The poison we consume

The author recounts a past immersion in daily news consumption, spending hours absorbing content from cable networks with the conviction of becoming better informed. While acknowledging that the past wasn't idyllic, the author contrasts it with today's deeply polarized and agitated environment, which now appears almost tranquil by comparison.

This daily habit shifted after a deliberate decision to cancel cable television. The superficial reason involved grown children no longer needing children's channels. However, the deeper motivation stemmed from growing weary of a "poisoned intellectual diet" that left the author feeling agitated, cynical, and emotionally drained. The realization that news consumption was impacting peace of mind prompted a decision to step away.

“

I had grown weary of paying for what increasingly felt like a poisoned intellectual diet; one that left me agitated, cynical, and emotionally exhausted.

The author posits that news is not a public utility but a business with inherent incentives. Citing examples like Larry Ellison and Elon Musk, the author emphasizes that control of the narrative equates to significant influence. Media organizations aggressively compete for ratings, which drive advertising revenue. Consequently, the product sold is often not just information, but the audience's attention, emotions, and time. The longer a network captures viewership, the more advertising it can sell. While truth, accuracy, and journalism matter, within this commercial system, attention, often captured by emotion like fear, becomes the dominant economic incentive.

“

Truth matters, accuracy matters, and journalism matters. But within a commercial system, truth is not always the dominant economic incentive. Attention is and attention is most easily captured by emotion.