The media is nothing if not ubiquitous. And when mass media decides on a story it’s a sure thing that everyone’s going to hear about it. But quite often that message gets driven home far beyond the point where it continues to matter. In fact, there’s fifteen media related items that we’re all tired of hearing about.

1. Seasonal weather

It’s hot in summer and cold in winter. But the media seems to trumpet the changing of seasons as if it was about to happen for the very first time. Most people don’t want to hear about it unless the weather is going to hit an abnormal extreme.

2. Marketing campaigns disguised as news

Marketing campaigns aren’t always the root cause of discussion. But when the news can’t help but talk about some new product flying off the shelves it’s hard to see it as anything but a commercial. Commercials are far too frequent as it is without seeping into everything else.

3. Changing the volume

Media needs to stay at a consistent sound level. Again, commercials tend to be among the biggest offenders here. But no matter what the source nobody likes it when the TV output suddenly jumps up several notches.

4. Hating that things change

It can be tiring to see a continual pattern of fear and outrage over any social change. Anything from new fashions to new types of dancing can spark a media outrage that’s seldom reflected in the actual viewers.

5. Stop trying to make it happen

Trends can make for big news. And big news means that people will watch or read media featuring it. So it’s little wonder that many media sources want to manipulate trends in order to have something to focus on. The only problem is that it often doesn’t work. There’s few things as grating as people telling you what you should be interested in. And it’s become a common event in the media.

6. Trying to push a false community message

People generally feel close to their neighbors and community. The media’s aware of that fact and has a tendency to try and exploit it for personal gain. It’s usually equal parts transparent and annoying. Seeing actors try to come off as an active part of one’s own community can simply make one want to stay away from whatever’s being promoted.

7. Partisan politics

Obviously the two party system has a great deal of meaning for people or it wouldn’t exist anymore. But while most people see it as a useful voting aid, the media seems intent on using it as a way to divide people against each other. Any mention of politics has a high chance of being more blindly enthusiastic for one “side” than any sporting event. The obvious attempts to lure viewers in is both transparent and insulting to anyone who actually cares about political issues.

8. Oversimplification

Large problems tend to remain in existence because they require large solutions. The media tends to paint some of the more serious problems in the world as an issue that can be fixed immediately. Coverage of a local event that relates to those problems can be useful. But far too often it’s portrayed as an all or nothing thing where one needs to jump in today if the issue is going to be solved. When it isn’t people tend to feel burned out and the problem can actually be furthered rather than fixed.

9. Teasing future content

This can range from teaser trailers to dramatic hints within new promos. But they have one thing in common. It’s a period of time filled with little other than a promise to show something later on. What that something is will only be vaguely hinted at. Most people have reached a point where they’re tired of having their time wasted and want media sources to simply get to the point.

10. Crude product placement

Media can be difficult to fund and most people are sympathetic to that fact. But when product placement enters the picture it can get a little tiring. Not so much that it happens, but how. Media sources need to start integrating product placement more naturally when it occurs. Forced perspective on cola cans is often more distracting than a commercial would have been.

11. Anniversary events

The anniversary of a product is easy news. But at the same time it’s seldom news that’s of any real importance. The lazy announcement that a product was released one or more decades ago just feels like an intrusive commercial for something that’s often not even around anymore.

12. Appeals to nostalgia

Much like anniversary events, most people are tired of having nostalgia used as a lure. It’s a common tool to get people into theaters. And it’s even a common tool to get them to keep watching TV shows. But most people have reached a point where they want something new or at least a new take on those older ideas. Just referencing something and expecting a crowd can be tiring to the audience.

13. Hiding the side effects

This is highlighted by medication commercials but hardly limited to them. The media as a whole seems unaware that most of the public has caught on to disclaimers. When the media tries to hide a disclaimer it’s usually going to have the opposite effect.

14. Trying to sell a style

The old saying goes that one should sell the sizzle and not the steak. That was largely true fifty years ago. But media saturation has made most people long for the days when they’d have a simple list of a product’s features. When the media tries to push a product or service the actual benefits can be hard to see. Instead it’s just bland smiling people selling a lifestyle most of the audience doesn’t even want.

15. Negative news in general

The vast majority of people have a good heart. Civilization couldn’t function if that wasn’t the case. But the media tends to send a message of fear. People are tired of being told that they need to be scared. Not only is the attempted emotional manipulation blatant, it’s counterproductive to what most people want to see in the world.