There are many reasons I don’t watch or read the news. I don’t read it because I hate the feel of newspaper and what it does to my fingers. I’d much prefer to read my book. I’m also really not that big on fine print, columns, and short stories. This is why I’m not very good at reading magazines either. I usually just flip back and forth between pages and check out all the pretty pictures.

I don’t watch the news because it’s disappointing. Always filled with bad news or things that make you think “SAY WHAT?!”

A few days ago I was watching the news with my husband. There was nothing else on TV apparently. This might be ‘old news’ by now but I thought I’d share my opinion on it anyways.

Firstly, apparently some guy in Quebec started a Facebook group called “I hate Laval Police” or something to that effect. I don’t know about you, but I really don’t think this is important. I’ve seen ridiculously stupid groups such as “I hate smelly feet” and “join this Facebook group so I can get a date.” I have joined a few groups on Facebook before. I thought they were decent because they were either some political movement or a group of a friend who is trying to start a business or something like it. But honestly, I don’t see the point of groups in general because people actually don’t do anything in these groups. They don’t post. They don’t comment. It just sits there like useless space. I know there are exceptions to this rule, as in the 12for12K group, but for the most part, the groups are pointless.

Anyways, this group that hates the Laval police  was probably no different than all other useless groups. So why do you think this made the news? Well, the guy took things a little far. He said if he can get ‘x’ amount of people to join the group then he’d blow up a police car. If he could get a larger ‘x’ amount of people to join he’d blow up a whole police station. SAY WHAT?! So even though the group itself is not productive and nothing will happen, all these people are probably joining because they want to see if the guy will actually blow things up.

Well clearly this is a threat. The guy was arrested and let out with severe restrictions. He claimed it was just a joke. I really didn’t find it funny. But I’m curious. Suppose this guy started a group called “I hate rapists and murderers” and suppose he said that if he could get enough people to join the group he’d find a rapist or murderer and remove a body part. This is equally threatening and equally disturbing (if not more so). Would the police have reacted the same way? Would they even have noticed? I’m wondering if the police only took action because THEY felt threatened. I agree with their decision to take action, but I want to know if they’d take that same action if the group had been different. I’d like to think they would. But in this crazy world, who knows?

Secondly, during this same news hour, I heard that Birmingham, England is banning the apostrophe from street signs.  SAY WHAT?! Apparently there is no consistency. Some places show ownership incorrectly as in “Worlds Best Cookie’s” while other places are missing ownership all together as in “Sams Eatery.”

Apparently it’s cheaper to change all signs to remove all apostrophes, than it is to give the city a grammar lesson. If this is so important to them, couldn’t they just roam the city looking for errors, then tell the people to fix them?

This guy on the news, head of the grammar council, said that they are “removing the apostrophe for consistency and cost effectiveness.” You’d think the grammar posse would want things to be accurate, not consistent. And is it really cost effective to pay for new signs when the original signs (correct or otherwise) are just as sufficient?

I’ll just go back to reading my book. At least then I can be prepared for outrageous opinions.

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