What is it about bad situations that draws us in? The car wreck on the interstate gets rubberneckers; murder, death, and disaster get TV ratings; the “bad girl/boy†or bad relationship gets all of our attention; we like to see the “mightyâ€, ie. the rich and famous, fall.
Over the years, I have stopped watching the news, stopped reading the papers, because I am tired of people trying to make me afraid of things. I am tired of the “Chicken Little†syndrome. I know how bad the world, and people, can be, I’m in the ARMY for crying out loud. Don’t tell me that this or that or the other is bad for me when we are losing more people on the interstate every year than in combat.
I am tired of bad news. I am tired of the “news†trying to dictate what I am afraid of. Here’s an example. A few years ago, the “news†was reporting about shark attacks. Every time there was a new one, it would get printed in newspapers and put on national news reports. I know people that STILL refuse to go near the ocean. They made people AFRAID. The true irony and the pity of it all is that there were fewer shark attacks that summer than there were in any one of the five previous years. Hmmmm, let’s get ratings by making people afraid. Whatever happened to factual, responsible journalism?
When I was in High School, all the guys wanted to sleep with the “bad girls†but they didn’t want to date or take them home to meet their parents. It was the same with some of the girls wanting the “bad boys.†Why is that?
The tabloids have made a fortune by showing how the stars have fallen. Just recently, the headlines were all about Jessica Simpson planning a divorce from her husband. Don’t get me started on the Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston debacle.
What is it that fascinates us with bad news? Why can’t we get this interested in good news?
I have finally figured out why there is so much controversy about “American Idol” and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” They are good news shows, and we cannot bear to leave that alone. People will pick and prod and pry until something bad falls out, and then they will point and say, “See? I KNEW that they weren’t legit!†At this point, I can only say, “Kiss off, moron! They are good shows, and they do good things for people, enjoy it.â€
I have found ONE monthly periodical that thrives on good news. Of all the magazines out there, how can there ONLY BE ONE? Most of you know it; most of you have read it a few times. What bothers me is that it is not considered “serious reporting†by the mainstream media. That’s a shame, because “Reader’s Digest†shows the strength inside people, and might actually make you believe that you can survive without whatever the television “news†sponsors are selling.
