I am totally an information junkie. I could (and do) spend all day watching and reading news, blogs, and/or researching whatever new obsession I might conjure up that particular day. But I know I’m not alone when I say that recently the news has been fucking depressing. If it is not a mass shooting somewhere, then it is moms leaving their babies in their cars to either die or be carjacked. (Seriously that has happened multiple times in just the last few weeks here in Seattle.)
I know some people just choose to not watch the local news. Honestly, I could never do that. First of all, to not watch television is against my religion. Secondly, I feel like it’s my responsibility to know what’s going on in the world around me in order to be prepared. What if there was some massive event happening and I didn’t know about it? Like, the Housewives of New York’s Countess being “blindsided” by a divorce?! Breaking news, people!
But to be serious again, the news has just been ridiculously violent lately. And if that weren’t bad enough, I keep on coming across these horrific stories on blogs about dead moms, dead babies, or babies that didn’t even get the chance. First I must say that I cannot even fathom what the loved ones who are left to deal with their grief are going through…
With that said, I often have to ask myself, “why do I constantly read blog posts that are destined to (1) depress the shit out of me and (2) make me entirely too paranoid that something is going to happen to Baby Bee, Baby Numero Dos or even me before, during, or after the next pregnancy?”
While I love, obviously, the Interwebs and the community amongst ourselves that we are, it’s scary to read all of these heart-shattering stories and realize it could happen to you, too.
So I ask you, Interwebs, do you find yourself drawn to these stories of loss or do you prefer to avoid those blogs and just read about puppies and rainbows and whatnot?
On a completely unrelated (and significantly funnier and happier) note, Sissy went to Costco today in search of Easter baskets for her three children. Upon arriving, she began her hunt for baskets, only to discover that they sold out of baskets since the last time she was there a few days ago.
Filled with Easter Basket despair, she continued her shopping only to discover a (most likely) abandoned cart containing not one, not two, but THREE beautiful Easter baskets. As told by Sissy, the clouds parted and she could hear the chorus of angels as she stealthily waited until all the other shoppers were distracted by 10 gallon jugs of mayonnaise and she snatched the baskets and threw them in her cart like the ninja she always wished she could be.
She then ran walked quickly, but so quickly as to arise suspicion, to the checkout lines, the rest of her shopping list be damned. And she is now at home, baskets secure and awaiting Sunday’s festivities.
So if you take nothing else from this story, I hope you feel compelled by the Easter spirit as my Sissy did. Just make sure you don’t get caught.
Song title: No News Is Good News by New Found Glory
4:53 pm on April 9th, 2009
I’m wondering what your religeon is… televisionangelist?
I can’t help being drawn to those doom and despair blogs… like Maddie’s story, most recently. I think it’s like a car accident. We don’t really want to look, but we just can’t help ourselves.
Sissy experienced a true Easter miracle. I’m thinking of converting to televisionangelism, so good stuff will happen to me too.
6:15 pm on April 9th, 2009
The easter basket story is great! Hahaha!
Personally I like the “sad stories” mixed in with the happy ones. It proves the blogger is “real”. If they are all rainbows and sunshine all the time, then they aren’t being true to themselves.
7:40 pm on April 9th, 2009
…. I was just thinking to myself…. Just how “Easter-like” my behavior was at Costco.
Oh well, I’m not gonna dwell on it. At least MY kids will have the baskets. Whoever’s baskets they were shouldn’t have left them just lying around.
I feel like I was really just teaching them a lesson. Sissy-style.
11:23 pm on April 9th, 2009
I do find myself drawn to those types of posts. I think that there are several reasons for it. One is that when I read them, I have somewhere to direct my prayers, someone that needs something that I have to give. Another is that it reminds me how lucky I am. I LIKE feeling. I like remembering how well I really have it, a reminder to thank God for the things that ARE present in my life despite what’s lacking. I guess part of it is a morbid curiosity, witnessing and reading about something I can’t even imagine makes my brain work overtime. I don’t know, maybe I’m just nosy.
11:40 am on April 10th, 2009
Okay. I’m going to ignorant and say what’s on my mind. Here goes:
I do not read the depressing blogs, because yes, they are depressing. I like to be entertained and laugh because honestly? My life is already hard enough. I don’t need to be drug down by other bloggers’ issues.
(Here comes the bad part.)
I can’t believe the amount of subscribers the depressive blogs have. If a blogger has lost a child, or is deathly ill, or someone in her family is dying of cancer her numbers are OFF THE HOOK. Sometimes the readers are people who are going through the same issues–which is totally who SHOULD be reading those blogs–but most of the time it’s just people enjoying a macabre thrill.
Or maybe I’m giving people evil motives when that’s not the case? (Wouldn’t be the first time. I am a cynic.) Maybe people are reading those blogs because they’re the same people who watch Lifetime Movies just to cry and be emotional?
And to get even more ignorant…I despise the “I’m down on my luck” bloggers. People feel sorry for them, start donating money, and the blogger keeps coming up with more and more “needs”. I’m not a fan of Blogging Welfare.
1:27 pm on April 10th, 2009
Yes & no. On the one hand I see a story (such as Maddie Spohr or the Pike’s Place kidnapping) & I just cannot get it out of my head. I feel terrible for the parents because they shouldn’t have to go through that and I of course worry about my own kids. On the other hand I try not to seek out the stories *because* I cannot get them out of my head. Which is probably why I need medication:b It does pose a problem because then I don’t know what’s going on in the world a lot of times.