Horrific experiences with news stories

[rva_jeremy]

I echo Diana's advice: just because there is suffering in the world doesn't mean you have to experience it in the way the for-profit, mainstream media wants you to. Finding the right source for getting your information is some work, but it's worth it. I find that internet news sites tend to put less of a manipulative spin on things, and are easier to skim to get the facts and the catalytic impact without having the events turned into something arresting.

Of course, I'm also interested in the thoughts of others who advise using this reaction you're having for introspection and growth. That's something I was struggling with yesterday when I was over at my friend's place. He and his family have a tradition of watching Survivor, and I find the show so transparently stupid (sorry Survivor fans!). But I realized that making dismissive comments or mocking it would only impugn an event that brings his family together, which is a very loving and positive experience.

I also find commercials really catalytic because they seem so freaking manipulative, it actually really offends and insults me. And I'm sort of learning that I have built in reactions and defenses to things like that that do not allow me to really feel the negative emotion. To actually feel manipulated instead of just detecting and defending against it, this is the task right now, and it's so difficult. But I think to the extent that you are allowing yourself to feel these things that the news is showing you, you're way ahead of me. In pure sorrow there is something to be gained, of this I am increasingly convinced.