Now I really understand the truth about reading the news. Recently, I have been wondering: Why do I read a newspaper or its online edition? At least 99,9% of the information does not concern my everyday life. For instance: The weather forecast. Usually it is sufficient to look outside and see how the weather is. If I ride my bycicle I just can take some appropriate clothing with me. If I plan a hiking tour then the weather report might come in handy. The more dramatic news are mainly some sensationalist stuff that comes to late to be relevant. Because if it affects me I might be among the victims of a crime/chemical accident/car accident.
Politicians do whatever will bring them more votes the next time. So why bother about politics. Science might be interesting, but most newspapers don't even cover it. So why read the news?
Actually, I should have known the answer for a long time, because it can be found in one of my psychology textbooks. The answer is: I want to survive socially. I want to interact and participate in communication. And: People talk about the news. They believe in it. It is their everyday sermon, their prayer for understanding reality.
So I have started to read it again. I try to balance news of mass murder, war and crisis with the few entertaining bits about science or society. I am a little less happy for a while but I can communicate again. I can say more than: "Aha" or "I haven't heard about it". I am a 21st century man again.
Nevertheless I am not sure, if my strategy will change again pretty soon.
However, what I forgot to mention is, that I even once read an article on the Bauernpark man in the local newspaper. So it is not all just bad.
