I didn't check the news before I left to come to Molly's place so I didn't find out about the circus until I got here. I can kind of get the morbid fascination people have but at the same time it feels like useless shit that doesn't help anything.
I think you and Molly are in agreement, she's been disgusted by the media's glorification of it just like you are.
Baron of Terribad (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 07/21/12 | Reply
@:
A lot of it is also this bizarre competition going on in the media -- we have to be the ones who give our readers the most information in the quickest possible time. Who cares if the information is of any use or not? Chuck it at the readers and let them figure it out. Then we get sensory overload from so much information, and all of a sudden our entire culture is fueled by paranoia, and the cycle repeats itself. It's so ridiculously irresponsible, but as long as it gets hits, ratings and sells papers, then who cares, right?
Sad to say, but I believe you are on the mark for the majority of media. Maybe the biggest problem is that we've lost all ability to filter since communication is so wide open now, and the media still has no idea how to handle it. They throw everything at the wall and hope something sticks, and the result largely empty, useless garbage.
But what can they do? If this is what the news media thinks the general public wants, then that's what they're gonna give out. Sad thing is, I DO think this is what many people want. Maybe not consciously, but as long as a news item holds a person's interest, most people aren't going to think about what it is they're consuming.
This is the worst part of it to me. I can only hope this mindset bleeds out of us generation by generation. It's the sort of thing that unfortunately will take a long time to correct itself -- hell, we're still not past more obviously awful things like racism, sexism and homophobia, so who knows how long it will take to wean society off this? It's probably been around since journalism was a thing.
Last edited by Shinmaru at 12:02:26 PM EDT on July 21, 2012.
Pickle of the Year (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 07/21/12 | Reply
It's shock journalism. He went to this local college -- NEWS!!!!! He grew up in this city -- NEWS!!!!! He took a dump in this public restroom in this city one time -- MY GOD, THAT'S SOME FUCKING NEWS!!!!!
This. Yesterday morning, I heard a reporter say something to the effect of, "We don't know much about the shooter's personal life, but we're gonna find out more!" I get it; the story isn't satisfying unless the news media can ascribe some kind of reason for why all this occurred. It's a defense mechanism. If we can find out the reason why this guy decided to indiscriminately kill (was he just some crazy asshole?), then we can avoid it in our own lives.
I'm sure there are at least some reporters out there who realize, speculate all we want, we aren't gonna find out why the shooter did it unless he explains it himself. But what can they do? If this is what the news media thinks the general public wants, then that's what they're gonna give out. Sad thing is, I DO think this is what many people want. Maybe not consciously, but as long as a news item holds a person's interest, most people aren't going to think about what it is they're consuming.
Last edited by bellpickle at 11:17:31 AM EDT on July 21, 2012.
I've been disillusioned with the mass media for a long time for exactly the same reason. But as I've gotten older I've started to notice a pattern emerging in the way these tragedies are handled, and reading your post suddenly brought it into clarity.
This is still high school. These people aren't interested in news. Not really. These people are just handing in an assignment on time, getting a grade, getting a paycheck. Doesn't really matter what the article says, so long as it's topically relevant and meets the deadline and gets readers.
SunfallE
Nyaa~ (ZE MEANIE) | Posted 07/21/12 | Reply
I didn't check the news before I left to come to Molly's place so I didn't find out about the circus until I got here. I can kind of get the morbid fascination people have but at the same time it feels like useless shit that doesn't help anything.
I think you and Molly are in agreement, she's been disgusted by the media's glorification of it just like you are.
In the name of the tune I will punish you!
Shinmaru
Baron of Terribad (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 07/21/12 | Reply
@:
A lot of it is also this bizarre competition going on in the media -- we have to be the ones who give our readers the most information in the quickest possible time. Who cares if the information is of any use or not? Chuck it at the readers and let them figure it out. Then we get sensory overload from so much information, and all of a sudden our entire culture is fueled by paranoia, and the cycle repeats itself. It's so ridiculously irresponsible, but as long as it gets hits, ratings and sells papers, then who cares, right?
Love thy Evangelion.
Shinmaru
Baron of Terribad (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 07/21/12 | Reply
@Allamorph:
Sad to say, but I believe you are on the mark for the majority of media. Maybe the biggest problem is that we've lost all ability to filter since communication is so wide open now, and the media still has no idea how to handle it. They throw everything at the wall and hope something sticks, and the result largely empty, useless garbage.
Love thy Evangelion.
Shinmaru
Baron of Terribad (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 07/21/12 | Reply
@bellpickle:
But what can they do? If this is what the news media thinks the general public wants, then that's what they're gonna give out. Sad thing is, I DO think this is what many people want. Maybe not consciously, but as long as a news item holds a person's interest, most people aren't going to think about what it is they're consuming.
This is the worst part of it to me. I can only hope this mindset bleeds out of us generation by generation. It's the sort of thing that unfortunately will take a long time to correct itself -- hell, we're still not past more obviously awful things like racism, sexism and homophobia, so who knows how long it will take to wean society off this? It's probably been around since journalism was a thing.
Last edited by Shinmaru at 12:02:26 PM EDT on July 21, 2012.
Love thy Evangelion.
bellpickle
Pickle of the Year (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 07/21/12 | Reply
It's shock journalism. He went to this local college -- NEWS!!!!! He grew up in this city -- NEWS!!!!! He took a dump in this public restroom in this city one time -- MY GOD, THAT'S SOME FUCKING NEWS!!!!!
This. Yesterday morning, I heard a reporter say something to the effect of, "We don't know much about the shooter's personal life, but we're gonna find out more!" I get it; the story isn't satisfying unless the news media can ascribe some kind of reason for why all this occurred. It's a defense mechanism. If we can find out the reason why this guy decided to indiscriminately kill (was he just some crazy asshole?), then we can avoid it in our own lives.
I'm sure there are at least some reporters out there who realize, speculate all we want, we aren't gonna find out why the shooter did it unless he explains it himself. But what can they do? If this is what the news media thinks the general public wants, then that's what they're gonna give out. Sad thing is, I DO think this is what many people want. Maybe not consciously, but as long as a news item holds a person's interest, most people aren't going to think about what it is they're consuming.
Last edited by bellpickle at 11:17:31 AM EDT on July 21, 2012.
Allamorph
Spiritus Memorae (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 07/21/12 | Reply
I've been disillusioned with the mass media for a long time for exactly the same reason. But as I've gotten older I've started to notice a pattern emerging in the way these tragedies are handled, and reading your post suddenly brought it into clarity.
This is still high school. These people aren't interested in news. Not really. These people are just handing in an assignment on time, getting a grade, getting a paycheck. Doesn't really matter what the article says, so long as it's topically relevant and meets the deadline and gets readers.