Cable News Must Die!

Welcome my friend. I’m excited that you’ve shown an interest in freeing yourself from the negative influence of opinion media. Life has been so much better since I gave it up. Letting go wasn’t easy but I know you can do it. The following is a step by step guide that will allow you to break free of the bonds of negativity.

Background

A few years back I slipped into a pretty bad funk. Opinion media thrives on negativity and I grabbed hold strong. Every week I had a bunch of new partisan issues to be upset about. It was a great diversion from reality. I’ve never been one to be depressed and I’m pretty sure it was the partisan divide that kept me down for so long. I finally reached the breaking point and made the effort to rid myself of Opinion media. Nothing else in my life was getting me out of the funk. What did I have to lose?

I took five, month-long-breaks from opinion media before it finally took. After three breaks I was able to refrain from Cable News. After another break I was able to turn off political talk radio. And finally on my last break I stopped visiting political watchdog sites. I have been opinion-media-free since November 6th, 2010. I have no idea what most of the non-issues liberals or conservatives are supposed to be mad at and I couldn’t be happier or care less. I am embarrassed that I could let myself be controlled so easily. But at the same time I am very proud that I was able to break the negative cycle. My experience has given me the drive to help as many people as I can.

The following is how I was able to break free my opinion media addiction. I really hope this works for you.

1. Recognize how opinion media works

In order to rid yourself of opinion media it’s a good idea to understand their techniques for manipulation. Click on Media Manipulation to get an idea how the political pundits get away with the things they do.

2. Look at the warning signs to see if you have a problem

Read through the Warning Signs to see if you have an addiction to Opinion Media (Make sure to read the warning signs for both Conservatives and Liberals). If someone sent you a link to my site I can assure you that you have a problem.

3. Check out Proof Partisan

Check out Proof Partisan to see a glimpse of the ugly side of Opinion Media. This is a mirror to show how ridiculous we become when we are partisan.

4. Admit you have a problem

The only way you can get rid of a problem is to admit you have one. A quote has been attributed to Mark Twain that relates to Opinion media and the manipulation that is done to their followers. I don’t think Mark Twain actually said this but let’s pretend he did, “It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.”

Think about an issue you you have stubbornly supported against attacks from the other side. Now do a little research outside of the shelter of opinion media. Look at all sides of the issue with an open mind. You will quickly find that what you have been told have been lies or at least spin (which is just a lie wrapped up in a pretty package).

Keep looking into issues that you have defended. Only stop when you can finally admit that you have been manipulated. that you have been used, that you have a problem. Don’t feel like you are week. Even the most brilliant minds are no match for repetition, especially from a trusted source.

5. Why do you need anger in your life?

Now is the time for soul searching. Why do you need to have new enemies or partisan issues every week? Why do you need to have anger in your life? Why do you need the extra stress? Just… why?

6. Prepare to take a month long break from Opinion Media

Are you ready to give it a try? Let’s do it. What helped me break free of the bonds of opinion media was taking a few month long breaks. My first break went from the Saturday after the November elections through Thanksgiving. The timing was so I could really enjoy being with my family Thanksgiving day without any politics. The following are my suggestions for taking a successful break.

Rules for taking a Vacation from Opinionation

• Refrain from watching all cable news segments and opinion shows. No MSNBC, no CNN and no Fox News. Turn off cable news the whole month.
• Refrain from listening to talk radio and partisan news radio.
• Stay away from Internet watchdog sites that monitor the opposition. I’ll pick on the liberals here – no MediaMatters.com or CrooksAndLiars.com. Also refrain from non-partisan watchdog sites.
• Do not read opinion articles or editorials on the internet or in the newspaper.
• Stay away from partisan newsletters like The Nation or The Limbaugh Letter.
• Stay away from partisan us-against-them sites like Brietbart.
• Do not watch political documentaries like Sicko.
• No reading or adding political comments on the internet.
• Do not read or send political emails.
• Do not read or post anything political on social networks. You may have to unfollow some of your most partisan friends during this break (Right click the arrow next to their post and click unfollow. This does not unfriend them, it just makes it so their posts don’t show up in your newsfeed.).
• No reading political blogs.
• Do not take political polls. Especially push polls.
• No going to political rally’s.
• Do not attend political dinners.
• No talking politics with friends or family.

What is allowed

• Feel free to read the news from CNN.com, CBSNews.com, NBCNews.com and FoxNews.com. The written word has a level of authority the spoken word doesn’t have. News organizations tend to be more honest in print. Make sure to read from all four, not just one. By reading from these four different sources you should start to see where each one is spinning stories and a lot of times just completely making up stories and controversies.
• If reading news from the above sources, editorial and opinion articles are out. Plus stay away from the opinion or news videos. And stay away from partisan sections like CNN’s “Ticker” or Fox Nation. Most important stay away from videos or articles by partisan pundits.
• It is fine to read the newspaper but stay away from the editorial and opinion section. And stay away from newspapers that have a heavy political leaning.
• Stay away from any source that has a political bias. You can check your source here.
• And if you absolutely have to watch news on TV go with local news: ABC, CBS, Fox or NBC. The local channels are trying to get viewers from all sides so they are a lot less biased than cable news. Plus they focus less on politics and more on local stories. Basically they try to follow the standards of journalism and are not trying to fill 24 hours.

 

7. Set a date and take a break

Now that you have your rules it is time to set a date for your month long break and do it. Good luck. I believe in you.

When you finally go on your break make sure to read through the rules a few times throughout the month so that you don’t slip.

I have a suggestion for when to go on the break. How about right now.

8. Replacing the void

While you are on your month long break there will be a void in your life. I suggest removing all political links on your computer and adding the following entertainment sites. Check a few of these out when you get the urge to look at something partisan:

iWasteSoMuchTime.com

AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com

ViralNova.com

MentalFloss.com

IFLScience.com

Guff.com

All-That-Is-Interesting.com

Cracked.com

ComediansInCarsGettingCoffee.com

JimllPaintIt.tumblr.com

9. Are you passive or passive aggressive?

Opinion media prays on people who are passive and/or passive aggressive. Go to this link to see if you recognize yourself. If you do then you have some work to do. Follow the tips on the link and learn how to be stronger and more honest. Don’t just stop there – keep learning. I don’t believe being passive or passive aggressive is a personality trait. I think it is a learned habit that can be overcome. Someone gave you this baggage. Once you recognize what it is why keep it? Life is so much better when you learn how to be more honest with yourself and others.

10. Regroup after month long break

So were you able to keep going with the break? If so skip to step 11.

For those like myself that went right back to politics after the break you’ll need to take a few more breaks. In the mean time remove one or two of the negative influences from your life (Cable News, Political Talk Radio, reading/adding comments or political watchdog sites). Each negative influence is like a puppet string that is used to control you. The key here is to systematically cut the strings until all control is gone and you become your own person again.

If you are in deep with cable news it will be easier to stomach if you cut the strings of cable news slowly. Remove one show from your life after each break. Or cut your viewing to a specific amount of time each day.

11. Setup another break and try again

When you are ready, setup another break. This time see how long you can go past the month. Try to go five weeks, six weeks and so on.

If you go back to Opinion Media cut another puppet string (Cable News, Political Talk Radio, reading/adding comments or political watchdog sites). Each puppet string you cut means that much less control opinion media has over you.

Keep taking breaks and cutting puppet strings until you have removed all the bad influences. At this point you will have full control of your mind again and will be able to make the break permanent.

12. Advice for when you break free from the shackles of Opinion Media

For a while you will have to keep up with the original rules until you are your own person again. When you are strong the following is advice that will help keep Opinion Media away for good:

• Refrain from watching all Cable News and opinion shows. No NBC, CNN or Fox News. Be strong.
• The one time that cable news is all right is during a disaster. But be real conscious of your viewing or you can slip right back into your bad habits. CNN does an excellent job staying non-partisan during disasters. And they have the most feet on the ground world wide.
• Refrain from listening to talk radio and partisan news radio. If the show you are listening to gets you mad, you are listening to partisan radio.
• Continue to stay away from watchdog Internet sites that monitor the opposition.
• Stay away from partisan us-against-them sites like Brietbart.
• Do not read opinion articles on the Internet. Every once in a while is fine but read too much and you will be sucked right back in.
• Continue to stay way from partisan newsletters like The Nation or The Limbaugh Letter.
• Political documentaries are fine as long as they are not too partisan. If you are watching a documentary that makes you upset at the other “side” stop watching.
• Every once in a while I will look at the comments section of a political article just to remind myself of how horrible it was to be absorbed by opinion media. Be real careful with this though. You can rebound pretty fast by getting caught up in a fight.
• Do not read or send political emails. Again these are just people regurgitation what the media wants them to say. Be your own person.
• Do not post anything political on social networks. Think of social networks as a big party. The two rules for a party are no politics or religion. If someone is getting heavy into politics you may have to unfollow them until they come to their senses. I would unfollow anyone who excessively posts politics on Facebook.
• Try to stay far far away from political blogs.
• Most everyone associates themselves with a group, Christians, gays, Jews, black, Hispanic, geeks, etc… For each group there usually is a very honest news site associated with it. Reading one of these that relates to you is perfectly fine as long as it is not a news site associated with a political leaning.
• Stay away from political polls – they are almost always biased, especially the push polls.
• No talking politics with friends or family if you can’t control your anger. Definitely, absolutely and unconditionally no talking politics with people who are still caught up in opinion media.
• There is no need to lose touch with politics and news. I highly recommend reading your news. The written word has a level of authority the spoken word doesn’t have. News organizations tend to be more honest in print. I read my news daily from CBSNews.com. I have found them to be the most trustworthy. I think a lot of this is because they do not have a 24 hour news channel. NBCNews and FoxNews.com have a lot of bias that leaks in from their cable news shows. I would recommend staying away from both. If you read one read the other to see how much spin is happening. CNN.com is still pretty reliable in print but is getting more and more partisan from their cable news show. Try to stay away from opinion articles and videos. Stay away from partisan sections like CNN’s “Ticker”. And definitely stay away from videos or articles by partisan pundits. I think it is a good rule of thumb to just not watch any videos from these sites because they come directly from their cable news division.
• It is fine to read the newspaper but keep an open mind. And when you are in the editorial section don’t get too sucked into the opinion articles. If you are getting angry from an article you can be sure that the standards of journalism have been thrown out the window.
• Stay away from newspapers that have a heavy political leaning.
• If you absolutely have to watch news on TV go with ABC, CBS, Fox or NBC nightly news. The local channels are trying to get viewers from all sides so they are a lot less biased than cable news. Plus they focus less on politics and more on local stories. Basically they try to follow the standards of journalism.
• Read a book, start a hobby, binge watch a TV series, anything to get your mind off the negativity.

 

13. Start on the path to happiness

When you free yourself from opinion media a wonderful thing happens. The anger fades away. The division fades away and you become happy.

When you start to become happy and care free again there are things you can do to push the happiness further:

• When you wake up in the morning instead of moaning and complaining, tell yourself this is going to be a good day. Or I am going to have fun today. Raise your fists high in the shower and say, this day is going to rule! Repeat something positive about the day on the way to work.
• If negative thoughts slip into your mind chase them out with a simple, “This is not the person I want to be.” Don’t dismiss this – it is a powerful technique.
• The Happiness Project is a great place for additional tips on being a happier person.

14. Enjoy the rest of your life

Go live your life. Reacquaint yourself with friends you shunned because of their political beliefs. If they are still stuck in opinion politics share your story and this web site. Make America, and the world, a better place one person at a time.

15. Share your experience

Send in a post of your experience – your success, your failures, your struggles and your ultimate happiness.  I will not allow partisan attacks on this site so all posts and comments will be read before approved.

Send in the date that you became opinion media free so we can add your name to the Success page.

Forward the site and share your success with your friends and family who are being kept down by opinion media. Every friend and family member you free from opinion media will be one more positive influence in your life.