Planet news alienating Kate

I constantly refer to my kids as the Lifeforms but lately I'm beginning to wonder if it's me who comes from another planet.

Bemused, baffled and bewildered by the human beings we have become.

Like most of you, I read the news, local, national and terrifically Trump centred.

I see the stories of new Labour party candidates, the millions being spent by our DHB on outsourcing, the undeniable pollution of our waterways, the sad decline of competitors in the Master games and the prospect of a new dog pound, real stories, all of which garnered no more than a couple of reader comments.

Then came the story of poor service at our local KFC .. and the comments were no less than 23.

In the grand scheme of things, is this the thing that really evokes the most reaction and outpouring of emotion?

Or ... (cue conspiracy music) .. is it skillfully crafted "making a mountain out of a molehill" news.

Hate on me all you like, but being a paid writer for the very people I am criticising doesn't mean I have to spew their ideals.

I'm not sorry that Kim Kardashian's fat ass isn't as big on my list of must read stories than that of global fiscal matters that could actually affect me for life.

Fire me. I don't give two hoots that there was a "wardrobe meltdown" between two overpaid television presenters.

I refuse to have my world turned upside down by the knowledge that Adele thought Beyonce should have won one of her grotty old Grammy awards.

But time after time, these are the stories we click on.

Pathetic or what?

Of course I can only speak for myself, but I've all but given up logging on and commenting.

They so seldom publish my remarks that I'm almost ashamed to say I've given up.

It also doesn't help when the stories you can actually comment on become less and less.

So .. is the perceived picture of public opinion an accurate one or is it manufactured?

Who the hell knows. I'm so over it. I wanted so much to be the voice of the silent majority but now I can see why you're all so quiet.

Thank God that you still have the numbers.

Is KFC service really crappy? Hell yes!

Though not on my budget, I took Clone the Elder there one afternoon, recently, to pick up a snack box. We started off in the drive thru, but not having made allowances for "idling petrol" I reversed out and parked.

It was over 30 minutes before he emerged with his chewy, overcooked chook. A hot wing had nothing on me but my first thought wasn't to ring the media or even post a comment? No, I just chose to vote with my feet .. and tyres.

But props to KFC for knowing their market. The reason they chose the drive-thru over the restaurant was for the safety of those closed glass windows. Management, as lousy as they may be, knew it would offer the staff more protection than the face to face counter interaction, against irate customers.

Much like the editing or exclusion of non-conformist comments on websites.

Drumsticks are for beating .. not eating. When it comes to news we deserve better than popcorn chicken. #paltrypoultry