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darkshine

Wanting To Learn About The World

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I have avoided 'the news' for a long time and am thinking of getting a paper one day a week (a compromise position) and I am also interested in specialist magazines or checking out websites a couple of days a week or once month or how ever these things work - I've avoided this area for such a long while that to be honest I don't know where to start.

 

I wondered what people's opinions are with the different things available, because when I have got round to looking at a few different things I can't help feeling that they are all just displayed in one way - I have a mistrust of the media to be honest - but at the same time I would like to see a bit of what goes on in the world.

 

What sorts of things do people read and why are they preferable over other ones, why are they worthwhile and valuable and why are they interesting and what are your opinions on them?

 

I have of course looked around but at this point I'm not really sure what it is I'm looking for - I do know that I'm not overly interested in trash and would like to read something that has some level of value.

 

Also I'm curious as to what sorts of things are around for getting up to date on certain things too and I am open to suggestions about stuff that is in set areas, such as science, politics, medicine/sociology/psychology, global things, technology, art, engineering, conservation - whatever floats your boat really - I've been very isolated from the world (by my own choice) and I am trying to remedy that but as I have said I do not know where to start and there's so much out there that I feel overwhelmed and I feel pretty lost with it all.

 

I've always been the kind of person who likes to hear other people's opinions and then I like to make up my own mind and would appreciate some varied input.

 

I also have a tendency for liking things that are a little unconventional/alternative :lol:

 

I would like to reiterate that I'm not interested in trash stuff, or gossip, I do have a sense of humour, and I do like serious stuff and factual stuff, but I'm a bit lost and so I thought I'd throw this out for discussion and see if anyone has anything to say or can point me in any directions.

 

Ideally I would prefer constructive advice or opinions rather than a slating of the news, because I've already wonderfully engaged in such slating for many years and would like to hear about different approaches to such matters.

 

Best

 

Darkshine

Edited by darkshine

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We get The Times, and have done for 17 years. I don't think it has greater merit than other papers, tbh, but it has become a tradition, and the world would implode if we didn't. There's relatively little celebrity gossip, mercifully enough, but in terms of independence and integrity I don't believe it has higher credentials than other so-called serious rags. It's just something we like, basically, and we're shallow enough to swallow it's brand of news, I guess.

 

What I really like, when we're feeling flush, is The Week here http://www.theweek.co.uk/ and here http://dennis.subscribeonline.co.uk/Subscription/the-week?offerCode=N1206PXEPY&personalSubscription=true&__utma=1.1033759409.1356194963.1356194986.1356195702.3&__utmb=1.1.10.1356195702&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1356195702.3.3.utmcsr=bing%7Cutmccn=(organic)%7Cutmcmd=organic%7Cutmctr=the%20week&__utmv=-&__utmk=214286103 .It condenses everything into manageable articles, and the idea is that you should be able to get an overview of the big issues in an hour or so. It manages a good breadth, including finance, ecology and science. It is still relatively challenging, though, despite its breadth and brevity and claims an original take on news as it happens. Whether or not you believe that is up to you, but it's definitely worth a look, although I find the price a bit prohibitive as a regular buy. I wish I could buy it weekly.

Edited by Mannify

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Would agree The Week is worth a look or get one of the sunday papers and work through it bit by bit. I think newspaers are something you have a preference for I personally like the Guardian or the Independant but preference often relates to political leanings. I always find The Big Issue to be worth the money on a number of levels.

 

Whilst I follow the internet and 24 news there is something to be said for getting on the sofa with a good magazine or newspaper and taking the time to read and reflect on things at your own pace.

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Thank you for the suggestions so far, I am slowly working my way through them - its been a busy week and I haven't been as 'on it' as I would normally.

 

I'm wondering if everyone else either finds this topic boring - or if there are more people who just avoid the news as I have done for so long - also, this may be a total presumption, but I did think that there would be some really weird stuff that people might read and I'm mildly surprised that a lot of this stuff is er... dunno the word... not very surprisingly quirky :D

 

PS - has anyone seen how much the price of newspapers have gone up by - its been a long time people, they were pence last time I bought one :lol:

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I tend to shy away from the news as I find most of it rather depressing. I watched part of the news on telly the other night and found myself thinking 'wtf?'... the world out there kinda scares me a little more than it used to.

 

I guess I really should start reading / watching the news more and being a bit more up to date with happenings, I used to know so much of what was going on, good or bad.

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I tend to shy away from the news as I find most of it rather depressing.

For an antidote to the depressing mainstream news, try Positive News - does what it says on the tin. Only downside is that you may find yourself thinking (as I do) "why isn't there more of this kind of cool stuff happening where I live?".

 

I'm also a subscriber to Grist for environmental news.

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