Breaking Gossip v2
Breaking Gossip or Breaking News?
Each time I see some stupid-ass twitter tweet twat or headline that says something
“Breaking”
– most often HALFWAY ACROSS THE WORLD – it makes me cringe.
The only thing it’s breaking is your attention span.
Breaking should be reserved for things that WILL immediately affect you – or soon. That would mean just a few things.
Like something is happening in your immediate area, block, building. “Breaking – the building is on fire!” Should be seen only by those who might need that information. “Breaking – some Jewish guy is responsible for the Jewish center bomb threats” does not need that urgent tone to it.
“Breaking” is a way to make the author feel important. Like for the five seconds they have (yet another stupid word) the “Exclusive.”
In fact – Out of the last 10,000 “breaking” headlines I’ve come across. Absolutely NOT ONE OF THEM affected my life. In other words – my life would have been the same (or better) if I never knew that information.
Breaking is just a code word for “gossip” or bullshit crap to talk about instead of doing something productive.
It would be “breaking” if most people understood that. But ain’t gonna happen.