Liverpool parade car incident

[briantrumpet]

The BBC has once again disappeared up it's own a*se reporting the incident. Endless repetition and blather. Almost like they're trying to prove they're taking it seriously because the report lasted 25 minutes or more.

I think that's the pernicious problem with TV news generally... they've got time to fill, they focus on whatever they think is going to get and keep the most viewers, so it's 24-hour The Day Today.

I genuinely think the world would be a better place without TV news and no punditry generally. My general POV is if I am unable to do anything in response to news, they I don't need to know it. And I certainly don't need it pumped into my brain 24 hours a day.

 

[BoldonLad]

I think that's the pernicious problem with TV news generally... they've got time to fill, they focus on whatever they think is going to get and keep the most viewers, so it's 24-hour The Day Today.

I genuinely think the world would be a better place without TV news and no punditry generally. My general POV is if I am unable to do anything in response to news, they I don't need to know it. And I certainly don't need it pumped into my brain 24 hours a day.

Depending on how effective you expect "doing anything about it" to be, wouldn't that exclude (at a guess) 99% of news coverage?

 

[Pblakeney]

Depending on how effective you expect "doing anything about it" to be, wouldn't that exclude (at a guess) 99% of news coverage?

You should try it. I once went an entire summer avoiding the news completely (press, TV & radio. No internet) and it was bliss. It's hard to cut the cord but really, does simply knowing stuff you cannot do anything about make a significant impact on your life? Apart from misery.

 

[briantrumpet]

You should try it. I once went an entire summer avoiding the news completely (press, TV & radio. No internet) and it was bliss. It's hard to cut the cord but really, does simply knowing stuff you cannot do anything about make a significant impact on your life? Apart from misery.

This. It's an addiction, fostered by the people who need your views/clicks. A soap opera of misery.

 

[matticus]

Depending on how effective you expect "doing anything about it" to be, wouldn't that exclude (at a guess) 99% of news coverage?

Elections?

 

[BoldonLad]

Elections?

That is why I said "depending how effective", there is little one member of the public can do about most things, even your vote has little effect, unless you live in a marginal with a majority of 1, and, even then, perhaps the opposition does not intend doing what you think should be done.

 

[secretsqirrel]

TBF if you are consuming 24 hour news you get what you deserve. Its a bit like complaining about an all you can eat buffet has the same menu half hour after your previous visit.

As for not being able to do anything about it, yes it can get depressing. But, as one geezer on Youtube once said on the outbreak of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there is nothing you can do so don’t worry, if all you can do is contribute a few dollars in aid then do that.

 

[matticus]

That is why I said "depending how effective", there is little one member of the public can do about most things, even your vote has little effect, unless you live in a marginal with a majority of 1, and, even then, perhaps the opposition does not intend doing what you think should be done.

So you don't think voting is important?

 

[BoldonLad]

So you don't think voting is important?

I didn't say that, but, a single vote does not change Government policy, as we have seen with Reform/Labour it takes a "swing" of opinion.

Vociforous individuals/groups may have slightly more effect, by badgering their MP, or, if the have the means, "Lobbying", but, individuals have little scope for such action. Exceptions do happen, but, they are rare.

Between Elections, the guide to this is opinion polls, and, again IMHO, the value/accurancy of them is questionable.

 

[matticus]

Depending on how effective you expect "doing anything about it" to be, wouldn't that exclude (at a guess) 99% of news coverage?

<going back a few steps, sorry!> My main point on this:

If we agree that voting is important, then I think you maximise the effectiveness of your vote by being aware of current affairs. As far as possible.

[Yes, it's often quite dull - even depressing - and I mostly prioritise other time sinks in my life, but at the same time i do think it's important!]

 

[Pblakeney]

<going back a few steps, sorry!> My main point on this:

If we agree that voting is important, then I think you maximise the effectiveness of your vote by being aware of current affairs. As far as possible.

[Yes, it's often quite dull - even depressing - and I mostly prioritise other time sinks in my life, but at the same time i do think it's important!]

Electioneering is all bollocks though. The incumbent lot say "trust us we'll fix it" and the opposition promises unicorns.
Best you can do is judge the current lot by how good or bad your current life is and pick them or cross your fingers and hope for the best with the opposition. Most people know how good or bad their current life is without having to be told.

 

[briantrumpet]

Electioneering is all bollocks though. The incumbent lot say "trust us we'll fix it" and the opposition promises unicorns.
Best you can do is judge the current lot by how good or bad your current life is and pick them or cross your fingers and hope for the best with the opposition. Most people know how good or bad their current life is without having to be told.

I think there's a balance to be aimed for: most of the stuff politicians come out with, especially at election time is, as you say, testicles, and can be largely ignored.

That said, you need to have a general idea of competence, general honesty (outside of the election guff), which you'll only know if you've at least had some awareness of past history (e.g. Corbyn/Starmer, Farage, Tories from Johnson onwards). Part of the problem with Trump is from mahoosive ignorance on those fronts.

But how best to get the essential info is a can of worms... 24-hour TV news is possibly the worst way to get it though. Or Facebook. Or Twitter.

Maybe a once-a-month summary would be ample. Most of the rest of the news is just gory-&-gloom 'entertainment', which was punctured so brilliantly by The Day Today.

 

[Ian H]

I think there's a balance to be aimed for: most of the stuff politicians come out with, especially at election time is, as you say, testicles, and can be largely ignored.

That said, you need to have a general idea of competence, general honesty (outside of the election guff), which you'll only know if you've at least had some awareness of past history (e.g. Corbyn/Starmer, Farage, Tories from Johnson onwards). Part of the problem with Trump is from mahoosive ignorance on those fronts.

But how best to get the essential info is a can of worms... 24-hour TV news is possibly the worst way to get it though. Or Facebook. Or Twitter.

Maybe a once-a-month summary would be ample. Most of the rest of the news is just gory-&-gloom 'entertainment', which was punctured so brilliantly by The Day Today.

Part of the trouble is that news programmes now have to attract viewers in the same way that entertainment programmes do.

 

[AuroraSaab]

Sky News UK continues to lose money so look likely to be the first to bite the dust.

 

[Psamathe]

The BBC has once again disappeared up it's own a*se reporting the incident. Endless repetition and blather. Almost like they're trying to prove they're taking it seriously because the report lasted 25 minutes or more.

It's a widespread aspect that often strikes me as daft and BBC are particularly bad. Broadcasters seem to think that the sign ificance of an event should determine airtime alloted to it, even if there is actually very little to say about it. So they end-up with. endless repetition, sometimes attempting to hide it by getting different reporters on different street corners to say the same thing.

Of course significant events should get prominent coverage but balanced by what there is to report on the issue.

Ian