[Daradon]

Was originally going to post this in the 'another school shooting thread', but felt it was a statement worthy of it own thread, and it is a bit of a call to action, so it's something that can be discussed seperately and hopefully acted on if we so choose to as a society. Give it a read, agree or disagree, and discuss, but if we are going to point fingers or hopefully look for constructive answers, we can start very easily with ourselves.


Regarding the media's place (and ours) in tragedies like the Virginia Tech school shooting:


The media is one of the biggest problems in all of this. Cho sent a package to NBC news. Why? Because he knew they'd play it and WE'D all watch it and he'd be immortal. He'd get his message out no matter how stupid, insecure, immature, violent it was. To him it made a lot of sense. Even though we all disagree with it, he probably thought he was a genius and could see things we couldn't.

So the networks all wring their hands and dap their eyes and play it over and over again for ratings and fatter commercial spots. And the next would be mass-murderer with a statement sees it and knows he can go out with a bang too.

Course we're all watching it, so we have some responsibility in it too.

Now I've never been one for the restriction of information. In fact, quite the opposite. But really, except for a couple safety tips we all know anyway, how is this important to us in any other way than morbid entertainment? This is not news about government plans or problems, political climate and world issues. This is a disturbed (maybe just emotionally and mentally, maybe morally or maybe a bit of both) person who wants to get their warped sense of reality out. It's not art that may bring up the issues, but doesn't hurt anyone. It is a call to other would be shooters and copy-cats. Many have said for a long time that the media should not give these people a podium.

But that starts with us, because we all watch it.

Perhaps we should be calling our stations and telling them that if they are going to play this stuff we won't watch, we will boycott their network and sponsors products. WE CAN BE A FORCE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE.

But only if you want to. Only if you can admit, you'd rather have positive change, then the fishbowl of tragedy that makes us feel better about ourselves in the worst sort of way.