I’ve unsubscribed or “unliked” and unfollowed and hidden ALL of the political and “news” Facebook pages that I’d previously watched. I gotta tell ya –
1 – my newsfeed is calmer and
2 – I am calmer.
These pages promote fear. They report rumors and innuendos. They rarely have any real facts, facts that matter or sway the picture. Drama. Stir the pot. That’s what these pages do.
I, for one, am content with my decision to turn it off. I’ll catch a few minutes here & there of news, but there’s no reason to be all-consumed by it like most people have become; like I became. This stuff is dividing our country, and most of it is not factual. This morning, I read five articles on Facebook – articles I saved from last night specifically to give my attention to and read today. Only ONE was worthy of sharing. The other four were total BS. They had great eye-catching titles; musta been for me to open them. But their substance was zilch. We’ve got to stop thinking that someone else out there has the answers to a better life, more happiness, prosperity, peace. The answers to those and many other questions are within each of us individually. There is no magic pill to end terrorism or hatred. Not everyone is on the same page as you so what you believe to be the answer, they do not.
I think that if we turn it off and focus our attention on our own homes and families, our neighborhoods, our local communities, helping improve those – in our own backyards – then maybe, the world will be a better place. There’s not really anything you can do from Iowa about a shooting in DC. Tragic as it is unless you are right there you really can’t physically help much. The most many of us can do is pray. If we have the means and ability, then we pack a bag and go help. Watching video after video and reading article after article about the shooting and why we think it happened does no one any good. Sure, we want answers but why watch and read the gory details over and over? All you’re doing is GYGO – garbage in, garbage out. What you put in is what you give out to the world. The issues in your own community will most likely never hit the news and they will not get the help they desperately need unless YOU go help. Turn off the negativity. Shut down the rumors. Stop feeding the beast!
Seems to me that many, if not MOST of these “news” pages spew nothing but negativity and drama because negativity and drama “sell”. The more clicks they get, the more advertisers they get. MONEY! Remember the saying, “If it bleeds, it leads”? Well, think about it. WHY do the news channels on TV lead with death and destruction or racism and radicals? Because society eats it up. Society loves a good horror/scary movie. People love shoot ’em up movies and video games. Stirring the pot on the news gets ratings and ratings translate into revenue – THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR. News organizations aren’t in it to inform anymore, they want MONEY!
We’ve lost touch with compassion and empathy. The “feel good” stories rarely shown on the nightly news stations are ALWAYS held for last. WHY? Most people turn off the news after the first 10-15 minutes, so they miss the heart-warming story at the end. The only thing they feed themselves is the drama and destruction.
Get to know people in your neighborhood again; your community. Heck, get to know your spouse and your children again. Stop keeping up with the Joneses. Keep up with your own little universe, your family, your friends, your neighbors. There has always been national and world destruction. Yes, it seems super awful right now. I admit that I’m concerned, but I know the end. God wins. Maybe not in my lifetime, but he does win. I pray. A lot. People are getting involved with their local governments to enact changes. All of this is good stuff. But the negativity and drama must end. It is doing NOTHING positive for society. Nothing.
Make a change. Give it a try. Turn it all off. Look at your home, your neighborhood, your community. What can you do there to make a difference?
Stop sharing the garbage. Stop feeding the beasts.
PEACE
