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The Fact Is Fiction. Reading the News and #GE17

Monday, 8 May 2017

Light through a round window

I may be busy, it is depressing, but I always make some time to read the news.  Particularly now we've a General Election coming up.  I can't even begin to tell you how thrilled I am at the thought of all other government issues - welfare, healthcare, education, law and order, defence, tax etc - being swamped by Brexit: The Re-Run:
  • Tory - Vote for the Brexit negotiating position outlined in the White Paper earlier this year.
  • Labour - Vote for a Brexit negotiating position yet to be written, but likely to be softer than the one in the Tory White Paper.
  • Lib Dem - Vote to stay in the EU.  Or at least, the Single Market. 
  • UKIP - We want all the Brexit!  And we want it now!  With a knighthood for Farage to go ...
  • Greens - Vote to stay in the EU while protecting the environment.  (Sadly, not viable where I live.  I'm voting for someone with a fighting chance of unseating our local MP). 
  • SNP - Vote for IndyRef2 and a place in the queue for EU membership (probably) if it's a win this time.  Or IndyRef3 if it isn't ...  (Other Nationalist parties are available in other parts of the country). 
If you're not registered to vote on in  #GE17 8 June 2017, you have until 22 May 2017

Register to Vote

The above was written before the local election results, but still seems fair enough.  And now, having got my (fairly restrained) general election rant out of the way, back to the rest of this post ... Here's some music while you read.  Switchfoot's "Selling the News":



Being informed, having an opinion and being able to give a reason for it and contribute to discussions about what's going on in our world ... It's worth making the time.  If you want to be better informed about global goings on, then this might be of interest to you too.

Mainstream media

Lots of my friends don't trust "mainstream media", preferring to get their news from Facebook, Twitter, niche blogs etc.  Whilst some news sources have disappeared down the clickbait rabbit hole, more interested in pushing their own agendas and selling rather than telling the news, I'm staying mainstream. I'd sooner get my information from a broadsheet - Guardian, Independent, Telegraph. (I'd add the Times and the FT to that list as well, but they have paywalls and I'm a skinflint).  They have an agenda, but also an acquaintance with fact-checking and legal niceties.  I've signed up for emails so I start the day with a summary of key stories I scan on the bus.  The BBC app is also good for a quick scroll.  

I also like watching current affairs shows like Have I Got News For You and The Last Leg.  But not Question Time.  I always end up shouting at the telly and putting money in the swear jar.  Or Newsnight.  I need the sleep.

Social Media

We're frequently told to "unfollow people who upset you on social media".  Good advice, but the danger of doing that is ending up in a bubble of like minded people.  Which means election results etc can come as a horrible surprise.  Who voted for that? Or, turning it around, who didn't vote for that?  People outside our circles on social media - that's who.  Different generation or class or ... Or people we know keeping quiet as they don't need the hassle.

I try not to delete people I disagree with as it doesn't make them go away.  It just means I'm not hearing alternative views to my own.  A discussion in which only one answer is possible sounds tedious, not to mention pointless. 

What do you think?  Do you follow the news?  Do you get rid of people from your social media feed you disagree with instantly?  You're also welcome to talk about the election, but please, keep it  constructive.  Ta v m.
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Posted by Tubbs

28 comments

  1. Kate, Meals and makes8 May 2017 at 11:57

    I agree, we should listen the the views of others (even if they are not the same as ours) it seems a bit childish to ignore people just because they don't think the same things as me. I prefer mainstream media too, hopefully this has a bit more substance to it (things on social media can easily be made up).

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    1. Tubbs11 May 2017 at 09:51

      So true, I was astonished when I saw the figures about the amount of fake news articles that were shared on social. Wow!

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  2. Musings of a tired mummy...zzz...8 May 2017 at 20:55

    Please vote! Everyone vote! We don't want another debacle like the Brexit vote when people didn't and then regretted it. Our local election turnout was 37% just pitiful! #marvmondays

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    1. Tubbs11 May 2017 at 09:49

      True this! If you don't vote, you only have yourself to blame when you don't get the result you want.

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  3. Susie / So Happy In Town8 May 2017 at 20:56

    We shouldn't just bury our heads in the sand and listen to people who agree with everything we agree with, though it is tempting to unfollow those people as it's never easy to read things you disagree with. I follow mainstream news mostly, when I have the time! #globalblogging

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    1. Tubbs11 May 2017 at 10:00

      Agree totally. Otherwise you end up in an echo chamber and that's not good

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  4. Mess and Merlot9 May 2017 at 12:32

    I like the sound of a daily email with all the headlines - I think that's about as much as my brain can cope with when it comes to politics now! Re Facebook I have a daily VERY 'pro-Brexit' post from someone who I can't unfriend because he's a FAMILY MEMBER! :) AWKS. Thank goodness for the 'hide' option ;) #DreamTeam

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    1. Tubbs11 May 2017 at 09:53

      The hide option is a godsend! My mate can post all the pro-Brexit and cute animal memes they want, but I don't have to read them! Meanwhile, they've probably hidden my left-wing, anti-Brexit comments. Everyone's happy :)

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  5. Unknown9 May 2017 at 13:10

    Definitely need to listen to others views and feel the pulse of what is going on in the country. It's no good starting strong on something only to later realise you actually missed the point totally. #dreamteam

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    1. Tubbs11 May 2017 at 10:01

      Yes!!! I love this, it's so true.

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  6. chickenruby9 May 2017 at 15:17

    oh i do wish i could have a grown up debate with my father on this subject, i won't go into who we both vote for but lets just say it's the opposite ends of the spectrum and that my father gets all his info from reading tabloid newspapers
    #TweensTeensBeyond

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    1. Tubbs11 May 2017 at 10:01

      I feel your pain. The Fail has alot to answer for

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  7. Musings of a tired mummy...zzz...10 May 2017 at 22:11

    The election scares me as I have no idea who I will vote for, I just know I will vote. The problem is that I don't trust any of them :( #bestandworst

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    1. Tubbs11 May 2017 at 10:02

      Me neither. It's a question of holding my nose and picking the less worst option

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  8. Jo - Mother of Teenagers11 May 2017 at 09:54

    With a career in PR behind me and being the age I am, I am a mainstream media fan. I read, watch the news, listen to R4 constantly and like you love all those news programmes especially Have I Got News For You. My husband has converted to the online format but I love a good paper to flick through and have a basket in our kitchen which by the end of the week is heaving and then just like I did in the old days I go through and clip the articles I found of interest! My teens think I am insane but there you go they are growing up getting their news from buzzfeed. Social media and I have an acquaintance but my true love will always be mainstream media. Thanks for linking. #TweensTeensBeyond

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    1. Tubbs11 May 2017 at 10:02

      Mine too! Thank you for hosting each week :)

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  9. Nicky Kentisbeer11 May 2017 at 18:58

    Yes, I like to know what is going on and make myself very busy at election time. I have to say I've kept myself to myself this time around. And yes, I have unfriended people who I refer to as 'shouters' and have also written a post about this pre the EU Referendum. I don't have a problem with people who have a different viewpoint or stance but I do have a problem of people that like to shout their point over everyone else's or jump on a bandwagon. Listening to others at times like this is something I seek to do and have 'go to' people for this very reason. I also love it when we get visits from the different party representatives - although I must say they need to start upping their game a bit!! Thanks for bringing this to #tweensteensbeyond. Love it! Nicky

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    1. Tubbs15 May 2017 at 10:51

      I don't mind a good discussion / disagreement, but I don't like shouters either. The mute button is a wonderful thing!

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  10. Sharon12 May 2017 at 20:09

    I'm more of a mainstream media person and perhaps social media is sneeking in. The problem is that most of my 'friends' on social media are of a similar political persuasion to me so it tends to be one sided. My real passion is that I want everyone, especially young people, to get out there and vote! Thanks so much for joining us at #TweensTeensBeyond

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    1. Tubbs15 May 2017 at 10:52

      It would be great if everyone was more involved and informed - whatever their age! :)

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  11. Mummascribbles12 May 2017 at 22:18

    I'm finding it harder and harder to cast a vote because I truly believe they all talk utter tripe! I don't believe any of them! Thanks for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday

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    1. Tubbs15 May 2017 at 10:53

      It is a question of the lesser of several evils sometimes! I'm amazed at some of the stuff they come out with as well.

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  12. The Queen of Collage13 May 2017 at 13:10

    We don't tend to watch much news on television so I don't know who to vote for. I do think its awful that people died so we women could vote and then we are torn. #bestandworst

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    1. Tubbs15 May 2017 at 10:53

      I know! Thank you for commenting :)

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  13. Unknown14 May 2017 at 14:38

    I have to admit that I am terrible at making time to keep up with the news. Luckily my OH is slightly obsessed by it so I do tend to hear about most of the current affairs, although a little bit like your comment above I fear that I am getting a very one sided picture of events as he does tend to have very strong opinions. Love your point: "I try not to delete people I disagree with as it doesn't make them go away. It just means I'm not hearing alternative views to my own". Absolutely valid and very much critical in the current political climate I think! Thanks for sharing with #DreamTeam

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    1. Tubbs15 May 2017 at 10:53

      Thank you for the lovely comment and for hosting each week

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  14. Anonymous15 May 2017 at 11:50

    In Australia we have to vote, I think we need that push as many wouldn't vote if we didn't have to #mg

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    1. Tubbs16 May 2017 at 09:23

      I wish we had that here. Our turnout figures are terrible!

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