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Martin Byrne's avatar

While reading this article it occurred to me that I had no idea of two of the stories you examine. The sporting runner and the victim who got a standing ovation. I'm sorry I can't remember their names, not important but what is important is the reason I don't know anything about them.

I don't watch the news you see. Simple as that. I don't read any news paper or watch the news or even listen to the radio.

Consequently I haven't a clue about any of the latest scare stories. I didn't know that Harris was threatened with a bomb scare in fact I only learned quite recently that he was now the Taoiseach.

There is an awfull lot of freedom in not watching "the news". I don't have to care.

I don't care about monkey pox, bird flu, swine flu, global warming or even global cooling. It matters not a jot.

It's great actually. I had to wean myself off the media and I still find myself drifting twords the media once in a while but then I remember why I don't watch it and put myself back on track.

I can heartily recommend to all and sundry this path of deliberate ignorance in all media Matters.

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Humans Eh!'s avatar

As with your other 100+ excellent articles (congratulations, keep 'em coming) which I enjoy immensely, you are 100% correct Stephen. Waking up to how the media and society utilise manipulation of minds from so many angles is very freeing, and gaining immunity from its relentless efforts is spiritually and intellectually rewarding in so many ways. However, many are unprepared for how lonely it can be. I have spoken over the past few years to friends of literally decades, and realised that we are now living on completely different planes of existence.

I often felt as they parroted media conditioning verbatim, having had their opinions fed to them, like I was in 'Invasion of the Bodysnatchers' and at any moment they would sniff me out as 'The Other' and point and scream. I have mainly held my tongue out of both courtesy for old times sake and literally not being arsed dealing with a fool for whom no amount of evidence or truth will break their media conditioning. You know it when it happens, and recently I spoke to a woman I've known as a good friend for over forty years, the petering conversation died awkwardly and we parted. I watched her walk away sadly, knowing that I would never purposely speak to her again. It was like a death.

I don't despise these people although the reverse wouldn't necessarily be true but I have learned to pity their naievity but also walk away from the real danger they represent.

My eyes were opened a long long time ago. I began to hate going into a pub and there literally being no angle you could face without a television intruding on your eyeline. Entering the bar once full of lively, witty and rambunctious characters and facing stoolfuls of silent people staring down at their phones got very boring. I noticed also early on how people found it impossible to sit in a car without a radio being on, with constant shite music or inane presenters (correct) opinions, interspersed with 'The Headlines' telling you what to think pumped relentlessly into your subconscious. Ask them what was just said or played and you got the 'fluoride stare' and a "Dunno, I wasn't listening" But it was still seeping into their brains, a slow trickle like a battery charger.

Of all the forces railed against us, politicians, gardaí, ngos etc, I despise the current mainstream media the most. For they are a truly evil force among us.

I got rid of the open sewer pipe into my living room (my TV) years ago and the quiet Saturday mornings which I loved and looked forward to of spending a leisurely hour before lunch alone by the window in the pub with a newspaper and a brace of Guinness are memories of a different life, and a different me.

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