After last week's burglary at my building, I felt particularly heavy. It was so hard to think about someone taking all of my stuff. Rather than wallow, I decided to channel any residual frustration into making things better.
So at 6:30 in the morning on Monday, I got to work . I decided to transform the back my building--formerly ugly and grey--into a Scandinavian chalet, using cream and yellow paint. It felt damn good to be doing something positive. Every time I added more paint, I felt a little less bummed about the robbery. Things were looking up.
Then at 9:00 in the morning, the local news station showed up. They had apparently heard about the break-in from a Facebook post of mine, and they wanted to run a piece about it on the evening news.
I just looked at the reporter for a few seconds. Then a few seconds more.
And then I politely told him to go scratch.
What the heck is wrong with us humans?!! I've posted nothing but good news on my Facebook page for years now. Then the one time I write something negative, asking people to let me know if they saw any suspicious behavior around the building, the media wants to scream it from the mountain tops for all to hear.
Guess it's true what they say: if it bleeds, it reads.
But why disseminate that information? How would it affect the community? I already know the answer; it would promote fear, anxiety, and despair.
Mainstream media wants our eyes to bulge and our stomachs to drop, and generally the easiest way to do to that is with shock and horror. Reader, I for one am tired of it. I'm on a mission to stop spreading bad news if it doesn't serve a purpose. I'm not saying that we shouldn't cover the tragedies that plague our world. I'm just saying that if we must cover petty little locals news stories, let's cover the ones that promote hope and understanding. After all: we already have a lot to worry about without being reminded of it every time we turn on the TV or open the newspaper.
And on that note, I'll leave you with some petty little local news. I'm leaving to tour Germany in 2 days, and I can't wait. Also, I'm only 7 weeks away from cutting a new record with my band Stone Blind Valentine. And finally, check out the super happy colors that I painted my building! Reader, I hope your local news is positive as well...let's start pumping the positive back into our world. -Em
So at 6:30 in the morning on Monday, I got to work . I decided to transform the back my building--formerly ugly and grey--into a Scandinavian chalet, using cream and yellow paint. It felt damn good to be doing something positive. Every time I added more paint, I felt a little less bummed about the robbery. Things were looking up.
Then at 9:00 in the morning, the local news station showed up. They had apparently heard about the break-in from a Facebook post of mine, and they wanted to run a piece about it on the evening news.
I just looked at the reporter for a few seconds. Then a few seconds more.
And then I politely told him to go scratch.
What the heck is wrong with us humans?!! I've posted nothing but good news on my Facebook page for years now. Then the one time I write something negative, asking people to let me know if they saw any suspicious behavior around the building, the media wants to scream it from the mountain tops for all to hear.
Guess it's true what they say: if it bleeds, it reads.
But why disseminate that information? How would it affect the community? I already know the answer; it would promote fear, anxiety, and despair.
Mainstream media wants our eyes to bulge and our stomachs to drop, and generally the easiest way to do to that is with shock and horror. Reader, I for one am tired of it. I'm on a mission to stop spreading bad news if it doesn't serve a purpose. I'm not saying that we shouldn't cover the tragedies that plague our world. I'm just saying that if we must cover petty little locals news stories, let's cover the ones that promote hope and understanding. After all: we already have a lot to worry about without being reminded of it every time we turn on the TV or open the newspaper.
And on that note, I'll leave you with some petty little local news. I'm leaving to tour Germany in 2 days, and I can't wait. Also, I'm only 7 weeks away from cutting a new record with my band Stone Blind Valentine. And finally, check out the super happy colors that I painted my building! Reader, I hope your local news is positive as well...let's start pumping the positive back into our world. -Em
