I Didn’t Read the News Today, Oh Boy: Embracing the ‘News Avoidance’ Pandemic › American Greatness

[mystery-ak]

I Didn’t Read the News Today, Oh Boy: Embracing the ‘News Avoidance’ Pandemic › American Greatness
Thaddeus G. McCotter


It is never a good idea to use the internet for purposes of self-diagnosis. Indeed, if you already know curiosity killed the cat, you certainly don’t want to be the cat surfing the net to catch the latest wave of half-baked quackery listing the possible symptoms of a chic new pandemic whose lethal wave is on the verge of wiping you out. Still, you only live once, so—“Cowabunga!”

It was during a public policy seminar that I first heard of the burgeoning pandemic of “news avoidance.” The term referred to a growing number of Americans who felt so utterly inundated by the inexhaustible flood of bemusing and disturbing information that they assiduously avoided media reporting on local, national, and international news.

I was gripped by a gnawing feeling of anxiety—much like when I hear news, despite my best efforts to the contrary. I have long told people that I do not have cable; moreover, I only listen to sports radio. (Being a fan of Detroit teams, you might think this is a sign of masochistic tendencies, but I digress . . .) If something important were to happen outside of sports, eventually that news would find me. To wit: “The Tigers game is postponed to a 7 p.m. start due to a North Korean nuclear attack.”

At first blush, then, it seems I have been suffering from news avoidance. Frantically, I immediately consulted the internet for a more professional diagnosis. Up popped Penn State University’s News Literacy Initiative and its podcast interview with Dr. Kristen Eddy, who is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. She was discussing the topic of “News Avoidance and Why It Matters.”

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https://amgreatness.com/2026/04/25/i-didnt-read-the-news-today-oh-boy-embracing-the-news-avoidance-pandemic/

[Cyber Liberty]

I can't blame people.  The drumbeat of TDS (on this Forum even!  There are Members who can't write his name) alone is enough to get a lot of people turned off.  Add to that the pandemic-of-the-week and the latest doom and gloom from the eviro-wackos it's damned depressing!

[roamer_1]

I can't blame people.  The drumbeat of TDS (on this Forum even!  There are Members who can't write his name) alone is enough to get a lot of people turned off.  Add to that the pandemic-of-the-week and the latest doom and gloom from the eviro-wackos it's damned depressing!

As the one you no doubt refer to as not being 'able to' (oh, I AM able to) 'write his name' - and diagnosing TDS as the reason (it's not) - More to the point, the continual fawning over Tumpy's lackluster term(s) and the continuing blind eye offered to his many un-conservative traits and actions is what put me off - The non-stop parade of bubblegum, soft-serve articles do not offer debate, but rather rah-rah bullshit 24/7. That's what put me off here. That's why my philosophical fellows are all but gone from here.

Add to that the constant parade of lies in the greater media sphere and the gutter that is hollywood, and this article describes me.

All of it, everywhere, is bullshit and spin. And crap - utter crap - that is all way beyond my control. I refuse the angst driven lifestyle that it promotes, and have, like so many others, turned it off and tuned out, with absolutely no effect upon it, but with an immediate and lasting peace in me. Hallelujah! I will never go back to worrying about or watching the giant crock of shit that is American news and media, and its blogosphere.

*SPIT*

Now, like when I started only supporting conservative (rather than Republican) candidates, I help where I can see the results, and concern myself with that which I can change.

And that is healthy.

[Cyber Liberty]

As the one you no doubt refer to as not being 'able to' (oh, I AM able to) 'write his name' - and diagnosing TDS as the reason (it's not) - More to the point, the continual fawning over Tumpy's lackluster term(s) and the continuing blind eye offered to his many un-conservative traits and actions is what put me off - The non-stop parade of bubblegum, soft-serve articles do not offer debate, but rather rah-rah bullshit 24/7. That's what put me off here. That's why my philosophical fellows are all but gone from here.

Add to that the constant parade of lies in the greater media sphere and the gutter that is hollywood, and this article describes me.

All of it, everywhere, is bullshit and spin. And crap - utter crap - that is all way beyond my control. I refuse the angst driven lifestyle that it promotes, and have, like so many others, turned it off and tuned out, with absolutely no effect upon it, but with an immediate and lasting peace in me. Hallelujah! I will never go back to worrying about or watching the giant crock of shit that is American news and media, and its blogosphere.

*SPIT*

Now, like when I started only supporting conservative (rather than Republican) candidates, I help where I can see the results, and concern myself with that which I can change.

And that is healthy.

No, in fact, I was not at all referring to you!  You hadn't crossed my mind, actually.  You have explained you position better than anybody else here!

I hope that I do not insult you, you are like a brother I could sit on a porch with knocking back a few beers with!   

[DB]

In short, humans were not designed to bear the burdens of all the injustice, horror, pain and suffering that occurs throughout the world. It is too much to carry. Your family and community is what really matters.

[DCPatriot]

I can't blame people.  The drumbeat of TDS (on this Forum even!  There are Members who can't write his name) alone is enough to get a lot of people turned off.  Add to that the pandemic-of-the-week and the latest doom and gloom from the eviro-wackos it's damned depressing!

 

[Cyber Liberty]

I honestly was not thinking of my dear friend @roamer_1 when I wrote that post!  I was thinking of a fellow who posts prolifically on the Iran war threads, constantly running down every action and statement by the CiC of our armed forces!

Now I have an old friend mad at me, which makes this a lousy Caturday!   

[roamer_1]

No, in fact, I was not at all referring to you!  You hadn't crossed my mind, actually.  You have explained you position better than anybody else here!

Well sorry about that then... I thought I was the only one here calling him by a nick and consistently refusing to refer to his proper appellation because HE does that with everyone.

I hope that I do not insult you, you are like a brother I could sit on a porch with knocking back a few beers with!   

Oh heck no! I ain't mad at it. And don't think I was being accusatory either - I am perhaps a touch brusque in my delivery, but it is usually meant as constructive criticism, if criticism at all.

We're good. 

[roamer_1]

Now I have an old friend mad at me, which makes this a lousy Caturday!   

Naw. I ain't mad. I ain't perturbed, or even slightly miffed. I was just away, eating dinner. 😁👍

[DB]

 

[Cyber Liberty]

Naw. I ain't mad. I ain't perturbed, or even slightly miffed. I was just away, eating dinner. 😁👍

 

[Bigun]

As the one you no doubt refer to as not being 'able to' (oh, I AM able to) 'write his name' - and diagnosing TDS as the reason (it's not) - More to the point, the continual fawning over Tumpy's lackluster term(s) and the continuing blind eye offered to his many un-conservative traits and actions is what put me off - The non-stop parade of bubblegum, soft-serve articles do not offer debate, but rather rah-rah bullshit 24/7. That's what put me off here. That's why my philosophical fellows are all but gone from here.

Add to that the constant parade of lies in the greater media sphere and the gutter that is hollywood, and this article describes me.

All of it, everywhere, is bullshit and spin. And crap - utter crap - that is all way beyond my control. I refuse the angst driven lifestyle that it promotes, and have, like so many others, turned it off and tuned out, with absolutely no effect upon it, but with an immediate and lasting peace in me. Hallelujah! I will never go back to worrying about or watching the giant crock of shit that is American news and media, and its blogosphere.

*SPIT*

Now, like when I started only supporting conservative (rather than Republican) candidates, I help where I can see the results, and concern myself with that which I can change.

And that is healthy.

I just came in from sitting on my back porch watching the purple martins (Birds. I don't think the come up there.) fly and sing and thinking about how much time and treasure I have wasted over the course of my life trying to fix things I had little to no influence over. Wish I was there so I could buy you a 

[roamer_1]

I just came in from sitting on my back porch watching the purple martins (Birds. I don't think the come up there.) fly and sing and thinking about how much time and treasure I have wasted over the course of my life trying to fix things I had little to no influence over. Wish I was there so I could buy you a 

YUP! You want to know what's important? Having my grandson over to teach him how to build fire from scratch. There's where I will put my time.  . THAT is a worthy pursuit. 

As for the beer, I'd be happy to get a raincheck 😁

[roamer_1]

No Martins btw... We have martens, but those are considerably more furry. 

[Bigun]

YUP! You want to know what's important? Having my grandson over to teach him how to build fire from scratch. There's where I will put my time.  . THAT is a worthy pursuit. 

As for the beer, I'd be happy to get a raincheck 😁

Done!!! 

[Bigun]

No Martins btw... We have martens, but those are considerably more furry. 

  And quite a bit more valuable!

[Smokin Joe]

And quite a bit more valuable!

Dunno. Martins eat mosquitoes. I have a fondness for dragonflies for the same reason. In a warm, damp, year, we get swarmed. (Lewis and Clark's journals even referenced the vicious mosquitoes here.)