This past weekend I found myself in an all-too-familiar situation involving a labored conversation, the hole I talked myself into and an unsuccessful attempt to escape. I was partially to blame for this predicament, as I had broken one of the unspoken cardinal rules of social gatherings: Don’t discuss politics with someone you just met.
After exhausting every other known topic and abandoning hope that I would ever be rescued from this friend-of-a-friend, I offhandedly mentioned that I had watched the Republican debate a few days prior (an overstatement, as it was merely serving as background noise).
What happened next could only be expected, with my new acquaintance unleashing a torrent of political theories and attempting to spark an entirely new debate, right in the middle of the party.
I was out of my league.
Realizing I didn’t have nearly enough information to take on this aspiring political commentator, I did what any reasonable adult would do: avoid confrontation altogether.
It’s a common enough occurrence: someone bringing up a current event and doling out disdainful looks to anyone not “up to date” about it.
Keeping up with current events is seen as a civic duty — by staying informed we’re keeping those in power accountable.
But why do we really follow the news? Is it truly the noble pursuit that so many make it out to be?
When it comes to the news, it seems as though many people’s opinions fall into one of two extremes: The news is the key to staying informed, or the news is a pointless distraction.
Both views have their merits. Star economist Steven Levitt, a University of Chicago professor and co-author of the “Freakonomics” series, discussed his personal aversion to news media in the Freakonomics Radio episode “Why Do We Really Follow the News?”
He points out that our attraction to current events stems largely from its personal utility, in that it serves little purpose other than allowing us to avoid uncomfortable situations similar to the one I encountered.
Taking this perspective a step further, it could also be said news media is a diversion from reality, a source of entertainment devoid of informational value.
The similarities between a political debate and a sporting match are easily identified, with both involving a favorite team and the thrill of the fight.
It’s obvious news programs are finely curated amalgams, highlighting only a microscopic portion of the world around us and skewing the few stories that make the cut.
Or, there’s the classic stance that keeping up with current events is just too upsetting and ignorance is bliss.
Yet understanding a small fraction of what’s happening in the world allows you to form a context for the story of your life. This, more than anything, is the allure of following the news.
A self-concept can’t be formed in a vacuum, and juxtaposing your life with the surrounding events creates a more complete image.
I doubt anyone would follow current events solely for the sake of civic duty.
We may flaunt highbrow motivations, but in reality there is undeniably something else that draws us to these events. Maybe you want to maintain an aura of informed intelligence or enjoy the news solely for its entertainment value.
What’s important is that understanding why and how we consume news allows us to grasp the role journalism plays in our lives, as well as predict how it’ll change in the years to come.
Marisa Papenfuss is a UF English junior. Her column appears on Tuesdays.
