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Obsessed with Media Abuse
What does it mean to be obsessed with the media? Some of my friends have declared their liberation from following media because it is so outrageous: biased, distorting, and discouraging. They find they have become obsessed with what is happening in this country, and that obsession leads to dysfunction and unhappiness. It’s not that I don’t understand what they mean, but recently I noticed that the intensity of my own obsession is lessening, and I’m feeling just a little less stressed about the future of this country, so I thought I’d share the reasons I think I’m feeling less anxious. First, let me define my definition of being obsessed with the media:
Obsession is a compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety; a compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion. In pathology, a constant brooding upon any subject, such as the thought of death, until the mind becomes dominated by that one idea.
You can decide if any or all of these definitions apply to you; at one time or another, I have to admit they still apply to me. It’s not a positive, constructive way to live one’s life. When I am in an obsessed state, everything else seems to take a backseat. So, at some level, I think I’ve made up my mind to at least spend less time in that state. Here are some of the steps I’ve taken to move me in a healthy direction:
- I’m not on Twitter or Facebook. I think I’ve heard every reason for people being on those sites, but if they are damaging to your mental health, maybe you shouldn’t go there, or at least go there less often. But I’ve heard lots of people say that setting limits for those sites is very hard to do. It’s called being obsessed with those platforms. I rely on a primitive platform to write to friends: email.
- I subscribe to the Orlando Sentinel e-paper, not the print version (except Sundays). It’s really a Leftist rag. But I do like its daily crossword and puzzles. Every now and then I go to their site and see the front page; they are usually attacking our Governor Ron DeSantis, and since I know that routine, I glance at the headline and move on to a productive page—my crossword and puzzles. Every now and then on my way to the puzzles, an article will catch my eye; if it doesn’t sound like kabuki theater, I may print it off, but those times are rare.
- We subscribe to the Wall Street Journal print version. I’m well aware that the main section of the newspaper is only marginally better than the Orlando Sentinel, but I’m selective about what I read and spend most of my time in the op-ed section. I still think their opinion writers are the best in the business and well worth my time. Not only do I enjoy their pieces, but I usually learn a great deal. And they have a crossword puzzle, too.
- I read The Federalist. I skim the titles and don’t read every article, but their writers are brilliant, with Mollie Hemingway, editor, at the top of the list; she is always tactful but hard-hitting in her words, and fearless in condemning her Leftist colleagues. I aspire to be a mini-mollie one day.
- When I do read outrageous articles, I allow myself to get angry and feel my full rage. I think that many people suffer because they insist on holding in or holding on to their rage, which serves no good purpose except to make them angrier and more stressed. So, once I’ve indulged my “angry gene,” I can move on. How do I do that? Years and years of practice. First, I have to really be willing to let the rage go and make the choice not to obsess on it; second, I mentally and sometimes even physically move on to something else that requires my full attention. Trust me, it works. And I am ever so much happier.
- I don’t ruminate (or obsess) on the injustices of America and the world. See the previous bullet for steps to do that. For example, we hear that the “experts” know so much more about COVID-19, yet the data that is put out is essentially wild guesses and propaganda. That has been true from the beginning; in fact, I think they have found new, draconian ways to mislead and control people. So, I don’t look at the data much anymore. Just give me my vaccine shot.
* * * * *
The way I know that my obsession is lessening is that I’m enjoying my ordinary, everyday activities a lot more. I’m enjoying the beauty and silence of my morning walks, and look for the local rabbit on my path who essentially nibbles on the grass and ignores me. I’m starting to appreciate my morning prayers as I become more comfortable with the Hebrew and can experience the beauty of the moment. I feel so rewarded when I make simple Comfort Calls for hospice, checking in with caregivers, and every now and then getting a thank-you for what we do; since we can’t visit patients at this time, at least I am helping their caregivers by telephone. I sweep and wash the tile floor in my kitchen; there is something so satisfying, not only about seeing a clean floor afterward, but knowing I’m doing a small task to make our home more pleasant and inviting. In other words, I’m returning to that “attitude of gratitude” for my good health and a satisfying life with my loving husband.
Most important: I realized that my putting energy into persistently condemning the media was not helpful—for me or for anyone in my life. In fact, I began to realize that I was turning over my personal power to the very people who wanted to disempower me. I was rewarding them with my unhappiness, my helplessness, my frustration. I want as much as I can to take back my power. It’s a process and won’t happen overnight, but life is so much better.
One more thing: I don’t know what the future holds. I don’t know frankly which things may improve, and which ones may get worse. But at least I will be in a frame of mind to take it all in, as it comes, and act, if necessary.
I am proud to be an American citizen and want to celebrate that every day. No Marxist propagandist is going to stop me.
Published in Culture
We have a little more than Marxist propaganda going on.
Susan, one of the best coping mechanisms is a sense of humor. Laugh at the bastards. A good laugh is the best medicine.
Susan, your washing of the hospice’s kitchen floors strikes me as a wonderful thing to do. Indeed, it resembles Jesus washing his disciples’ feet, an act of self-effacement.
It also strikes me as a very Jewish thing to do. If it’s not included among the mitzvot, it shoud be. (I don’t know what I would do without google.)
I’m on Twitter and Facebook. Yes, I see many rancid opinions on Twitter. But on Facebook, I mainly see pictures of friends and family across the country and send out daily birthday greetings. I see Dad jokes, but few political opinions. Those that offer them (even some of the conservative ones), I mute them.
I am surprised by how obsessed the media is with the media. Cable news has segments critiquing cable news. Right-wing podcasts are replete with critiques of Left-wing media. Twitter Bluecheck *loves* Twitter Bluecheck. It is gross and turns me off, so I turn it off. It is useless and lazy content that everyone should avoid.
Kent, I hate to disappoint you, but the floors are mine. Someone’s got to do it. I’ll change the modifier so that’s clear.
You are SO right! I find lots of reasons to laugh–a lot of times, at myself!!
Indeed we do. But I was mainly talking about the media, Bob.
That’s all I’m suggesting, Eustace. We need to be discriminating about where we spend our time and life will be much more rewarding! I’m glad to see you’re so discerning.
It is corrosive to their self image to know that they are being mocked; that rather than being in on the joke, they are the joke.
I need to find me a Leftie so I can try that out. There are very few in my life, at this point, Percival.
Personally I find that once you accept the country is lost and there is nothing you can do about but enjoy the ride things get easier. An understanding that our media is effectively just a way to sell advertising by manufacturing stories to grab your attention it is easier to ignore. It is all lies, left or right. It is just shock jock to get your attention to feed you Marxist propaganda and make them money. Ever talk to a reporter? They are good looking faces with a child’s mind and a huge desire to be noticed. Sort of sad really. Sure there may be a few that try to be journalist but for the most part no.
“A huge desire to be noticed.”
Yup, that just about sums up the dominant feature of not only reporters but editorial writers. Not only that but so many of them are just really bad at writing.
“They are the joke.”
However, they just don’t get it. They simply can’t grasp that their groupthink has become absolutely hideous. In a sense the media inbreeding has caused the same mutation(s) that human inbreeding brings about.
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/nicholas-fondacaro/2020/12/13/abc-hacks-gop-party-autocracy-hunter-did-nothing-wrong
How many times have we seen these sages talking about the GOP being the “party of autocracy” (we folks here in Appalachia are very flattered) with all the bobbing heads nodding in agreement? What a bunch of idiots…
They have become an ugly, depraved group. I wonder if they will self-destruct before they wake up?
Their Progressive dogma doesn’t allow any change. They’ll march off the cliff, arms linked, before they wake up…
Wow. This was a good one, Susan.
The problem with the left is that the mere existence of America is the greatest injustice in the world. Idiots . . .
You are in the Appalachians, and my roots are from that area, so neither of us hillbillies have any business having opinions at all, really.
Susan, I think I can save you some money!
Cancel your subscriptions and get an “app”
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crossword-worlds-biggest/id859866568
My wife long abandoned the papers for her Sudoko obsession. There are several applications (including one base on Will’s NYT puzzles.). You will be even happier without having to ignore the tripe on your way to the puzzles.
My fault, Susan. I misread.
Susan,
There are 2 main reasons why I have not lost a single night’s sleep in the aftermath of the 2020 election.
[1] The election turned out slightly better than I expected. I thought that Trump would lose and that the Democrats would win a clear majority in the US Senate, perhaps a 51-49 seat majority or a 52-48 seat majority. That’s what I thought would happen.
However, the results were a bit different. Even if Loeffler and Perdue lose the US Senate races in Georgia (which I don’t think will happen, by the way), the Senate will be split 50-50 and the Democrat majority will be due to the tie breaking vote of the VP.
I admit that I am a bit terrified at what even a microscopic Democrat Senate majority could do with the assistance of a Pelosi lead Democrat majority in the US House and Democrat White House. But I expected worse.
[2] I have many relatives who are Democrats. My Mom told me that she donated 750 dollars to Biden’s campaign and more money to Democrat candidates for US Senate. On my Mom’s side of the family, myself and one aunt support Republicans while it seems everyone else in that family supports Democrats.
Many of my friends are Democrats. In the total vegetarian (vegan) eating group that I am part of, I bet that I am the only Republican. (We have not been doing our monthly meeting since March, due to Covid-19.)
These relatives and friends might not seem like they live on the same planet as the rest of us. But they do. They are impacted by higher taxes, more government regulation, higher health insurance premiums, higher crime rates and so on.
So, if the Biden administration results in higher unemployment, higher cost of living, more crime and more horrible things, these relatives and friends of mine will be impacted by it.
This doesn’t mean that any of my friends and relatives are likely to vote Republican in 2022 or 2024. But people like them, who are a bit more “moderate” could vote Republican in 2022 and 2024 (or not show up to vote at all).
When I was 10 years old Jimmy Carter was elected president. My friend told me it would be a disaster because guns would be banned. Well, guns were not banned during Carter’s presidency. But the Carter admin was a disaster. The positive thing is that this 4 year disaster gave us arguably the best president of the 20th century: Ronald Reagan.
https://www.steynonline.com/
I suspect they are right in that Hunter did nothing wrong, or illegal. At least for a connect political. If I or anybody on this site did what hunter did it would be straight to jail. Not even sure they would investigate or have a trial unless it was so the government types can make money off it.
You are probably correct. We really need to learn our places…
I do not accept 90% of the “friend ” requests. It is for family mostly. I did join iWe but have not really used it.
God bless the USA.
You should be content with the election but I do question your statement that you are a Republican.
I believe that the social, political and, especially, the educational landscapes in this country have changed considerably since 1976. That being the case, it matters very little what your friend told you.
For some of us it also helps to do those ordinary, everyday activities more. That means less time spent with people who pay attention to the hate media (even those that hate the hate media, like I do).