What information channels to watch and how to reconnect?

[Alex bAlex]

I was working as a driver/labour for a scaffolding company in 2016 when I noticed that after 10 hours a day of hard working, loading and unloading the truck with materials, helping my colleagues to mount/ dismount scaffold, I was getting home and instead of having a shower and eat I was get glued on the Facebook. Sometimes for 2-3 hours even though I was scrolling on Facebook hourly or whenever I had the chance. So I took the radical solution and closed my account.   Well wasn't easy. In the beginning, you have a big fear of missing out, but I was determined and I succeed.  After about 5 months, time which I was sneak-peak for a minute or two activating my account and deactivating thereafter, I succeed to untangle myself from social media. Sure I had the Instagram account but I used very rarely. 

In time I learn to pay attention to the information intake so I was mute the radio or the TV (while visiting friends as I do not have a TV) when the advertising break was on, stop watching funny cats or "omg you won't believe" videos and stop listening to mainstream/pop music. 

It's February 2018 and at this point, I start to spend more time on Instagram, so I shut it down. All I've got is the BBC news app which I was using it often to get the daily news. But in March 2018 I decided to delete the app and free myself from news intake. I do not read newspapers or listen/watch news programs except when I am in public places and there are monitors running the breaking news!!!   

All this last till November when I installed the suggested Google News app to catch up with the world. Still using it very shallow. 

How was for 6 months without news? Quiet. Very quiet, and peaceful, no stress, no Brexit, no nothing. I was shocked when, in August I think, I saw Trump meeting Kim Jong-un news on a screen at the central bus station. I felt left behind. 

I am aware of all the shit garbage of the mass media throw at you daily and make you feel sad and guilty and worried all the time. But on the other hand, I realise that going out and socialising, talking to friends and even doing small talk with strangers you have to be connected with the latest information.

 

What are your sources of information and how to pick and choose the right ones? Is CNN a credible source or they post fake news(keep seeing Trump accusing CNN of faking news)?

  At the moment I am scrolling daily for few seconds through Google news to see the headlines but it's all about BREXIT, Trump and who got killed by who.

I noticed that The Financial Times charge you a pretty nice sum for their articles. Is that Justified? 

 

[RichardY]

All mainstream sources of news information are garbage. Occasionally, there might be something precious, in with the junk. If they are all saying it, it's probably pure garbage.

Like with a river the most salts are at the end, I like to go for the fountainhead or Spring, less people, purer, older springs being better. The media are the priests of the new world. Looking recently at 18th Century Literature, in specific "The Spectator". Can see the difference between old and new. Took one glance at the new and it's spiel and thought no.

Besides the media is totally censored, with connections to Intelligence agencies, Youtube is hardly exempt. Dr David Kelly and Diana were obvious assassinations. Shutdown of the London underground maybe a decade a go can't remember when, blamed on a power cut, was also suspicious given it runs on a separate power generator.

Yeah anyway, keeping up with the narrative can be important. I find it more like a pantomime, but instead of the kids staring intently, worrying etc "he's behind you". I'm laughing manically inside, perhaps even relishing it a bit. Except it's not a pantomime.

[universe]

1 hour ago, Alex bAlex said:

But on the other hand, I realise that going out and socialising, talking to friends and even doing small talk with strangers you have to be connected with the latest information.

I would say that is a limiting belief. There are other things more fun to talk about than for example trump or brexit. It might be useful to be on top of the news but its not a necessity.

[Alex bAlex]

@universeI agree but my question is where to find a reliable source of information?

[Harikrishnan]

Maybe ask a friend u meet, so whats the news today. U can know whats going on and how is he reacting to it.