PSA For Your Sanity

[MartinGibsonFan]

Posted by ESC on January 10, 2006

In Reply to: No news is good news posted by Bernadette on January 09, 2006

: I am looking for the origin of the saying "No news is good news"

NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS - "The earliest version of this familiar saying was attributed to the English King James I, who wrote in 1616, 'No newis is bettir than evill newis.' Virtually the modern saying appeared some years later in James Howell's 'Familiar Letters' (c. 1645) with the line, 'I am of the Italians mind that said.no news, good news'." From "Wise Words and Wives' Tales: The Origins, Meanings and Time-Honored Wisdom of Proverbs and Folk Sayings Olde and New" by Stuart Flexner and Doris Flexner (Avon Books, New York, 1993). Page 135.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by Tico

IMO it's important everyone stay informed about important news ... but then turn it OFF and enjoy your day!
Thomas Jefferson said, "An informed citizenry is at the heart of a dynamic democracy."

But today with the Internet it's too easy to overload on news, and "news".

How about don’t turn it on and enjoy your day. That’s why I posted this in the first place. Try it, you might like it.

[MartinGibsonFan]

These days, there's really not much to be informed about.

Local road closures, weather, event closures such as school, are probably the only things we as individuals need to know about while conducting our daily lives.

I mean, if the civil sirens go off at non scheduled times, then we need to head for the cellar (basement).

J

[Tico]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

How about don’t turn it on and enjoy your day. That’s why I posted this in the first place. Try it, you might like it.

Thanks, but I'll defer to Thomas Jefferson, subject to the caveats in my previous post.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by Tico

Thanks, but I'll defer to Thomas Jefferson.

Certainly, if that makes you comfortable, I’m all for it.

[MartinGibsonFan]

Personally, turning off the news during the weekend helps me tremendously when Monday comes around. I have a freshness, a fervor, an enthusiasm to tackle the week.

Then, while listening to the News from Monday through Friday, I get depressed and overwhelmed about all that information.

Back when I was a kid, when Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather were in charge, things were different. News wasn't so Editorialized. These days, you can't turn on a channel that provides unbiased coverage.

So, by the end of the week (Friday) I've had my fill with bias coverage of news that actually doesn't concern me, so i shut down over the weekend.

I need to learn how to shut down 7 days a week and I'm sure my psyche and health would appreciate and benefit from the lack of

' NEWS '

Notice I put that in quotes.

J

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by MartinGibsonFan

These days, there's really not much to be informed about.

Local road closures, weather, event closures such as school, are probably the only things we as individuals need to know about while conducting our daily lives.

I mean, if the civil sirens go off at non scheduled times, then we need to head for the cellar (basement).

J

And if you’re retired like me, even less to be informed about.
Besides, my wife will let me know if there’s a toilet paper shortage.

[frazervalley]

Thinking the same. Gave up daily delivery of the newspaper to my home in early March. It has been much easier to adjust than I thought after twenty five years of getting the paper. I watch a portion of the local six o’clock news and after dinner a little American news and that is it. Maybe 40 minutes a day. That is enough for me. If I have missed something newsworthy, I can get caught up on the AGF.

[MartinGibsonFan]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

And if you’re retired like me, even less to be informed about.
Besides, my wife will let me know if there’s a toilet paper shortage.

And, if i had a wife, I would inform her of a beer shortage.

J

[MartinGibsonFan]

Hey FrazerValley, I WAS an absolute proponent of local news, but since this early Spring, things have gotten a bit out of control, even for the local news.

I still try to check in for local news, but it's just becoming too much a one trick pony these days.

Not sure if it's the same for you across the border.

J

[MartinGibsonFan]

Originally Posted by Tico

Thanks, but I'll defer to Thomas Jefferson, subject to the caveats in my previous post.

Thomas Jefferson did have some issues with Newspapers.

I think what Thomas Jefferson was alluding to was Propaganda.

Which, in my opinion, is running rampant these days.

J

[Fogducker]

"The news" is prepared and written by a group who, like myself, have an opinion. Even the "signers" for the hearing impaired, slant the news with their facial features and body motions.

Benign neglect is probably the best way to observe the current news yapping.

Fog

[MartinGibsonFan]

Why even waste your time with ' Benign Neglect '

Just don't turn the News on is easier and more liberating.

J

[Kerbie]

Some of us actually like being informed.

[mc1]

Yea, I'm a bit of a news junky and feel it is part of my duty to stay informed. But it is easy to become obsessed with the news and let it overwhelm your day. I think it is harder in these days of the 24 hour news cycle and internet news to keep it in the healthiest proportion.