Comments on: Shock vs. Sensitivity

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 20:20:13 +0000

Thank you for this, Eirego. Rubbernecking syndrome has long been a pet peeve of mine. If you’re spending any amount of time looking at something horrible that happened, you should either figure out how to help or move on and allow the helpers to move in. Otherwise, you’re just in the way and slowing everyone else down.

I mean this literally because when I arrived at crime scenes as a reporter, sometimes there were so many gawkers standing around that the ambulance couldn’t get through. Yes, journalists could be pests and get in the way, too, and I can only say I stayed back as much as possible to let the essential people work. So what if my boss lectured me sometimes for not being aggressive enough? Lives were saved.

By: lauren

lauren — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 20:14:11 +0000

I count myself among the cynics as well, Eirego. I have a hard time keeping a “we are not doomed” mindset. There is not likely a group of people I trust any less than politicians. Maybe bankers. That would be a close call. I’m not sure how to “beat” the NRA and its funders. Maybe it’s not possible. The pessimist in me sure doesn’t think so, at least not unless and until the loved one of some major politician who currently aligns with that side is a victim of one of these crimes. I just don’t know. But hey, a few emails can’t hurt. I wrote my reps back a few months ago and the response was underwhelming to say the least.

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 20:09:00 +0000

I sure hope the video is not how their families learned about their deaths. We already know Ward’s fiancee saw the whole thing unfold and that’s awful enough to imagine.

Thanks for your comment, Sarah. As someone who deals with tragedy on the job, you probably know more than most people about shocking incidents.

By: Eirego

Eirego — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 20:03:51 +0000

I agree with Lauren in that the news (and let’s face it, the entire social media community) is all about the clicks and views of anything they post. Everyone seeks to trend or go viral. That’s just the world now. A lot of good comes from it (our politicians and world leaders can no longer hide so easily and Amber alerts are sometimes successful) and a lot of bad (the news, in this case, but let’s not discount the reality that most of theses seemingly senseless killings are really all about a grab for fame and notoriety).

Just like with the actual highway, the Internet super highway will always have gawkers who slow down to take a look at any carnage along the way. This is what happened yesterday and will continue to happen because it’s been going on for a helluva long time. Remember when Lee Harvey Oswald was shot on live TV? That footage is still pretty easily found.

I’d like to think those people who slow down their lives and click to view the latest scandal are the great uneducated masses out there and excludes myself and the readers of this blog, but I have friends and relatives with MBAs and PHDs who will spout news and share videos of the latest carnage with just a little too much of a gleam in their eye for my taste, too. They also tune in regularly for episodes of The Bachelor, Bachelorette, Duck Dynasty and any of those Real Housewives of wherever. But, I digress…..

We can only govern ourselves and draw our own lines in the sand.
I appreciate what Lauren and Chris are suggesting and I will try their method, but, in all honesty, I remain cynical as to the outcome.

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 19:58:09 +0000

That’s a good way to look at it–that maybe it’ll jolt people into action. Thank you for providing a different perspective.

By: Sarah RH

Sarah RH — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 18:00:28 +0000

Thank you for this. My first thought when I saw this on the news yesterday (after the newscaster said the video was graphic) was why would you release that footage?? I was really shocked and sadly not surprised that they would allow this. If the gunman had been unidentified, I completely understand releasing part of the video to help ID him but I believe it was unnecessary to release the video. I feel for the families and hope they did not find out about their loved ones deaths this way first.

By: lauren

lauren — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 14:59:16 +0000

We’ve talked about this a bit, but I’ve also thought about it a bit more in conjunction with other posts/discussions. I think it was shown because we have become a blood-thirsty society. People seek out videos such as this (i.e., all the beheading videos that circulate), so I think media outlets think they need/have to show them in order to “keep up with the Joneses” as it were.

As I thought about it this morning, it seems (and please, anyone, correct me if you didn’t feel this same difference) that the groundswell yesterday was a little more fervent, that more people expressed their disgust with the status quo.

As I thought about what the difference might be this time, of all times, the only thing I can come up with is that we saw this murder happen live, if not actually in real time then after the fact. Have we become so inured to violence that we don’t “get it,” can’t imagine it, are unable to consider it “real” unless we actually see it?

If this is the case, if this is the coma we needed to be jolted out of, then maybe, just MAYBE, some “good” will come from the horrific video and pictures making the rounds. I still don’t condone it or think it’s the right call (see the NY Daily News front page – or don’t really), but if it moves us a step closer to some actual change? Perhaps it will have a good side. That’s the only thing I can hope. Otherwise, I’m just left with a bunch of aholes who get clicks and site visits.

Great and thoughtful post, PCN, thanks for putting it up for us to discuss.