Is anyone else sick of hearing the terms political junkies or news junkies?

[gulliver]

A few minutes ago I heard the guy on CNN say something like "Not everybody's a junkie like us yuk, yuk." He didn't even qualify it as about politics or news. Unfortunately, he's not alone in this blindingly idiotic form of "self-deprecation."

First and foremost, addicted people don't need to hear the word "junkies." They have it rough enough. That word is not funny.

But what are we trying to do with that word anyway? Stroke people for being uninformed or not being good citizens? News flash, self-deprecating constantly isn't just humorous and humanizing. Do it all the time and it can start to seem like a juvenile lack of commitment bordering on cowardice or callow cynicism.

[LakeArenal]

1. I prefer Wonk. Called myself one the other day.

[gulliver]

2. I prefer it but I don't like wonk either.

Trump never self-deprecates. We do it too much. There's a balance to be struck between taking yourself too seriously and showing firm, adult, not angry self-respect and belief in what you believe.

[LakeArenal]

8. Mmm not with you. There are so many labels..

I don’t think wonk is self-deprecating at all.
Harmless person intensely interested in whatever.
What would YOU like. Political enthusiast?
I’m guessing nerd is out for you.

I see nothing wrong with being a wonk.
wonk
/wäNGk/
Learn to pronounce
nounINFORMAL•
a studious or hardworking person.
"any kid with an interest in science was a wonk"
a person who takes an excessive interest in minor details of political policy.
"he is a policy wonk in tune with a younger generation of voters"

[gulliver]

9. "a person who takes an excessive interest in minor details of political policy"

...from your definition. The word "excessive" shows that the term "wonk" is meant to diminish and to be a putdown. Using funny sounding words like "wonk" is just a way to marginalize others. Calling an intelligent, responsible pol a wonk is similar to calling an unintelligent, lazy pol a "doik," and no one would ever do that.

Imagine if Trumpies semi-proudly said something like, "Trump is not a wonk. He's a doik."

Or someone in conversation could say, "Yeah, I have no interest in politics and current events at all. I'm a really just kind of a doik, I guess."

[LakeArenal]

10. Man. You should lighten up

This is a battle I really don’t need.
You want to parse every word.

So you think pejoratively. That’s you.

[Mike 03]

3. Not too offended.

I call myself those things. They describe me pretty well. Nor am I opposed to jettisoning it.

You know, your post does remind me of one of my pet peeves. I don't think a lot of those anchors/reporters who describe themselves as so well informed are. They always promote these tell-all books or discuss something like the Mueller Report, urging viewers to read them, but then a week or a month later they will say something (or be surprised by something, or ask a question in an interview) that is a dead giveaway they don't actually read them.

[gulliver]

5. There's a humble brag aspect to it.

I'll occasionally say I'm a wonk at heart. But I am starting to realize that not everyone is in on the joke. People who think two plus two equals five or that Donald Trump is similar to George Washington don't need to be jokingly handed excuses to feel superior.

[SWBTATTReg]

4. Good points made. I don't like the word or description either. I'd prefer to call it 'being an ...

informed citizen', and that it's rump causing the extra time we all must devote to follow his idiotic ranting and raving, to make sure that he doesn't slip something in. He's truly the junkie, in more than one way if you know what I mean...snort snort snort...pathetic.

[abqtommy]

6. Don't bother me none.*

to David Spade in Joe Dirt

[hunter]

7. Television news and opinion is an addiction.

Television made Trump president and for that it can never be forgiven.

I quit television news and opinion in the aftermath of 9/11.

My wife and I quit traditional television more than a decade ago. So far we haven't run out of things to watch on DVDs or Netflix.

We read our news and opinion.

Television needs to die; cable, satellite, broadcast... all of it.

We streamed the Democratic Convention direct. No inane talking head analysis, no commercials, no cutting away from things we wanted to see. It was wonderful.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. Yeah. And, I'm NOT a DU junkie. Not. nt

[Celerity]

12. no nt