“I never watch the News’.

i am 60 and i don't watch the news, i have a look at online news sites and headlines that are set from national newspapers to my inbox, some news stories i am not interested in so sitting watching the news to me is pointless.

I rarely watch or listen to the news after changing to a smart TV and losing my usual facility. It comes to me indirectly on my Ipad or from other sources. I occasionally glance to keep up to date.
I decided it was depressing me. All the terrible things in the world gathered together in one place a few times a day could not be beneficial to my mental health.

I’m sure I feel better for it and I’ll know soon enough if something happens without dwelling on dreadful situations I can do nothing about. It’s often pure schadenfreude that makes people listen to and watch news many times a day.

I have a friend who 'just doesn't do news' in any shape or form. Baffling.

I rarely watch TV news or the breakfast shows, although I read dozens of online news sources and watch podcasts. I do watch documentaries and current affairs programmes, although I've given up on Question Time.

There is nothing new about this attitude. I had an aunt and uncle, who died over 20 years ago, who never read papers, listened or viewed the news, but were always ready to pontificate on everything their friends told them.

I am with Casdon I think we have a responsibility to know what is happening in the world around us. Once upon a time, it was sufficient just to know what was happening in your own locality and, possibly, country, but nowadays when international events interlink and what is happening 10,000 miles from us can be critical to the price of our food, what energy we use, and who comes to this country, there is no excuse for putting your head in the sand. Do that and you will not see the sandbag coming that will take your life or your families.

I think as citizens we’ve got a responsibility to keep up to date what’s happening in the UK and in the world, so yes, I think it’s very odd not to be aware of the news.

I have a friend like that. We often meet up with other friends and as you do we discuss what’s going on in the world.
90% of the time my friend has no idea what we’re talking about.

My friend doesn't follow the news - and has no interest at all in current affairs or politics. She doesn't vote, either, just lives in her own little world.

By contrast, my mother took a very keen interest in it all, convinced that it was vital to be up to date and well informed about news from around the world - despite being 89 (and I did wonder why - as it made no difference, really).

I too think it odd. I acknowledge that not everyone watches lots of news and current affairs programmes as I do (because it interests me), but surely, even watching something 'shallow' such as The One Show or any of the breakfast programmes will mean some exposure to current affairs? Does she not have any colleagues who have had the lack of an NHS dentist problem? Also, if the person in question is an administrator of a FB page, surely she should be aware of the kind of issues raised? It is not all speeding through the village/potholes/missing cats.

I think it’s odd too. I’m almost obsessed with the news although I do have to limit myself if something really upsetting has happened

No. I very much dislike that the News has become a form of entertainment. Often trading on people’s misfortune to fill their time slots.
Very reliant on “personalities” to give opinions or just as bad pointless opinionated interviews with the person in the street, presented as facts.