Posted on Sep 14, 2014
LTC Hillary Luton
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I read an article that suggests that reading the news is actually bad for your health. Sadly, I'm a PAO, and yet I really don't enjoy the news or the media for that matter.
The article suggests that giving up reading the news will make you happier, healthier and more creative.

What are your thoughts? Do you find the reading or listening to the news affects your health? Can you give it up? Do our positions as SMs make us more prone to "need" to know the news? And can we give it up along with taking off the uniform? (I know - a lot of questions. I did say I was PAO.)

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/apr/12/news-is-bad-rolf-dobelli
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Responses: 21
PO1 Master-at-Arms
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Thanks a lot, LTC Hillary Luton, for posting bad news about bad news. Now I need my medicine :-(
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PO1 Master-at-Arms
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Do SSG (Join to see) and LTC Hillary Luton, that leads me to the next question...
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LTC Hillary Luton
LTC Hillary Luton
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Sttttoooopppppp!!! You're making my head hurt! :-)
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PO1 Master-at-Arms
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My apologies, LTC Hillary Luton, for toasting you out
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SSG Psyop Instructor
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You're precisely correct PO1 (Join to see) !!!
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LT Jessica Kellogg
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"And can we give it up along with taking off the uniform? "

That's where I'm at. I'm working as a PAO right now, and absolutely love it. But if I don't step away from the news and media when I get home from work, it starts to feel like work-life bleeds over into home-life.
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LTC Hillary Luton
LTC Hillary Luton
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I know what you mean.
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PO2 Rocky Kleeger
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I guess you could say that. I'll read several versions of the same article, so I have a better chance of sorting out what could be true and what would be absolute bullsh!t...
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LTC Hillary Luton
LTC Hillary Luton
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LOL! Funny. I do that too. Actually, in today's instant access to the news, and how easily misinformation can be projected, its necessary in order to "try" to get an accurate account of what is going on. Sometimes it seems impossible.
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MSG Usarec Liason At Nrpc/Nara
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I listen to the news on my way to and from work....if anything peaks my interest beyond rolling my eyes I'll go find an article and read about it
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LTC Hillary Luton
LTC Hillary Luton
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I can relate to that all too well.
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SFC Mark Merino
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I take breaks and watch NHK (Japanese tv) sometimes and see world news from a different country/s point of view. It is amazing how cultural perspectives influence the same story. Wearing a uniform definitely puts attention to detail with world events. It can be very stressful both physically and mentally.
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LTC Hillary Luton
LTC Hillary Luton
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That's interesting, but I do like the concept of getting another culture's point of view or take on news that happens in the U.S.
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SGT Richard H.
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Happier, yes. I can't really think that it would be healthier though. Without following the news and knowing what is going on in the world, we would all become woefully uninformed. I can't see much improved health in that.
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LTC Hillary Luton
LTC Hillary Luton
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Logical.
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MSgt Tactical Aircraft Maintenance
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Edited >1 y ago
I personally read the news several times a day.
As a young airman I was always told keep up with current events for airman boards etc . . I took it to heart, as the individual who gave the advice was a great mentor.
I think it definitely helps spark some good conversations at work, considering that ALL I hear about ATM is football or fantasy football
There have been a few moments where I started having anxiety about what was going on in the world and and to stop reading for awhile.
One of the conversations that has popped frequently is, We get bombarded with "Hey, look whats going on over here!" and at the same time the other hand is in the cookie jar doing something else. Also, when it's time for a certain issue to be silenced some other tragedy happens and we forget about it, while its still going on.

Oh so many thoughts on this topic....

Sometimes I read the news thinking at least its not me and then feel better about my life and where I'm at in life.

The title of this post reminds me of a Tool song "Vicarious" its on youtube with lyrics.
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LTC Hillary Luton
LTC Hillary Luton
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Thank you for your views. I know it could go down so many rabbit holes. But good points.
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CPT Jacob Swartout
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I usually only read or watch news media if it is really interesting. Most news, I either don't worry about because it has little or limited impact on my life or career. Some news media I only skim over to get the idea or I just read bits and pieces that may be worth looking into more. I'm not an avid news reader at all and know that most news is either not great or just not interesting. I do like the Army Times because it keeps me more posted on current Army events, training, etc.
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LTC Hillary Luton
LTC Hillary Luton
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I have to admit, I go in waves. There are weeks when I am glued to every news story there is and then I get overloaded and want absolutely nothing to do with the news. Granted, with my job, its not that easy to ignore the news. It a job requirement, but sometimes I take weekends to ignore the world and decompress.
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CPT Jacob Swartout
CPT Jacob Swartout
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LTC Hillary Luton there is nothing wrong with a break from the news. Everyone has to find a way to reset and then come back after sometime off.
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SSgt Alex Robinson
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Yes I am. I love know what's going on in the world. Even if it's not the best of news.
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1SG Michael Blount
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Guilty as charged, ma'am
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