What is going on in this world?

[bestmickey]

What the he(doublehockeysticks) is going on in this world today? Another woman's belly is cut open and her baby stolen from her body. Another child dies because he's been locked in the car while his mother spends 3 or 4 hours in the nail salon getting prettied for her wedding that same day.

It's getting to the point that I'm thinking about not looking at any more news stories. If I can't control it, I feel I want to just ignore it. Leads to a much happier existence!

[graciegirl]

You know BestMickey. I agree with you. I am getting so that I just turn the news off and watch HGTV. I can't do anything much about it and I get so upset. I don't smoke anymore or drink anymore and I guess at one time I would have used both for my crutch. I concentrate on my family and my grandchildren and my friends, both the ones in Ohio and the new ones in TV.(Some of whom I have even met! lol) and what good genuine people they are. I never dreamed that I would do this, but I become so worried and saddened sometimes by the news.

[bestmickey]

:agree: HGTV is my fav!

[nONIE]

I soooooo agree with both of you. I hate to be an ostrich and bury my head in the sand but listening to the news can have a subliminal effect on your nervous system. And sometimes not so subtle. People seem to be so on edge these days and a lot of anger brewing. I wouldnt be a bit surprised if hearing all the awful things going on in the world is playing a big part in our attitudes.

I really think Im a much happier person staying in lala land, We still hear about many terrible things but watching it on Television on a daily basis is totally nervewracking. Mabe we should all try to focus more on the wonderful things in our lives and in the world and Im sure we all have many blessings in our lives to be thankful for. Its definitely got to be more advantageous to our well being to concentrate on them.

[Sidney Lanier]

We have to let go of things that we have no control over, including bizarre and horrific 'news' stories--and I too can't figure why things like this constitute 'news.' Nonie is right: Focus on--and to the extent we can, create--the positives in our lives, and be grateful for what we do have. Just do the next right thing today....

[ConeyIsBabe]

What's going on is the same old stuff that's been happening forever....... mental illness, evil people, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, more mental illness and more drugs, everywhere!

I'd love to hide-out with y'all in TV but we have to face the real world sometime :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

Agreeing with Sidney .

[nONIE]

Coney,

:agree: with you on all points but doesnt it seem like there's a lot more of it today and the crimes are much more serious, or is it that we have alot more knowledge of everything thru media and it just seems like more?

Personally I prefer to hide out in TV, much better for mental stability, but I think its just a matter of time before more crime starts taking place in the Villages. I will stall the inevitable as long as I can by hiding out!

Signed, chicken livered scardy cat!

[ConeyIsBabe]

Nonie, I think you have stated correctly that we are more aware of these horrible crimes because of mass-media.

I grew up in The Projects of Brooklyn, surrounded by "danger" and learned my street-smarts. When I lived in Miami-Dade County, Florida I stayed in my upscale community most of the time, but surrounded by "danger". We had the BEST police department and the least amount of crime in the county.

The local Miami television station would report on a daily basis all the gory details of finding body parts, ETC. and the crimes against tourists and residents.

I guess TV might be my last place to hide-out from the real world; but as its population increases, I ....... :dontknow: :dontknow: :dontknow: :dontknow:

As long as there are people in the world, nothing will change :'(.

[Boomer]

What the he(doublehockeysticks) is going on in this world today? Another woman's belly is cut open and her baby stolen from her body. Another child dies because he's been locked in the car while his mother spends 3 or 4 hours in the nail salon getting prettied for her wedding that same day.

It's getting to the point that I'm thinking about not looking at any more news stories. If I can't control it, I feel I want to just ignore it. Leads to a much happier existence!


bestmickey,

At the risk of sounding way too much like my alter ego, Lucy from "Peanuts" with her little booth and her Advice 5 cents sign, I completely understand what you are saying.

When I was still working I actually put a lunchtime buddy on a news moratorium. Each day she was arriving at lunch wanting to talk about all the things from the horrors that are on the news. I could see her anxiety was rising by the day.

I felt so bad for her, but it was also driving people away from our usual let-down-our-hair lunches.

Finally, I said, "Lunchtime Buddy, I have known you for a long time. You are my friend. This is really getting to you. The media is everywhere and we are far too informed. It is a screen on every wall like in Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451." That is the temperature at which paper burns. In the novel books are burned and the goal of every family is to have a television screen on each of 4 walls in their living rooms. The characters in the book were constantly surrounded by the media."

I continued, "Lunchtime Buddy, please try to not watch any news for two weeks and see how you feel."

Lunchtime Buddy actually took my 5 cents advice and felt better.

We cannot fix this stuff. So much of it is truly hellish. My advice to Lunchtime Buddy was a few years ago. The screens now leave our homes and go with us everywhere.

If anyone here is interested in remembering about "Fahrenheit 451" that was originally published in 1953, just google around until you find the summary and read it on your personal screen. How ironic is that? And the book is called science fiction.

Anyway, that's my Advice 5 cents for today.

bestmickey, you say that you are thinking of putting yourself on a news moratorium. It worked for Lunchtime Buddy. And we got back to having a little fun conversation at lunch, too. I wish you the best. It's not easy. I know.

Boomer Lucy

[tkret]

Perhaps the media has conditioned us to look for the evil around us. In my neighborhood the town has seen fit to tear up an older playground and next week will be installing new equipment for the children. Unable to complete the work last Friday, the contractors put up yellow caution tape completely around the area the size of a baseball field infield. Well, of course, that didn't last long before some juveniles pulled the tape down for no good reason. On Saturday, I witnessed some teens picking it up and returning it to the original location. There is waaaayyy more acts of charity and benevolence taking place but the news media believes the public is not interested in that. H-mmmmm makes me wonder if a news program about good works would be accepted or is the news media right about that one.

I think that's why I like to view VNN's "Minute by Minute" on the web until I can get to TV and watch it on television. The sale of my house closes in a couple of weeks. I'll be living temporarily in a short-term rental and then moving to Happyland in a few months.
Would someone be kind enough to save me a seat at Crisper's? I promise not to spill anything!

Gene

[swrinfla]

For some unfathomable reason, I am a late-news junkey. When my favorite tv shows are into summer repeats, I find myself sitting in my comfy chair watching the 10 o'clock news and wondering whether anything good, happy, enlightening, gratifying, etc., has happened today, this week, this month, ths year?

I've never really understood the immense impact that the network newscasters seem to have, when their programs are airing when most of the "normal" world is probably sitting in traffic anxiously waiting to get home. I wish that these shows were on at 10pm or 11pm, as I'd feel much more entertained and informed.

When I came to TV, I was at first appalled at the lack of "national" or "international" news on the late programs. Now, I just assume that I'll find out all there is to know about murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, in the Orlando area!

I call it sad!

SWR

[Sidney Lanier]

Nonie: There isn't more of this stuff nowadays; in fact, with the elimination of asylums and poor houses and the degree of abject poverty that used to exist (well, I'm referring at least in our country...), there may actually be less of it. However, nowadays it's more 'in your face.'

After literally decades of many of us working on building a library in our little town in the Mid-Hudson Valley, it's finally well under way, much to the joy of most everyone here, and it's gorgeous! But last week's local paper had a page 1 article leading into a full page inside the paper on the new library's nearest neighbors--two houses--the occupants of which are whining and fussing and even threatening vandalism (for which the police were called...) because they've lost free use of town-owned land and the view on the other side of the new library building. Why is the attention given to two pairs of negative naysayers when most everyone else in town is thrilled? This is what the media decide we want....

I remember during the Serbian war back in the '90s when a mortar shell landed and exploded in the middle of an open market, killing about 55 people. Almost immediately, there was a reporter sticking his mike in the face of a man, stunned and shocked, with blood running down his head, asking him questions not just about the bombing but also the man's views on the war, society, and for all I remember the price of beans (...), and his answering--in English yet!

Do we really need this blow-by-blow? No. But apparently enough people find value in it that it pays. Maybe they have empty lives? Maybe they're morbid at heart? Who can say, and who are we to judge, other than for ourselves? But we can make the choice to ignore it and live our lives doing the best we can, for ourselves and for others....

[Sidney Lanier]

tkret: We're a friendly group of people at the TOTV lunch at Crisper's, and there's definitely a seat for you. No problem at all if you spill something! '-) We may not get to a TOTV lunch till September the earliest, and we miss everyone!!!

[tkret]

tkret: We're a friendly group of people at the TOTV lunch at Crisper's, and there's definitely a seat for you. No problem at all if you spill something! '-) We may not get to a TOTV lunch till September the earliest, and we miss everyone!!!


thanks Sidney Lanier.

[Peggy D]

:agree: HGTV is my fav!


Mine too!

[graciegirl]

Coney. I know that it is my responsibility to stay informed, I have been informed all of my life. I was the mother, the protector, the buffer for my friends, the RESPONSIBLE one, the fixer. I want to lay those hats down now and retire from all of my jobs. My children are now the parents and good ones. My friends are taking pretty good care of themselves, my husband and love of 45 years want to slurp up these good years. We were the workers and the strong ones. I think it is alright to be the dreamers and the drifters. I give myself permission to not worry as much. To turn off the news and watch HGTV. To fix up my house and swim and golf and talk to my grandchildren on the phone and kick back and belly laugh with friends. There are fewer years ahead than there are behind.

[ConeyIsBabe]

Gracie...... you have spoken words of wisdom and :agree:

[nONIE]

Gracie,

I love your attitude and I totally :agree:with you. I cant think of any reason in the world why we should deprive ourselves of fun and laughter. It is healthy and good for the soul.

[bestmickey]

Well said Gracie! :agree: It is "our" time to relax, chill, and enjoy. That's exactly what I plan to do!!! O HAPPY DAY.........

[NYVette]

The news media always seems to go after the shock value in any story. Like Sid stated in his library example....they love the negative side of a story. Why is there never equal time to someone doing good? Can't that be news? There are groups of people who do nice things for others, but receive no praise for their efforts. Maybe if other basically nice people saw this group on the news they might be inclined to join them...creating a larger group of nice people doing nice things for others.