Dear Steve,
We have to use coping mechanisms with lots of things in our day. We can do the same thing with the tv.

I watched some news I had recorded over the weekend and fowarded past the commercials. The show itself has a lot of hype after and before the commercial about what is coming up. It has music and camera cuts that are disruptive. Never ming the jumpy graphics and the startling music!!!
They try to be exciting and keep us agitated. The shows have teams behind the scenes trying to find ways to keep us hooked. You can be free.

Watch less of those shows.


M.

You are so wise to tape news, Mari. These shows are designed now so that viewers much watch the entire program to see the whole of any story. No story is given linearly any more; instead, a 4-min report is chopped up into 6 40-sec segments. One of those is sheer summary. One is segue/promo. These are spread over at least 35 minutes, possibly 50. Depending on the rating of the story, the punch line might rate a stellar placement. A really great newsy/gossipy story may close out an hour new show with as little as a single sentence... After being dragged along in cribs & drags throughout the whole program. Absolutely nothing to do with news, everything to do with dramatic enticement & commercial sales.

That's so true. We are being manipulated by the networks,and basic cable news,and talk shows.

I've noticed resently that the late night talk shows are playing the part of a commercial in talking to movie stars who are staring in a movie that's just about to be released.

I've noticed that TV also is a propaganda tool from whomever,to try to get us to believe something different than has been known throughout centurys of history as rational,moral,and sound,and I don't like it. Who are those people anyway? BF

Really, BF, TV & all forms of communication are propaganda tools--I'd use "motivation" in place of "propaganda". Some words (like propaganda) carry heavy negative connotations, & just by using it you're already saying you don't like it.

Your reference is so general I don't know exactly what century's-known truth you have in mind. But what communication is up to is seldom clear cut. Often it changes with the perspective. For example, your post here can be seen as two very different communications:
-1- your effort to relate how upset you have been made by the current environment; or,
-2- your attempt to make me fear evil forces out to get me.

See how different these are? For one thing, in the 1st, you are not in control of things. Also, you are speaking to me as an equal. In the 2nd, you are in control--& you are speaking to me as an instructor, a superior.

Now this is the same post that you made above! It's just a difference of how we look at it.

Sadly the news has started using more words like "propaganda" which carry their own emotional content, telling us not only what to think but how to feel about it as well.

Hey, News People, don't tell me how to feel, okay? Got that?

Your general inclination, to be skeptical of the news, is valid, I think--but don't then fall for their "hidden" emotional content. As my pretend-buddy Bette Davis said in a movie, "Fasten your seat belt, it's gonna be a bumpy ride." True. But we'll get to the end of this movie & on to the next.

What's your viewpoint, BF? From what seat in the universe are you watching things? Are you in a safe seat??? ((()))

Good points Jude.

I would like to kindly say that I'm sorry if my post offended you. I didn't mean to. We are here to support each other.

I value this website,and have such special friends who I have been talking to for several years.

Lets give each other the benefit of the doubt. I ment no harm. We are all equals here,and are trying to help each other to get through the day,and night. BF

Dear Friend,

We are all are trying to help each other. It's ok.

I agree. In my view TV is mostly about selling advertising / commercials -- whether it is a particular view point or a box of laundry soap.
. .. .
Do you have restful activities built into your day? Do you still have your kittie cat? I can't remember.


M.

I still have my cat. She's company day,and night. I don't know what I would do without her.

I've been on the depressed side resently,and I don't have any day time plans.
I do need to stay away from the news,but my OCD is pulling me back.

I hope that you are having a good day. BF

Dear Friend,

Sometime I watch tv with the close captioning. I can read without having to hear the noise. Would something like that work for you?

Do you watch other shows besides news?

M

Yes. I love science,science fiction,and lots of tv shows,and movies. It's always nice to find a good movie.

I have other hobbys,but I seem to not be interested in them right now. It could be partially due to some of my medications. I'm not very active while on them,but I have no choice. When I'm not on the med's,my thoughts are more tormenting,and painful.

BF