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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Susan J on October 21, 2003, at 15:06:43
Don't have much to say, other than it's bugging me to watch it....
Turn it off? Now, if I had *that* type of self-control......all my life would be perfect right now...
And it just makes me remember how the first time in my life I was actually afraid to walk out in public.
Posted by sarita0001 on October 21, 2003, at 22:42:45
In reply to Day 2 of the John Allen Mohammed (DC Sniper) Trial, posted by Susan J on October 21, 2003, at 15:06:43
Hi,
I was 5 minutes away from the Home Depot when Ms. Franklin was shot. It was scary. At least I was with friends. My sister and I would duck when we went to the gas station. Sad. very sad.
Sara
Posted by noa on October 21, 2003, at 23:14:20
In reply to Day 2 of the John Allen Mohammed (DC Sniper) Trial, posted by Susan J on October 21, 2003, at 15:06:43
Would it help if we told you you had to turn it off?
During such episodes of media blitz about scary stuff, I have taken on a policy of watching on a "need to know basis" only. Otherwise, I find myself mesmerized by the repetitious anxiety provoking, not much new information anyway, coverage, and it just agitates me.
Posted by galkeepinon on October 22, 2003, at 3:25:34
In reply to Re: Day 2 of the John Allen Mohammed (DC Sniper) Trial, posted by noa on October 21, 2003, at 23:14:20
>>>>During such episodes of media blitz about scary stuff, I have taken on a policy of watching on a "need to know basis" only. Otherwise, I find myself mesmerized by the repetitious anxiety provoking, not much new information anyway, coverage, and it just agitates me.
I SO agree noa! All I could do was call my aunt and uncle and cousins to see if they were ok when all this went down, they live right near the Beltway.
Posted by jay on October 22, 2003, at 4:43:34
In reply to Day 2 of the John Allen Mohammed (DC Sniper) Trial, posted by Susan J on October 21, 2003, at 15:06:43
Susan, the interesting Dr. Andrew Weil has proposed that it is good for mental health to take a "News Fast", a break away from *all* news for a few days a week. I am a *really* political-sensitive person, and this was important for me to do. I think you will find it quite refreshing, and I can't even believe I would say something like that!
This past summer when I went on vacation to my folk's cottage up in Northern Ontario, I tried a little experiment by extending this to 3-4 days per week. It was like I said to myself.."The world will go on as it may...even if it all ends today, I likely have little if any control over it...So I am just gonna find a nice spot on the beach, get some sun, and swim in the glacier-spring-fed lakes!". And...yes it actually worked! I have memories now of my first "real" vacation in almost 6 years.
So...think about it...and maybe give it a shot. You *really* might surprise yourself!
Best....and peace..
Jay
Posted by Susan J on October 22, 2003, at 8:34:18
In reply to News-Fasts » Susan J, posted by jay on October 22, 2003, at 4:43:34
> Susan, the interesting Dr. Andrew Weil has proposed that it is good for mental health to take a "News Fast", a break away from *all* news for a few days a week. I am a *really* political-sensitive person,
Jay, that sounds like a great idea, but when I was in Montreal this summer, I had no access to a TV or radio that carried U.S. news, and the newspapers I could get were like USA Today and I couldn't find out what was going on in my hometown (DC/Baltimore).
IT DROVE ME ABSOLUTELY CRAZY!!!!!
What does that say about me? Is that an OCD trait, obsession with knowing what's going on at every single moment? During the whole sniper thing, I had WTOP radio turned on all the time, all night, and kept waking up in the middle of the night to hear what had gone on, if they had updates. It was INSANE.
OK. I used to work in a JAIL. Baltimore City jail in open population. I've been shot at on the streets of Baltimore. I've had my life threatened by Jamaican drug gangs. I have NEVER in my life been scared of that stuff, But the *sniper* stuff just freaked me out so badly. I don't know if it was watching the news all the time, my mental state at the time, or what.
Just not a pleasant memory.
And having access to the internet all day at work doesn't help. I read all the updates on the Washington Post website. Hmmmm, maybe I answered my own question of whether I should stop going to see my therapist. :-)
> So...think about it...and maybe give it a shot. You *really* might surprise yourself!
<<I can try. I live alone, and I have 3 TVs so I can watch CNN no matter what room I'm in.Maybe I should give some away to Goodwill.
This is all really weird.
Thanks, though. I'll try it. Maybe this weekend, I've got a lot of house projects to work on....
Susan
Posted by jay on October 23, 2003, at 1:14:11
In reply to Re: News-Fasts -- I think I would Starve to Death! » jay, posted by Susan J on October 22, 2003, at 8:34:18
Susan...as you likely know, news media tend to emphasize the negative. I'd
quite highly suggest an excellent book by sociologist Dr. Barry Glassner,
called 'The Culture of Fear' (check it out at amazon.com
http://tinyurl.com/s08o ). This book really shows how day-in-and-out, news
media build walls of stories based on half-truths, much hype, and why they
need to do this in order to both make a profit and keep people watching. I
read very, very selectively now when I turn to news, and the media that seem
more interested in good journalism seem to be international, often
non-profit. ('The Guardian' is a good UK paper, as well as their BBC...I can't recall the name of the excellent U.S. non-profit right now...and the CBC in Canada is not bad...)Anyhow, check out Glassner's book, and you can see even how big-stories that hit us 10-20 years ago seem to show up time-and-again but under different names with some details changed.
It takes all of the 'hot air' out of fluffy sensationalism! And may just soothe the nerves a bit too.
Best,
Jay
Posted by jay on October 23, 2003, at 4:16:31
In reply to Re: News-Fasts -- I think I would Starve to Death! » Susan J, posted by jay on October 23, 2003, at 1:14:11
That should be "Culture of Fear" by Doc Barry Glassner. Sorry 'bout that..:-)
Jay
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