We have become a society, primarily due to immediate access to news and social media, to form an opinion on many topics such as: celebrities, politicians, world news, finances, and high profile legal cases. The media determines the most significant topics to release to the public. News was available at certain hours of the day for viewing or listening or reading. Local, national, international, and the weather news had designated time slots. You knew EXACTLY when to tune in. We were dependent on the source and content.
WOW! Has the news changed. News is now accessible 24/7. With the tip of a finger we can view, read, or listen to the news. In addition, information can be vastly different from one source to another. Information once labeled as 'confidential' or 'classified' or 'not for public' are leaked by organizations or individuals. Military strategies are discussed and presented openly via graphs, description of tactics, weaponry, and tallies of the innocent, the injured or the deaths revealed. Live scenes of violence and mayhem and rioting are displayed. Most of us have seen the atrocities of war from the comforts of our home. We have become accustomed and insensitive to horrible acts and crimes.
We have also viewed sensational natural disasters such as wild fires, hurricanes, mud slides, tsunamis, earthquake, and other extreme conditions in real time. The multi-media sources bring forth the information with clear pictures and interviews of people at the scene. Real time-real news. Realty shows of dysfunctional families and individuals became mainstream viewing. A cast of talk show hosts discuss a topic-viewers take in their comments-sometimes as fact.
The journalists, talk show hosts, and news men/women provide their insight-their 'spin' of the news. Opinions and predictions of outcomes-even major political elections and politicians-have become mainstream. The emotion of the events are discussed and visible. Our opinions and predictions, depending on the source of information, are made as a result. It can become all consuming. After a major State election, I decided to turn off the news for a two-year period. I was so bothered by the emotional opinions as opposed to lack of factual information AND I did not like the anxiety I felt as a result.
I decided I had to become more diligent in my research of a topic I was interested in OR one that appeared incredulous. I once remembered a psychology professor pointing out: 'even a compulsive liar has some truth in a statement.' Point well taken. I decided the importance and my responsibility was to consider the content but, do some research. Find the facts. Consider the source. Make an objective decision and learn. Emotion may sell viewership and drive curiosity and can even steer the results in life changing decisions. Facts, once uncovered-you may have to dig rather deep-will provide a more solid foundation in decision making and a possible time saving factor.
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