We live in a world where computers are obsolete before they even hit the market. Sadly, this is also true for the so-called news that we can now access 24/7. We have the specialty news channels such as CNN, MSNBC, oh, ok, I will grudgingly add FOX “News” as long as I can put the news in quotes that give us up-to-the-date information every second of the day. Not only can we get them on the teevee machine, but they all have websites, too. So, if like me, you don’t have cable, you can get your daily dose of Keith and Rachel online, minutes after they broadcast on TV!
Remember in the old days, we had actual newspapers that we could pick up and hold in our grubby little hands? I remember leisurely perusing the sports section over a cup of coffee. Ok, not really, but you get the gist. I would read the whole paper before doing the crossword puzzle–it was my reward for making it through the entire paper (minus the business section). I loved the tactile feel of the paper, though not so much the cheap ink rubbing off on my fingers by the time I was through.
Newspapers are dying off, and I’m conflicted as to how I feel about that. On the one hand, I much prefer reading the news online because I can digest it rather rapidly and choose what I want to read without blackening my fingerpads. On the other hand, much of what passes for news this day is so shallow, I fear what will become of in-depth reporting should newspapers completely fold.
We are living in the age of false urgency. What do I mean by that? I mean that news agencies no longer just report the news–they create it. So much of the shit that passes for news these days is simply, well, not news.
For example, Yahoo! I am sure other sites are like this as well, but since Yahoo! is my home page, I am going to pick on them. When I first open up a browser, I glance at the headlines of Yahoo! In the top left-hand corner is the featured news. Right now, it’s Bristol Palin holding her baby talking about abstinence. Not news. Another one of the featured items is about the threatened layoffs in California, 20,000 state workers. That is news. The third featured news item is about a ‘surprise’ elimination on The Bachelor. Please. This should be on the back pages of People or something similar. The final featured news item is about the first beaver seen in the Detroit River in 75 years. Ok, that qualifies as news.
Then, I glance a bit down to the ‘News’ section. This is usually a summary of what is going on right now. The problem is, I’m usually clicking on my mailbox when I read the headlines. If there is something that interests me, and I go back, the item is usually gone. So, right now, there are headlines about the Obama signing the stimulus bill, the Khmer Rouge, tribunal, tumbling stocks, SEC charges, and the Japanese finance guy quitting in embarrassment over appearing drunk or over-medicated at the G-8.
Now, I will check my mail. Checked. Back to Yahoo! First featured news item is now Obama signing the stimulus bill instead of Bristol Palin’s opinion on abstinence-only. Fair enough. The former is news while the latter is trash. Down to the ‘News’ tab, and what do I see?
GM and UAW close to deal, according to ‘sources’; stocks still tumbling; Burris sticking his foot further in his mouth; France and nuclear subs; 17 cell phone companies agreeing to a universal charger. I am only reporting on the news items and not the video items. Let’s hit refresh one more time.
Same news, twice. Go to HuffPo and return, still the same news. So, for three minutes, they have displayed the same news. It must be a slow time of the day, because I have been on Yahoo! before where the headlines change every minute or so. Ok, this may not have been my best example, but it still bothers me, nonetheless, so I’m leaving it in.
Plus, there is all the other bullshit on the site that really serves no useful purpose, anyway. Ok, no useful purpose if, like me, you really don’t give a rat’s ass about popular culture. I don’t care which celeb gained weight (or lost it) or who is fucking whom behind whom’s back.
In addition, I realized that the minute-to-minute coverage of real news, say, the stimulus bill, has no impact on the story whatsoever. When I took my break from political news for four days, it was agreed that the stimulus bill would pass in some form. Four days later, when I returned, it was still agreed that it would pass. All I missed was the wrangling and posturing.
I also noticed that the more attention I paid to all the stupidity on the hill, the less I felt like I could actually do something worthwhile in the fight. The constant barrage of negative news really took a toll on me. I am a negative person to begin with, and it doesn’t take much to make me feel like throwing up my proverbial hands and/or throwing in the proverbial towel.
In addition, with all the political bloggers weighing in with their two cents’ worth, the tide of information can feel overwhelming. Plus, with laptops and iPhones and such, you can access this information anywhere. Before the internet, if I wanted to know, say, who was the actor in some movie, I would probably have to call up a video rental store or a library or find the movie. With the internet, I could just look it up. If I go out with Kiki, and she doesn’t remember which actor is in a movie she thinks I should see, I would look it up when I got home and e-mail her the answer. Now, thanks to her iPhone, she can look it up at the bar. Of course, that leads to looking up what else the actor has been in and what he’s doing now. Before you know it, a half hour has gone by jumping from one point to another, gathering more useless info.
My point is, you used to have to work at gathering all this trivia (some of which passes for news). Now, it’s garbage in, garbage out. Don’t get me wrong. I am the queen of research and blog reading, but even I have a limit–and I’ve met it. If I just glance at headlines, there really is no reason to read everyone from Ezra to Hilzoy to TBogg to get each blogger’s individual take on it, on top of perusing the NYT.
It really comes down to me and my choices. I don’t need to immerse myself in the news just because it’s available around the clock. I can decide to limit what I read to the minimal amount I need to keep me au courant. This is exactly what I’m going to do–after checking out The Mudflats for the day. I can quit any time I want. Really.
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