About Steven Aitchison
Supposed
state of the world
I am honestly saddened by the world in which we are living in just now, or
the supposed world depicted by the media. I
made a choice about 10 years ago not to read newspapers or watch the news. I
listen to local news and hear world news on the radio, and that’s at
a push. I don’t want to put images in my head of all the things
that happen in the world. It’s bad enough that I know all the things
that go on in the world but to hear, see and read about it everyday sickens
and angers me. The main culprits are the daily tabloid newspapers in
which everything is sensationalised to sell the paper. The quality of
journalism in these newspapers is generally low and the reporters will sell
their soul to get a good story due to the demands of the job.
I had become used to hearing about the things that happen in the world and
it didn’t sicken me, it was a case of ‘that’s terrible.’ And
that feeling lasted for about 1 minute and I went on with my life. I
want to be sickened when I hear of murder, I want to feel disgust when someone
is stabbed, but how the hell am I supposed to feel this when I am bombarded
from every angle with images that I quickly become accustomed to.
World energy is low
The world’s energy has sunk to an all time low and I believe the media
is partly responsible for it. No, I am not blaming the media I am saying
they are partly responsible.
Violence has become the norm and our minds have become desensitised to it,
it’s just another story, however when violence is extreme we sit up and
pay attention only for the fact that we think that is the new terrible.
Imagine for a moment a world in which no murder, no war, no bloody images,
no violence were reported and no pictures shown depicting these gruesome acts
were shown. After a few years I believe our energy would start to grow
again. I believe there would be no ‘keeping up with the Jones’s’ i.e. ‘That
guy murdered 13 people, I will need to murder 14 people to become known and
be in a book of famous murder cases.’ Even bookstrores are doing
great business from selling books about criminals and murderers, it’s
mad!
The most disturbing part about all of this is that it is a tiny minority that
is polutting the world’s spirit, however that minority make it look like
the the whole world is like this due to media coverage and media sensationalism.
Starve the minority
Here’s a suggestion: don’t buy newspapers, books, read internet
sites, that depict the minority polluting the world, Starve their craving for
attention by not giving them it. If we don’t buy the products depicting
these individuals they will stop making the products therefore starving their
craving.
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Curtis
I worry about this as well. Well, worry is the wrong word, more like, I’m not optimistic about the future of our “modern society. Nowadays, people are just blank computers left to be programmed by the media, and not just news, but advertisements, corporations, and government. Of course the alternative to the media blitz that we see now is some form of censorship, because us little people are too stupid to think/choose for ourselves what to digest in our minds, we need big brother to tell us when to sleep, what to eat, and which god to believe in today. I hope for a day when we all grow up to where each of us makes our own choices again.
Steven, well said!! I could not agree more, especially regarding the world’s energy being low and media contributing to it.
Just the other night I was flipping through the channels and caught a newscaster saying, “And now for some news of a more positive nature.” That saddened me…it is sad to think that they have to qualify the positive news because it is reported so infrequently. It is sad that sensationalism sells.
Thank you for getting us thinking and for making a difference.
Be well…
Pam
Hi Curtis
Thanks for sharing your site with us. I read a few stories from the archives and it does indeed restore a bit of faith. Thanks.
Hi Chip, thanks for commenting, I too hope for that day.
Hi Pam, it is sad that sensationalism sells, here’s the thing: it’s us who buy into the sensationalism it’s like we’re being brainwashed. Thanks for your kind words.
Here’s a story of how news can create horror. I remembered I was travelling to Pakistan on business and a religious leader was murdered during my stay in the country. The local papers as well as international news sensationalized the whole saga. My family was worried too. But during my stay there, I was not even aware of this until someone in the local office told me. It was just like every other day in that country. The people are still very friendly. The sun is still shining.
Ellesse
hi curtis,
I agree with you. It is kind of sad that the bad things get so much attention too. The more we dwell on the bad things the more we get.
We have to face the sad fact that it sells. So if you are reading the papers, make the bad news small and enlarge the good news in your mind.
Yes i agree that it gives you less energy because of the things you read about.
Thoughts become things. So if you have negative thoughts at the beginning of the day, how is your day going to be great?
Cheng Cheng
the bottom line is that the world is a mess…and if anyones to blame it is all of us….we are the end….our advanced technology and our capability in creating and thinking is killing the world,the minds of the youth and the way of how we live…we are all trying to make life easier because the world is becoming lazy…this isnt how the world is suppose to be…we arent suppose to be buying food from stores and driving cars that pollute the world…we were meant to hunt our own food and create our own crops….this need to make things so as to suffer less physically is killing us mentally…money is kicking our @ss and the worlds
I agree with you Mr. Aitchison, I do however believe the problem is far more profound in some countries than others. I have noticed though when I go away say camping for example how much better I feel after a week of no news. Sadly living with mum and dad I cannot always escape the drudgery of the news. The ‘New Millennium’ spirit has been crushed.
I think though the real problem I have is in finding a cohesive group who fight against media sensationalism and the such like.
Any Ideas?