Is it Human Nature to Seek Bad News?

[LawnLover]

The various media seem to report bad news stories much more frequently than good news stories. Is it human nature to be attracted to negative news?

Dan Gardner, a columnist with CANWEST, concluded a recent article with the statement that humans pay more attention to bad news than to good news. He attributes this to the historic need to be on the look out for danger. The argument for genetic determination makes limited sense in present times. And yet humans are drawn to read about death and destructive behaviour, and fascinated by it.

Bad News Affects the Body

Continued here: http://www.suite101.com/content/is-it-human-nature-to-seek-bad-news-a108057

[villager]

1. The other question might be, is it human nature to generate it?

:shrug:

[LawnLover]

2. If it bleeds, it leads

The MSM surely managed to do a good job of it. No wonder people around here are depressed.

[Kalyke]

3. As a former reporter, I can officially say, "Yes."

People would often complain that our paper never did any "good news." I would laugh and say, "Oh yes we do. We've a very local paper and we feature - everyday and on the front page with a full color picture - a 'feel good' story about someone or something in the community. The fact that you didn't notice it and skipped it in favor of said 'bad news,' tells me that good news simply isn't as popular or as memorable."

That would shut 'em up. :)

[David Zephyr]

4. Chimpanzees have calls that signify "danger from the sky" and "jump in the bush"

and it appears that they are downloaded with that default action, so your question is a relevant one.

I think we are pre-wired through evolution in many ways.

[Jim__]

5. If the headline were "Sundays Picnic Huge Success", would you be ...

... inclined to buy the paper?

What if the headline were: "Danger Approaching City"?

I know which headline would be more likely to get my attention - and, if both headlines were accurate, I think that's a legitimate response.

[Electric Monk]

7. or... reposting it here?

Hmm...

[LawnLover]

8. A pet peeve I have with our local news stations is

when they do prime time teasers like, "Are your children in danger of being poisoned?" then refuse to give you the answer to that question unless you tune in at eleven, thus -- if their hyperbole is to be believed -- risking the lives of your children.

And therein lies one of the many reasons I never watch TV news.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ladjf]

6. No. nt

[slackmaster]

9. Don Henley did a song about it

I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something, something I can use
People love it when you lose, they love dirty laundry

Well, I could've been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear, give us dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em all around

We got the bubbleheaded bleach-blonde, comes on at 5
She can tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye
It's interesting when people die, give us dirty laundry

Can we film the operation? Is the head dead yet?
You know the boys in the newsroom got a running bet
Get the widow on the set, we need dirty laundry

You don't really need to find out what's going on
You don't really want to know just how far it's gone
Just leave well enough alone, keep your dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're stiff, kick 'em all around

Dirty little secrets, dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie
Love to cut you down to size, we love dirty laundry

We can do the innuendo, we can dance and sing
When it's said and done, we haven't told you a thing
We all know that crap is king, give us dirty laundry

[David Zephyr]

15. When the Eagles played this in Los Angeles, Don Henley dedicated it to Nancy Grace.

Great song. Great lyrics. Thanks, slackmaster.

[Swamp Rat]

10. Is it human nature to rape, pillage and commit genocide?

Either way, it doesn't really matter. Hopefully someone will report honestly about it.

[hunter]

12. If I came home from work and my neighbor didn't tell me about the bear in my cave...

... I'd be a bit peeved.

Looking out for predators and warning others is built into us. Unfortunately predators within our own species have figured out how to take advantage of this instinct in their deceptions and oppression of their fellow humans.

wikipedia

[L0oniX]

13. Is it Human Nature to Seek a Dog and Pony Show? ...or Jerry Springer?

[Ron Green]

14. Fear is easy. Love is hard.

That pretty much sums up all human activity.