Most of the night, my baby and I take a walk through our neighborhood. It’s a very good experience to have. I used to walk very fast. However, yesterday I was at my wife’s house, and me and my baby went for a walk. After some time a man crossed us on a bike. The man on the bike stopped me, questioning me as if he were a police officer.
He asked me, ‘Engota? Ara?’ (Who are you? Where are you going?)
I casually replied, ‘Chumma nadakkan irangiyatha (Just for a walk).’
My reply was not enough for him. He asked me, ‘Ninne ithu vare kanditillalo? Evideya thamasikune?’ (I haven’t seen you before? Where are you staying?)
Now I realized a short answer won’t work; I have to explain it to him more clearly. Once he got the answer, he smiled and disappeared.
The exchange highlighted how news can sometimes create unnecessary fear and suspicion. In most homes, adults spend 7–10 pm on news discussions because of the false virtue of getting more knowledge. I’ve personally chosen not to watch TV news, feeling that it often focuses on the negative, creating a distorted view of the world and also taking away valuable time. To stay updated, I skim through Google News.
If watch closely those who regularly watch the news tend to have more negative thoughts. My grandmother’s cautionary tales about accidents, drownings, and landslides are a testament to how news can influence our perceptions and conversations.
It’s not that news is inherently bad; our media goes for negative news because the consumers (we) need that news. If we set our bar high, naturally the media is forced to set the bar high.
These are only my views about the media; this is not an argument. 😄 What are your thoughts on the influence of news on our perceptions? Share your experiences! 😊🌍
