Since coming to Baker, I’ve noticed that I don’t watch as much TV as I used to.
At first, I thought it was a good thing. Lord knows I used to watch way too much TV.
But at the same time, I realized I’m losing something valuable from it I never thought I would: news.
I really started thinking about it while sitting in Joe Watson’s mass media class.
The other day he asked the class if it knew what was going on over in the Gaza Strip.
You could hear a pin drop.
And I can’t really say too much, because I had no idea either. I’m still not really sure what’s going on.
But then he asked us about Jessica Simpson and immediately everyone starting chiming in about the fact that she was pictured looking a little chubbier in “mom” pants.
Of course, who could forget her relationship with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. That was quite the hot topic.
But yet no one knows what's going on in Gaza. <br/>I admit I have a tendency to be more interested in the latest gossip on "Entertainment Tonight" than what's breaking news on CNN.I admit I have a tendency to be more interested in the latest gossip on "Entertainment Tonight" than what's breaking news on CNN.
I admit I have a tendency to be more interested in the latest gossip on “Entertainment Tonight” than what’s breaking news on CNN.
So why is it that we are more aware of what’s going on with Jessica Simpson than what’s going on in the Middle East?
There could be a lot of reasons.
The main one I would say would be exposure.
I’m guessing most people don’t watch the news, and even less probably read the daily newspaper, yet we pick up the latest “People” magazine and are engrossed in what’s going on with the Brangelina couple.
You get in the checkout line at the store and everywhere you see magazines with the hottest celebrities, usually not shown in their best light.
But where are the stories about global, economic and political issues?
Well they're not next to our favorite candy bar in the checkout line at Wal-Mart. <br/>So what's at our disposal isn't what's going on in the Middle East, but rather which singer beat up his girlfriend.So what's at our disposal isn't what's going on in the Middle East, but rather which singer beat up his girlfriend.
So what’s at our disposal isn’t what’s going on in the Middle East, but rather which singer beat up his girlfriend.
Another reason could be that we like seeing Jessica Simpson overweight.
Do we have some sick obsession with seeing stars at their worst?
Maybe.
Someone does if that’s all they put on the latest cover of “UsWeekly”.
If you think about it, it does show us celebrities are human.
It makes them seem more like us, like an ordinary person.
Another reason could be maybe we would rather not think about heavier topics like the war in Iraq or the disappointing economy.
Maybe we’d rather focus on lighter subjects like who was wearing what at last week’s Grammy’s. It’s certainly understandable.
When I do watch the news it seems to me that it’s all bad.
Among the news coverage are robberies, shootings, fires, wrecks and while there is some good news, there isn’t much.
I’d rather focus on who got kicked off “American Idol”.
The problem is, I really can’t. Or I shouldn’t.
Because if I do, I’m missing what I should be most interested in.
When I say interested, I don’t necessarily mean fascinated about it like people get with Jessica Simpson and her weight issue, but more along the lines of just paying attention to what affects our lives.
Does Jessica Simpson gaining a little weight really affect our lives?
I’m thinking not.
But what about the war in Iraq?
Or what about something closer to home, like economic troubles.
We really should be in the know of these things, because while they may be happening in another part of the world, they are still affecting us.
Celebrity gossip, not so much.