take a few days off not read up on anything and just do what every other normal American does....party their ass off and not concentrate on what's important.

Dream of the iris Reviewed by Dream of the iris on 10-22-2008. Oh no I'm addicted!!! .....to the news! I don't know why but I find this moment in history we're all living in to be the most fascinating time period since WWII. And some how I can't stop reading the news. For me its not a once a day thing for like an hour I mean I do it constantly. Like every time I'm not doing my homework I'm on the internet surfing the web for the latest news. Its rediculous and at first it was ok...in fact it was great because I was so well informed about so many important issues and every Rating: 5

[Revanche21]

history is very long, you should try looking beyond the last century or so AMAZING stuff

read about romans interesting stuff!

Yea me too, too much reading current events, not doing hw. I fail haha.

[Coelho]

Well... i think you should take a "vacation" at an isolated place, where you HAD to stay away from TVs, newspapers, internet and whatever, so you could remember that its possible to live (rather well) without any news. (In fact, news are more harmful than beneficial to us... your addiction shows it very well...)

Also, i would strongly recommend you to read a book called "The Black Swan" by Nassim Taleb. The book talks about the so-called black swans, events completly unforeseen and that causes heavy (and unpredicted) consequences. After reading it you would re-think the way you see the news, and their uselessness to understand (or try to predict) the future (or even the present). The chaos is the only rule, man... This book can be found in PDF at scribd.com... or if you want a copy in TXT, email me. :thumbsup:

[jimmy8778]

dude, i suffer from the same problem as you do. What i do now is i completely ignore the news. I had become so good at paying attention to the news that i stopped, and i was still on the same level as everyone else, just by seeing the snippets, and watching or reading ever once in a while. Believe it or not, you really pick up on a lot of things if you know how to pay attention to them right. And i found that not paying any attention made me a complete idiot. and that paying too much attention made me a bumbling stuttering idiot. so i watch the headlines and read an article or two every now and again, find an issue and decide which side i support, then read a few key facts about the subject, then its debate it from there. just know the topic, you will be able to formulate your own opinions about main topics just from those, and so long as you can support them you are wiser than most.

[flyingimam]

I agree with "vacation" idea. I moved and somehow had my pc fucked up during the process so I kinda got a hint from karma that its time to take a break and since i dont watch tv much or use radio or papers anymore, I was really relaxed and focused on my school for the past couple of weeks and I could not help but to hear certain things that are wildly out there in everyone's conversations, but overall since i have taken this break, i've been feeling a lil better and would like to keep my recent moderation sustainable on this information bombardment addiction that i used to have!

[dragonrider]

I think I just need to take a few days off not read up on anything and just do what every other normal American does.

My, God! Don't do that! You might MISS something!

But now its starting to affect my brian.

Who is Brian? How has your news addiction affected Brian? Have you talked to Brian about how he feels?


But seriously... I have the same problem. I seem to go through periods where my life loses all perspective and I get FASCINATED with the news. And the same thing has happened to me with posting on this site -- I spend way too much time and neglect other things I should be doing. And lately the two things have formed a certain kind of "Perfect Storm" where there is so much going on right now politically that I can't tear myself away from the news, and the rest of the time I spend posting about politics and current events on this site! I know it is way out of hand, and I should take a break, but I can't do it right now. I tell myself that after the election, I will cool it and focus on other things. I have 2 more solid weeks of news obsession ahead of me.

One of the illusions that comes from watching news is that by being informed, you are somehow DOING something about the thing you are monitoring. Being informed and having opinions is great, but it doesn't actually accomplish anything. When you start to lose perspective and obsess so much about something in the news, it helps you to step back when you realize that unless you are actually going to do something about it, the situatiom will preceed in exactly the same way whether or not you watch it live very minute of the day. The world will get by without you monitoring it, and it might be good for your sanity to take a break now and then.

Now, excuse me. I have some news to watch...

[Coelho]

One of the illusions that comes from watching news is that by being informed, you are somehow DOING something about the thing you are monitoring. Being informed and having opinions is great, but it doesn't actually accomplish anything. When you start to lose perspective and obsess so much about something in the news, it helps you to step back when you realize that unless you are actually going to do something about it, the situatiom will preceed in exactly the same way whether or not you watch it live very minute of the day. The world will get by without you monitoring it, and it might be good for your sanity to take a break now and then.

There is so much wisdom in this words... but its a pity so few people understands it...
Thats exactly the reason because i dont give a damn about the news.

[Aristotle]

I say smoke a blunt and just stick to CNN for a coupla days.

[MadSativa]

It is a very exciting time we live in now, but most chose not to see it. We are so close to a new world order, and a new way of life that at times I am anxious just to see what is to happen. Also it seems alot more people are opening thir eyes, and seening those that have power should not have it, and deseptions are forced to change their tune, making them exposed and visable, just have to open your eyes. Mcain, Obama, Bush, ....None of them have the answers, they just play a pretty tune and all the mice will be lead to the same place as before. Problem is we are all mice making us all prey, at what pointdo the mice fiuger out the piper works for the cats and other predators.

I think Regan said it best back in the day

YouTube - Regan's ALIEN speech to UN

Funny thing is most people in that room knew what he was talking about, and the rest are now saying the same thing. Gorbechef was one of the first to poke funn at him for saying what he said. And years later gorbechef was thrown out for saying the same thing. Seems some one got a wiff of reality and it was more important than his personal belifes. Either way, the war machin is still strong on earth, and still very week 120 miles above us.

[WhiskeyTango]

Well... i think you should take a "vacation" at an isolated place, where you HAD to stay away from TVs, newspapers, internet and whatever, so you could remember that its possible to live (rather well) without any news. (In fact, news are more harmful than beneficial to us... your addiction shows it very well...)

Also, i would strongly recommend you to read a book called "The Black Swan" by Nassim Taleb. The book talks about the so-called black swans, events completly unforeseen and that causes heavy (and unpredicted) consequences. After reading it you would re-think the way you see the news, and their uselessness to understand (or try to predict) the future (or even the present). The chaos is the only rule, man... This book can be found in PDF at scribd.com... or if you want a copy in TXT, email me. :thumbsup:

Well said!!!