balancing media intake

[Sideways]

We have never had such high stakes as we do at the moment.

This is one of the common cognitive distortions in this space.

Because yes, absolutely there are a long list of things that are pretty dire.

But, objectively, I don’t need to go too far back in history to know that, actually, the stakes have been higher in the past. Much higher.

For example, I go back to the Cuban missile crisis (within living memory for lots of folks), and I can immediately see that yep, the stakes for Americans were definitely higher while that nightmare was taking place!

‘Things are worse than ever’ is a common misconception perpetuated by media and made infinitely worse with some mental illnesses, ptsd included. And worse, it fills our stress cup when we really don’t have the space in our stress cup.

And for those of us (me!) who are particularly susceptible to that, that’s why being over-cautious about media consumption is even more important than it is for regular folks.

 

[arfie]

I wish I could be a lot more apathetic than I am. But I can't, so permanent news blackout it is.

yeah, i had to do similarwise when the covidic madness upstaged the grievous process of burying my son and inheriting his 3 orphans. fully justified and i still stand by the decision. still. . . fast forward to 2024 and i was unspeakably chagrined when i had to ask who kamala harris is. balance in all things.

does it count as good news that the oldest of those three orphans made first chair in his school's french horn section last week? he even gave me permission to call him, "a lead hornist." i think he even likes the coinage.

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

does it count as good news that the oldest of those three orphans made first chair in his school's french horn section last week? he even gave me permission to call him, "a lead hornist." i think he even likes the coinage.

Yes, I very much think that counts as good news. It might not be reported in the official news channels, but it's the kind of good news that I like to focus on.

I find myself diving way to deep into news stories. I tend to wait until I hear a topic that concerns me and then search that topic.

My oldest son is constantly baraging me with political topics and I have had to ask him to stop at times. He thought it was because I disagreed or was (in teen language) trying to take away his freedom of speech. I had to tell him that it gave me too much anxiety.

 

[whiteraven]

how do you know if your media intake is well balanced?

Oh, this is something I'm really dealing with right now. If I can watch the news or view social media and I don't get upset or angry or anxious to the point where I can't let it go, then I am successfully balancing my media intake.

Haven't been there for quite some time, though, so...