A Welcome Break From Reality

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Afraid to Watch the News, Millions Turn to Fox

Channel Offers Welcome Break from Reality, Psychologists Say

NEW YORK – With unprecedented crises engulfing the world, millions of television viewers are finding the news too stressful to watch – and are turning to the Fox News Channel instead.

“Things are so bad in the world right now, many people are afraid to watch the news,” says psychologist Davis Logsdon, who studies the relationship between news consumption and stress at the University of Minnesota. “For them, Fox News represents a welcome break from reality.”

Tracy Klugian, 37, a systems analyst from Lansing, Michigan, said that he was flipping the channels to find “anything but news” and found himself watching Fox for the first time.

“They had this guy on – something Beck I think his name was – and he was just going on and on, making stuff up,” he said. “I was like, this is the kind of mindless junk I need right now.”

Mr. Klugian says he now records the program and watches it every day when he gets home for work: “For one hour at least, I know that I can kick back and not hear anything that’s going on in the world.”

He said that watching Fox had also introduced him to “my favorite new comedian – this hysterical woman named Michele Bachmann.”

“She was doing this bit about how the American Revolution started in New Hampshire, not Massachusetts, and then she started mixing up where Lexington and Concord were,” he said. “Okay, I know it sounds really stupid, but I almost peed myself.”

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I've fallen back to the BBC. I go onto Fox, MSNBC, CNN and they always have massive text with over the top titles....so i'm done with all three for the time being.

[^_^ 5,021]

I only watch cable news for domestic political news/commentary. This Japan thing ... all online. Kyodo News and Japan Times hve been awesome.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I watch Ren and Stimpy as a coping mechanism.

[BishopM 114]

At one point in my life, while living in Atlanta, I totally quit watching news...I mean, I really couldn't cope with perpetual stories of 'who shot who' each day at the local convenience store. Instead, I would go for a walk when news was on...it was a great decision...made me happy.

A few years later, I totally gave up tv completely...made me even happier!

But...a few years later I got married again to AAm and so we watch tv together like normal people . However, after not watching news on TV for over a decade, I was so SHOCKED by how many news channels were no on so many channels...it is the svkc! I honestly don't know how people can sit and watch that blabbering on any channel for any portion of their day...it all seems biased in way way or another...

Internet is better for news...

Just my opinion though...but then again, I think most news really stinks...going for a walk is almost always the better option.