After thinking about this a little, I conclude that it is important for me to stay somewhat aware of what's going on in the world and the daily news, from whatever source one gets it, is one quick way. Also, if one wants to have a better perspective, it helps to get something from a non-USA source and to keep in mind that any incident can be a Gulf of Tomkin incident.
It's also important to realize that anything really big and important is generally not in the news -- and to have an ear and eye for that as well. By really big and important I mean real environmental impact - the kinds of things Gore looked at in his movie. I also mean paradigm shifts and deep understanding, observations and conclusions that don't fit the soundbite formats.
Swartz makes two arguments. One is that whatever happens "doesn't involve me." The other is that following the news might actually be unhealthy. While I agree with his latter point - I think we are involved to some extent and our awareness might inform certain behaviours - or, if nothing else, at least make us more grateful and, I hope, more compassionate.
Everything I just said is arguable. insomniasexx
I chose to interpret this question in the hardest way possible and thought about potential pros and benefits for watching cable news:
1. It allows you to stay updated on the world, even the local world, around you. It may show you things or ideas that you wouldn't see on say...hubski. Not that these idea are better, or more informative, or information that you want to see but...
2. ...it still allows you to see things through a POV you normally would not.
3. It builds your tolerance for people and ignorance so that you can react better when encountering these people IRL.
4. Sometimes you catch really awesome car chases that can offer an enthralling and entertaining moment...or hour...or five hours.
Now, an argument for the broader argument for following the news.
The news allows you to learn things outside your bubble. It allows you to get a glimpse of the terrific or terrible things that are happening around the world, which offers perspective on the things happening in your world and the decision you make. These decisions could be how you deal with people, the things you create at work, the way you handle yourself in social situations, or 8000 other things.
Let's look at the public hubski feed right now.
1. Florida teen charged with felony hacking for using password his teacher showed him
The world overreacts. Be careful about your actions, how your actions can be perceived, and that your intentions rarely impact on the reality of the situation. That a harmless prank can be harmful. Or that your harmless prank could leave you in a worse situation than you intended if someone wants to make an example of you. That kids these days have it far worse that we did. I am scared for how technology will affect the generation growing up and I am scared of how easy it is for kids to get in trouble these days with computers. I am scared of how easy it is for teenage rebelliousness to end up with 15 year olds in Syria, rather than at the older guy's house down the street.
2. Congress must end mass NSA surveillance with next Patriot Act vote.
NSA is still terrible. Fuck our government. I am powerless.
Ugh. I may have proven Swartz' point. Now I'm irritated. Oh well.
- The news allows you to learn things outside your bubble.
Good thing.
- It allows you to get a glimpse of the terrific or terrible things that are happening around the world,
Bad thing. The internet is usually at least honest in admitting it's going for shock factor. With cable EVERYTHING IS SHOCKING MORE AT 11 HERE'S AN ADD FOR A MERCEDES YOU'LL NEVER OWN.
It's interesting and funny.
EDIT: disclaimer I haven't read the Swartz piece since I read this. [Except screw Evgeny Morozov, he's a fool and an alarmist. I attended one of his lectures and argued with him a couple months ago. He fears Google; I respect Google. We talked at cross-purposes.]
EDIT2: "They point out that newspapers are a key part of our democracy, that by exposing wrong-doing to the people, they force the wrong-doers to stop." -- good lord no, the media is worse than the government, although they're similar.
EDIT3: "With the time people waste reading a newspaper every day, they could have read an entire book about most subjects covered and thereby learned about it with far more detail and far more impact than the daily doses they get dribbled out by the paper. But people, of course, wouldn’t read a book about most subjects covered in the paper, because most of them are simply irrelevant." yes.
EDIT4: I assume the twitter plug intentionally ironic, but maybe not.