Why Do I Care ?

I was watching the Tonight Show http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/ and some starlette or actress or beautiful body woman was talking about her relationship with an ex-boyfriend who was cheating on her. I did not recognize the woman, and did not recognize the boyfriend's name, and I asked myself "Why do I care?"  And the reality is, I do not. So I shut off the television.

I used to be more discriminatory about what I watched on TV. After I stopped subscribing to the Lubbock Avalanche Journal http://lubbockonline.com/ this year, because of their outlandishly overpriced subscription costs, I have started watching more local and national news on TV, and paying attention to TV shows that might have bearing on today's culture. 

But this show did nothing for me.  Actually, a lot of the news shows I watch do nothing for me.  I used to tell people that I got my news on The Weather Channel http://www.weather.com/.  Well, guess what, that is still the truth. I trust The Weather Channel more than I trust most news sources. The second source of news I trust the most is ESPN http://espn.go.com/.  Of course, part of that is because I like sports so much. But they also report the social implications of sports, and are more factual and less biased than many "news" channels.  I also listen to NPR http://www.npr.org/ on my way to work in the morning, all work days, and most work days, on my way home from work at night. So, I feel I get a good smattering of what is happening in the world.  

I also check my home town newspaper online Monday through Saturday. I get headlines from the Austin Statesman http://www.statesman.com/ and The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/ in my email inbox. So, I try to follow the news locally, nationally,and internationally.

And, if there is a "breaking story" I search out the best media source to follow it.

I want to be aware of what is happening in the world. But I do not want all that awful chatter in my head about what is happening that is inane, inconsequential, stupid, self-absorbed and socially insignificant. I can try to relate to my patients at work who complain about "the voices" who do not let them be.  It is like having TV blaring at you day and night.

So, for many public figures I do not care about their intimate, personal lives. I do care if they are involved in some socially significant event.  But leave your love life at home. Leave your sex life at home.