We have been conditioned to accept negativity, and move on
And the sad part is, it may never change
Lately, I have been hearing the same thing. Good news is not popular. Not for a story over a cup of tea, not for the internet and certainly, not for the media. Then it dawned on me. It’s not just bad marriage stories that sell…it’s everything! Negativity sells. I know you don’t like to hear that, but it’s true. You only have to think about it.
What’s the first segment on news?
What gets the most hits on a celebrity blog?
When do the comments come in like a flood on Instagram? Yes, it is mostly from the bashing stories. When celebrities spill the ‘tea’. What happens when two people are feuding on Twitter? The result is more to the tune of “who let the dogs out?!” There will be endless trolling and hate. So much that, it’s sickening.
But…celebrities are smart, they figured you out years ago and that’s how they get their merch selling. Just look at Kanye. (And let’s be honest Lemonade sold out because people were curious about Jay-Z’s affair :-( )
Bad news is good news
The media thrives on negative energy. Negative utterances, negative events. Genocide, rape, modern slavery. In the same fashion celebrities splitting, broken homes due to affairs and divorce always makes the front page of a trashy magazine, and blogs.
However, you will rarely see news about a man who chose to do the right thing and defend a woman being harassed. You do not see the love that exists between people of different races and ethnic backgrounds displayed positively. Neither do you hear about the people who haven’t been home in months because they are volunteering in areas hard hit from natural disasters?
Stories about happy marriages never see daylight. Couples celebrating their anniversary or talking about marriage longevity is a dream we all wish for, but nobody really knows how to get there. Even worse, how to have a healthy marriage is left to the church to talk about; but keep it hush-hush…because it’s not worth talking about. Why?
There’s no money in it.
It’s not popular yet to share good news first (it comes as an afterthought). Have you ever wondered why an act of kindness becomes a viral post? We have become so conditioned to seeing and hearing negative news that we assume that most of the world is a damaged place filled with horrible people. The media will go out of their way to repeat negative news on a cycle, till the next break of negative news. Then repeat that.
How will we know the truth?
How will you know that not all white people are racist and that not all cops are bad?
How will a young man know how to treat a woman when all he hears about horrible cases on assault and harassment?
How will you know, people, help each other every day and move on quickly even before you can say thank you?
I’m not saying that cases on bad behavior, poor choices and outright extremism should not be addressed and managed in a just manner. What I am saying is, if you only see one side of the story how will you know any different. It is what you will believe and go on to behave in the same manner. It has taken years of conditioning. Like a good advertisement of a bad product.
Don’t you think if you saw more love between races you would be more open to it?
Or a kind reaction to a coming out story would prompt you to react differently…?
Bad news sells. Be careful to remember that, then listen to the kind voice in your head. You do not have to be part of a stereotype, a group, be labeled or go with the flow. Once in a while, switch off your TV and social media and do what your heart tells you to.
Good news can be sexy too.
