Letter to the Editor: Today's news is a terrible bummer

I came to Chambersburg in 1985 with two young children, and pregnant with another.

[G_F_Idea]

That's a great idea! Act like an ostrich and stick your head in a hole. That will solve all of your problems. Folks... people have been terrible to eachother since the dawn of time. Nothing has changed.
Correction... the only thing that has changed is the level of media coverage. Plus, these media outlets will blow everything out of proportion for ratings and the American people follow along like lemmings.
Get your news from several sources. Be smart enough to know when to turn off the tv. Respect the people in your lives and never take anything from the people that disrespect you.

[G_F_Idea]

No idea why it xxxx that word...it wasn't bad I swear! LOL

[anonymous]

I watch the news (not on CNN-I choose Fox for better, more honest reporting)and yes a lot of it is bad, but I feel that we need to be aware of what is happening in the world. I don't get obsessed with the news though. There are other things to do too.

[Concerned]

I appreciate Ms. Moores observations about the news, however, it will really do no good to stick your head in the sand and pretend these things aren't happening. If you really want to make a difference, volunteer your services to those who are unfortunate, or to assist teaching young people good values and the consequences of bad values and practices.

[Chambersburg]

anonymous wrote:

I watch the news (not on CNN-I choose Fox for better, more honest reporting)

Haha I needed a good joke to start the morning.

[Squatch]

What news makes it on TV? Bad news. All these things were happening in the past, maybe not to the level they are now, but they were around.

It's just the ability to have information at an instant that makes it seem worse.

I don't watch news as much as I use to, the big stories still get to me, I just don't need to know how evil the world is on a daily basis.

Besides, there are so many other channels to look at why bother with bad news everyday?

What is wrong with the word S A N D anyway?

[NoCabler]

What bothers me the most is being out and about...let's say the dentists office or a restaurant but to have a huge flat screen TV right there in front of me and my children.
Everywhere you go there is THE TV.
IMO,your head is in the sand by constantly watching TV. Sure, it's good to know what is going on in the world but it is just as important to know what is going on with your family. As a parent we promote reading and outdoor play vs TV or video games.

[NoCabler]

G_F_Idea wrote:

Folks... people have been terrible to eachother since the dawn of time. Nothing has changed.

You're right nothing has changed so why allow it to consume most of your time?

[Sick-Tired]

Sounds great, just put your head in the sand and read only that "Good News" from the Bible, that lovely little book that is all rainbows and puppy dog farts and has NO violence!

[Sick-Tired]

Chambersburg wrote:

<quoted text>
Haha I needed a good joke to start the morning.

Good honest reporting, like the other day on Hannity when they spliced footage from Glenn Beck's "9/12 Project" with footage Michelle Crazy Bachman's similar pitchfork party in an effort to make it look like more people were in attendance than there actually were. Gee, that's the DEFINITION of honest reporting.

[Rob]

There ya go, Patricia...live in denial and you'll feel better about yourself.

The religious folks do it all the time (especially the mennonites and amish)

[pork brownies]

TV news is aimed at people who love to sit there and screech, "Oooooh, ain't it awful. What's wrong with people these days any more. Gimme more."

[pork brownies]

LIL JOHN wrote:

<quoted text>
At least some people keep up with current events, unlike you !
When have you posted anything on any thread , other than attack people sir fat man.
What happened to your other name ? Get banned???

I read my news from sources I choose, skipping over the schlock. What I don't do is sit on my unproductive butt 24 hours a day posting hateful insults like some dependent parasite. Now who could I be talking about?

[kdmmertz]

I agree that the news media exaggerates pretty much everything, which is why I don't often watch cable news these days. I read the headlines online and, if they seem contrived or confusing, I take a quick peek to see what's going on. I tend to go to the source more often than not...the U.S. government websites, school board websites, etc. I don't take the "news" at face value...I dig deeper.

I also agree that the world seems a lot worse than it did when I was growing up. I'm only 33, but in the last 20 years the world has changed. I don't let my five-year-old go running the neighborhood. I instill a sense of vigilance in my pre-teen when she goes off my radar with her friends. I'm leery of other parents, my neighbors, and other members of my community. The world just seems more dangerous than it did when I was a kid. People just don't live by the same moral code they once did.

Am I paranoid? Perhaps. But I like to view my paranoia as a tendency toward protecting my loved ones. Do I think the world is going to end? No. But I do believe we're seeing a shift in society. It happens...history proves this. Society comes full-circle and we begin anew. Things will get better eventually. But in the meantime, we need to deal with the bad in the best ways we know how.

[George]

Sick-Tired wrote:

<quoted text>
Good honest reporting, like the other day on Hannity when they spliced footage from Glenn Beck's "9/12 Project" with footage Michelle Crazy Bachman's similar pitchfork party in an effort to make it look like more people were in attendance than there actually were. Gee, that's the DEFINITION of honest reporting.

You know, I've never watched either of those shows - in my opinion, they present "the news" based on their personal opinion, and not objectively at all. That's the kind of news it's GOOD to hide your head about. I don't want to know what you think about it, just tell me the facts, I'm fully capable of processing the facts and developing my own opinion.

[LifeIsGrand]

kdmmertz wrote:

I agree that the news media exaggerates pretty much everything, which is why I don't often watch cable news these days. I read the headlines online and, if they seem contrived or confusing, I take a quick peek to see what's going on. I tend to go to the source more often than not...the U.S. government websites, school board websites, etc. I don't take the "news" at face value...I dig deeper.
I also agree that the world seems a lot worse than it did when I was growing up. I'm only 33, but in the last 20 years the world has changed. I don't let my five-year-old go running the neighborhood. I instill a sense of vigilance in my pre-teen when she goes off my radar with her friends. I'm leery of other parents, my neighbors, and other members of my community. The world just seems more dangerous than it did when I was a kid. People just don't live by the same moral code they once did.
Am I paranoid? Perhaps. But I like to view my paranoia as a tendency toward protecting my loved ones. Do I think the world is going to end? No. But I do believe we're seeing a shift in society. It happens...history proves this. Society comes full-circle and we begin anew. Things will get better eventually. But in the meantime, we need to deal with the bad in the best ways we know how.

I love the fact you go right to the source for information, I'm always digging around for the facts. I don't trust the media and no one else should either :)
As far as people not living by the same moral code.. well, I think that depends on how you choose to view others. There are good and bad people in the world. I teach my children to be thinkers and be aware of their surroundings because of that. It's something I must inform my children about but it's not something I'm constantly focusing on or I would go mad and they would be afraid to live. You gotta find balance.

[D_F_F]

George and Lil John... the way you two bicker reminds me of a pair of bratty third graders. Both of you get over yourselves and discuss the issues, not your issues with each other or go to the principal's office already!(oh, and apologies to third graders)

[D_F_F]

I think the issue here is whether ignoring the bad news presented in large quantities by media outlets is beneficial or harmful. Personally I feel that ignorance is not bliss... ignorance is just ignorance. So, attack away... I raised kids and lived through it... I can handle being called a few names by some other juvenile.

And when did my initials become offensive? 4th letter of the alphabet, followed by the 6th letter, then the 6th again...

[sam hill]

Sick-Tired wrote:

Sounds great, just put your head in the sand and read only that "Good News" from the Bible, that lovely little book that is all rainbows and puppy dog **** and has NO violence!

One think for sure you don't read the bible it tells of more and terible desasters than any one book ever published---but in turn to a beliver the most comforting book ever printed or ever will be -THE KING JAMES VERSON not the new improved verson.

[Dan the Man]

sam hill wrote:

<quoted text>
One think for sure you don't read the bible it tells of more and terible desasters than any one book ever published---but in turn to a beliver the most comforting book ever printed or ever will be -THE KING JAMES VERSON not the new improved verson.

Why are you slavishly devoted to a version of the Bible that was written before the discovery of many manuscripts that are more ancient than those that were available 400 years ago, including the Dead Sea Scrolls? Why would you insist on idolizing an inadequate translation of scripture? It makes no sense.