(no subject)

[randomness]

Back at my parents'. One of the things I won't miss about being here is the non-stop TV news my father seems to be addicted to. The last few days have been wall-to-wall coverage of the Paris attacks. That coverage has reminded me how much I dislike TV news. From one hour to the next there's very little new information to convey, so they fill up the time by scaring their viewers.

It's a successful business model, but I don't have to like it.

What's also striking is the reminder that TV news is a mid- to late-twentieth century medium, for people whose media habits were formed back then. I mentioned to bedfull_o_books that I'm exposed to more prescription drug adverts in my few days here than I am in the whole of the rest of my life combined.

I'm not sure it's the TV that's given me a sour stomach and a headache, but it probably isn't helping.

Comments

[donnad.livejournal.com]

Oh I hear you. My mother is similar, the police scanner blaring all the time competing with the TV also blaring. But it's not news, it's whatever feelgood hallmark movie might be on or some Law & Order rerun. I am so weary of the noise after just a couple hours that I can't wait to get out of there for the peace and quiet.
Yes she has a hearing problem.

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

I can commiserate. Although my dad spends time also on TCM and how it's made.

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

OMG, your folks too? My mom watches a steady diet of MSNBC, local news, talk-news, you name it. And I feel exactly the same way you do - why watch all the time when there's no new news?

It's interesting how you cite it as a mid-to-late 20th century medium. I wonder what media habits we have that people in a younger age group would call similarly outdated?

[sylphon.livejournal.com]

I stay far far away from tv news. internet news is bad enough :-(
And yeah that much tv you'll get ads FOR prescriptions and ads saying how bad they were and to call a law office.

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

A while back, I got sandwiches at a lunch place that had a screen with CNN on. How the hell many ads can you run for The Scooter Store? There must be a lot of disabled people who watch CNN all day, ugh.