Stream of Consciousness Sunday: Who is your Trust Agent?

Sometimes, I know exactly what I want to write. Sometimes, like today, my brain literally felt empty. Well, maybe not empty. More like dull. Nothing interesting to say.

I started thinking about what’s been going on in the news and was reminded of the shootings in Ohio. And I thought that i was going to do a complete rant about absentee parenting and the impact it has on so many lives. So I went to check my favorite sensationalist headline site, Drudge Report, and got sidetracked, like I usually do with a million and one links.

I read about the 2 year old baby found alive in a field 10 miles from its home after the recent tornadoes. I read about Breitbart’s death and the is-he-dead-or-isn’t-he-dead story. And I almost clicked on the link about 700 pound man who used YouTube to seek help. But I didn’t. Instead I got to pondering about the kinds of news we have delivered to us nowadays.

Today’s (Optional) Writing Prompt: Where are you lacking trust in your life? (examples: church, government, work, family, etc.)

Here we go…

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I don’t trust the news. Not one single tiny bit.

Which news? From what source?

I’ll say it. From ANY source.

It used to be that families sat down to watch the evening news at 6pm. It was national news and we knew we’d be watching Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw, or Peter Jennings (Peter being my fave). No matter what they said, we believed what they said. It was gospel.

My mom always turned on the local news at 11pm. I never cared for it much and still don’t. I’d be content to turn on the weather and turn it right back off. When I watch local news, I’m reminded by how ridiculous people are and how awful things can be right in your neighborhood.

We also had the newspapers. The local-yocal paper that always talked about who won the local high school football game and what was going on at the Rotary Club. We also had access to the Washington Post. As a child, I was convinced it was the most boring thing ever written. I don’t know how I ever learned anything about anything.

It wasn’t until I got older that someone uttered the words to me, “Oh, USA Today is such a liberal paper.”

What?!? Newspapers can’t be biased. They simply report the news.

And as I got older and a little more knowledgable about the world, that i could most definitely discern a liberal paper from a conservative one.

Now, I see the same thing on TV. And on the internet. And on Twitter.

Whether it’s professionally reported news or personally reported through social channels, I just don’t believe it until it’s at least a day old.

Davy Jones passed way – yes

Andrew Breitbart died – yes

Whitney Houston committed suicide – maybe

Obama responsible for increased gas prices – not really

Who do you trust anymore?

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This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

• Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.
• Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
• Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
• Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
• Link up your post below.
• Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

Now…

1. Grab the button

(it’s over in the sidebar)

2. Write your post.

3. Link up here.