I'm no longer a media consumer. Here's what it feels like:

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

Lovely. Wonderful. I highly recommend it.

For over two weeks now, I have only received dribs and drabs of news through the most on-fire items in the LBN forum. I look at the snippet from the article and skim the responses.

I know the top stories: resignations, Fallujah (in a nutshell: we're still killing Iraqis, US servicemembers still dying, too), Dean and the DNC chair, the dollar worries me.

That's it. Do I really need to listen to the ramblings of Katie Couric and Matt Lauer? What exactly will they add to my understanding? Is there any conceivable reason to look at Sean Hannity's smarmy face or listen to the same old tired game, played on Meet the Press and other Sunday morning propaganda shows?

I've heard people say it's important to watch those shows, listen to the "mental midgets of AM radio" (thanks Garrison), and even read rightwing blogs, to "know your enemy."

But if I know any more about the attitudes and wicked hypocrisies of the right, I'm in danger of giving up all hope that decency can prevail again.

And so I've taken leave of all of it. I've found my stress level down, my head clear, my own thoughts ringing loudest.

As it should be. As it once was for everyone.

No matter how strong your viewpoint, no matter how unshakeable your beliefs, all the chattering and yammering is bound to have a negative affect on most of us. And we voluntarily submit to it.

Ironically, I feel even more emboldened in my positions. I not only don't know what Hillbilly Heroin Boy or Ann "Eva Braun" Colter have to say on any subject, I not only don't care what they have to say, but they aren't even the TINIEST of factors in my thinking or in my arguments.

If you think about it, THAT is what they are most afraid of--not being debunked or exposed as the liars they are--if that were their worst fear, they would have closed up shop long ago. No, they are most afraid of NOT EVEN BEING A PING ON YOUR RADAR.

As for me, my radar is finally calm, free from the constant nerve-wracking noise that I have been (voluntarily) plagued with for years.

I know it's especially hard for political junkies, like many of us are, but kill your TV. Hit them where it hurts the most and cancel your cable or cut off your dish. Barring that, just don't watch the shit.

It feels good.

[wtmusic]

1. It feels great

I turned it off fifteen years ago. You will be a happier person.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

3. I'm already happier.

I had no idea how much of my stress was brought on by listening to that crap.

Even on the "straight" news, they have to get in their editorializing or the story is just flat-out wrong or incomplete, so that would end up pissing me off.

[ramapo]

2. Yes it is wonderful...who cares what they think anyway?

I've reduced my media consumption greatly over the past couple years but after this selection I gave it up entirely. I scan the newspaper but ignore the Bush stuff, read LBN, listen to some AAR and that's about it.

[andyhappy]

4. whats LBN?

[babylonsister]

8. Latest Breaking News forum

[andyhappy]

10. gotcha!

thanks!

[fertilizeonarbusto]

5. YES YES YES

We know what they "think": it's bullshit.

[Javaman]

6. Haven't had cable for years, never get my news from the locals channels...

I get it all from the net. Here I can cross check and get differing views.
I'm more informed, more cynical, and a major threat to anyone that spews cnn rhetoric. :) Life is good.

[Maat]

7. I, too, am in your position.

I do, however, listen to Air America and Sirius Left (Liberal) on my Sirius network. I listen to the news updates.

My master's degree is in Psychology, and I studied framing extensively. I believe that everything is couched in phrases favorable to the right-wing organizations' interests on CNN, MSRNC, and, of course, Faux News. Any semblence of independence pretty much went the way of the dinosaur with respect to the evening news on ABC, NBC, or CBS (et al), especially after Rathergate.

I was gradually reducing my listening to the above for the last couple of years. After the election, I cut it off completely.

I like the Daily Show, NOW with Bill Moyers, and Bill Maher, in addition to my radio listening. And I read the progressive sites on the internet. And I explore the updates listed on this Board.

I have been so much happier, and have felt the postitive energy you talked about above. I've made a list of causes I would like to support, and am doing so. It is a joy (and the way I could cope after the Disaster on 11/2).

[welshTerrier2]

9. replace wasted media time with activism ...

i no longer will consume the mind-numbing nonsense that passes for news ... i will learn what i need to learn ... frankly, the only issue is about whether we have a democracy or we don't ... the issue is about whether big money controls our lives or it doesn't ...

trust me, you could watch the news 24 / 7 and you won't be gaining any insights on this issue ... the rest of it is all just "pretend" ...

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

11. Yep

and there really isn't 24 hours worth of news to fill UP that 24 hours. Well, there might be, but I doubt most Americans are very interested in what goes on in countries beyond our limited scope.

And good point on the activism. I have time for SO much more now!

[andyhappy]

13. its ironic

that we have a 24 hour news cycle with all these channels yet they are always talking about the same three or four things over and over and over and over again.

thanks big brother!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

14. See

that is one of the things that bugged me the MOST about the news channels. They spend the entire 24 hour cycle talking about Scott Petersen, the weather, and then about five or six little minor stories. No depth, no analysis, just repeat the same lame-brained shit over and over again.

Plus, I hate TV as background noise. I find it to be extremely distracting and I have come to really love the peacefulness in my house. Sometimes I play music, sometimes it's just quiet. All three of us are reading more. It's SO damn nice, wish I had done this years ago.

[MISSDem]

12. I haven't watched TV in years, except for the

political debates and election returns. My TV is used to watch VHS or DVD movies. I do come here and I do read the newspaper cover to cover and I listen to NPR and the BBC.

[Rambis]

15. IMy name is Rambis and it has been 15 days since my last MSNBC

I haven't watched any news and it feels good. No CSPAN, no Oberman, no Stewart and I find I don't miss them enough to back to watching the shit I need to keep up with. I never watched faux and I stopped watching CNN before I cut them all off after Nov 2nd. Make no mistake I am still pissed as hell but it is just in print form now and it is all foreign news since US news is well...

[Merlot]

16. Everyone should watch Outfoxed

I got stressed just watching the clips. So much yelling and venom, and the visual graphic assault is mind-numbing. Not having cable, I had never even seen fox and was shocked.

I've had two experiences with democratic friends who for whatever reason started watching faux, hannity, or listening to rush. In both cases these people had what I would call a personality transformation. They both attacked my beliefs, became manic in expressing their ideas, and became close-minded. It was terrifying to watch this happen.

I watch a small amount of local news which I've found to be much more even handed, and usually more indepth. No more NPR, because I got sick of yelling at the radio. And I get my news off the internet. I feel less isolated coming to DU for my news and finding like-minded people.

[andyhappy]

19. outfoxed was good

but I think it kind of missed the point. I mean, sure, they are blatantly right winged propaganda, but it could have gone more into the fact that FOX, despite its rather small audience, has really pushed the rest of the media even farther to the right by constantly calling every other news source 'the liberal media elite'

who was it that turned liberal into a bad name? Was it bush the first with his naming of dukakis as a 'card carrying liberal'

or earlier?

[Redneck Socialist]

17. Good for you

I haven't had a TV in about 15 years and except for sports I don't miss it. I use to be a regular newspaper reader and for the most part I've left that behind.

Between NPR and DU I stay on top of the big stories but as for pop culture and the idiotic ravings of the talking heads? Well I ain't missin' a thing.

Welcome to the club.

[Kahuna]

18. My take: Those shows are so predictable, there is absolutely..

no reason for me to view them. Given any topic I can predict the level of whoring they will do for *.

[MISSDem]

20. I have two questions - why do some people

here not like NPR and say it is biased to the right and why should I care about the Scott Petersen case? Who is Scott Petersen?

[Downtown Hound]

21. I have a degree in journalism

worked for a year at an ABC station in Eureka, read newspapers and watched CNN religiously when I was 13 years old (I was a strange kid), and I have completely boycotted corporate news. And I feel great. It's like a cleansing of poison from your system. Remember everyone, if you do decide to join the cleansed, make sure you contact the CNN, Faux, and the rest of them and let them know you've done so. That's what's really going to make the difference.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

22. Yep

I emailed them all, not that they really give a shit, but I did.

And it's like detoxing. It's good. I truly can hear my own thoughts better and my brain is not cluttered with shit about the latest reality TV mess or court cases that are being blown out of all proportion just for the ratings (ie: Scott Petersen).

[ocean girl]

23. Thanks, Moonbeam, you expressed my feelings exactly.

I gave up CNN, etc. after the 2000 election theft, but I was still searching for the latest "ad news on the web every day. I always had that feeling of doom - that the next 9-11-type disaster was going to happen any minute and I had to be ready. I lived with the 'fight-or-flight syndrome' and lost the joy of living in each moment.

While I did have some (false) hope that Kerry would become president and our world would improve, since the 2004 election theft, I've withdrawn from the propaganda matrix and decided to create my own reality - of love, compassion and peace.

I know that it all starts from within myself - through yoga, sitting quietly, focusing on the beauty around me - the ocean, the sky, the wild creatures and loving humans with warm, giving hearts who return my love a thousandfold.

That's my new world today and it's wonderful.

P.S. I'm grateful DU is also part of my world because there is a lot of love and compassion here, too.

[naturalselection]

24. I started looking at DU

for my news (LBN mostly) about 4 months ago when a friend introduced it to me. I have not watched MSM since the election and I have never felt better! (Who really gave a flying f*** about Scott Peterson)?
I watch BBC World in the morning and that is it!

This is my second reply and really feel great about this community of reality based members!

Out.

[dreamcollector]

25. A tree fell on my TV tower months ago

I only feel furious when I stay with my daughter and see CNN by accident. Life is bliss. (Though I did kinda get a kick outta seeing Wolfie B stand in front of raging seas in Florida hurricanes. Is that for real or is he really in the studio?)

[dreamcollector]

26. Sorry that was Aaron Cooper....

Uh ---no that was Aaron Brown? Somebody called Cooper? God how soon we forget. Without even trying. What was that guy's name anyway? ANDERSON!!!!! Anderson Cooper. "Take care of yourself Anderson."

[Ramsey]

27. Welcome to the club!

I've been avoiding all cable and network news since the 2000 election. Haven't watched a single news program on TV save Bill Moyers and Frontline in the past 4 years. The only radio station I listen to for news is NPR. I get the rest of my news from DU LBN, other blogs and the online versions of the New York Times, Washington Post and Salon.

We actually just got rid of our DigitalTV and our cable completely. We never watch commercial network stations. The only thing I miss is the Food Network.

I don't really understand why so many people are so fascinated with these talking heads posing as journalists. But completely ignoring them is a very good idea that I highly recommend.