The media blitz needs to STOP NOW!!

[AWIP]

I can see where you are coming from. I stopped watching the news last friday and only started looking again today. Why? Because I was exhausted and a nervous wreck from the constant barrage of imagery. If enough of us turn off our tvs then the onslaught will slow if not cease. I’m definitely not the only who was affected like this.

Beezer,
You’re right too. The media has done an incredible of covering these events. But in the world of the soundbite, remember the thousands if not millions caught by these images like deer in headlights watching the explosions over and over and over, powerless to look away. When there is nothing new on the topic to report, then why keep blasting us with video imagery that is increasingly explicit. This is what some tv media has been doing with the statements that they have worse that they are holding back. (of which I have no doubt) Many of these images are traumatizing enough when in text format or spoken of, let alone if punctuated by stills.

I think the print media has done an amazing job, so has radio … but in some cases tv has resorted to images that served no real purpose but to further horrify and torment those watching.

[Trixie]

As a member of the media… I feel obligated to tell you that anything that anyone ever says can and will be used to the fullest extent that it can, even if it’s out of context.

As a photographer, today I stuck to the policemen, flags, and flowers outside the Washington Monument. Our paper doesn’t have the manpower to send me to NY, but if I was there, yes, I would shoot the jumpers, not to be insensitive in any way, but because that’s history, and that’s the way it is. It sucks, but people want the news.

I am not defending my profession, but without it, the citizens of the US would not know what’s going on at all. You can’t over-publicize this in the first week. It’s just too big, and too well-watched. It’s not even just about the reporters. We don’t cover stories that don’t get read. If you’re tired of hearing about it, I suggest getting a book, because this is not going away any time soon.

donning flame suit

[Velvet]

Well, it improves what I think of the media. But now I’ll have to avoid discussing politics and what the government is doing…in the event I disagree.

[M_O_Connor]

This says it all.

Sorry, but I agree with those who are out there performing the grusome job of recording this history…In years and generations to come, their having done this will allow those in the future to understand to the fullest extent possible what actually happened. One of the freedoms that allows us all to witness these events as they happen, and then engage in free discussion of events (and to listen in as members of our media do so) is exactly what was under attack…do you think that the citizens in Iraq, Libya, or China would be so powerless against their governments if they were privy to the extent of discourse that we take for granted?

[Velvet]

Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water… shrug

There’s a difference between enlightenment and and a feeding frenzy.

[This message was edited by Velvet on Sep. 18, 2001 at 06:44 PM.]

[Velvet]

Why can’t they have updates running across the bottom of the screen and show other reports (like they did with the return of a few news shows the other night) instead of beating the bushes for more ideas to fill the gaps (and repeating the same images over, and over again)?

I like to stay informed, I’m just concerned with the sensory overload, as others are also pointing out.

And as for news people going into the line of danger to report it, I have always had a problem with that. Do they really have to be in a burning building, forcing firefighters to possibly put themselves in more danger just to make sure that the reports are not injured? I feel like the media more often gets in the way and creates their own stories, rather than reporting what is going on and letting other professionals do their job. Haven’t they realized that the impact of a persons story is often as good as the pictures they take? Haven’t they proven that with their eyewitnesses that they’ve been bringing on their shows?

I just don’t think we need a million pictures, nor hundreds more people (often reporters) getting into danger during already perilous situations.

Maybe that’s just my opinion, and that’s okay. This is not meant to be inflammatory, it’s just something I often feel when watching sensationalistic news.

Like I said before, is the tail wagging the dog? Does the public want it only because the media is spoon feeding it to us? If they stopped, would people really be upset? Or would they be okay after a bit of withdrawal, and resetting of expectations?

[pt1]

Respectfully disagree, Robby –

I for one have no interest at all in discussing horses right now - it just seems too trivial to spend time on.

On another thread, it’s very interesting to follow Snowbird’s posts, and others as well.

Perhaps you could start a thread for those who want to discuss horses, and “lock” these threads for yourself - i.e., don’t open or read them. There’s certainly room on the bb for many topics; if horses are the one you want to follow, go for it!

[LisaW-B]

Uh, Velvet, just turn OFF your TV if you’re overloaded.

I think we need all of the coverage. We need to continue to be bombarded, and saddened, and angered. if we’re not, then we risk going back to complacency in our nice little American bubble worlds.

But, you have the ability to turn it off if you need a break. I did last night–no TV, no radio. I needed that, too.

[pt1]

Cool, Robby!

Hey - do you need a flashlight?

[N_B_T]

…“people with seventh grade educations” may not need or want any one of us here on a horse bulletin board to decide what news is best for “them” to receive, and what format is best for “them” to be exposed to. Lack of formal education does not necessarily mean lack of intelligence or inability to process emotional or other information. (I’m stopping here.)

As far as “clout” goes, everyone gets to vote.

As far as knowledge of Middle Eastern life and politics, many well-educated posters here are far less well-informed than they might be (including myself), and are happy to opine nonetheless.

As far as warmongering and hostility–both of which are subject to personal interpretation as we have seen right here in the last few days–I’m not sure that that will divide along educational lines…

I am certain that extensive media coverage, analysis, and discussion of many issues associated with this disaster and its implications for our country will continue for a long while.

We can ALL learn more about terrorism and we most probably will in the future.

[Robby_Johnson]

You know what I always say …

When in doubt, wear the Gucci.

xoxo

RJ

[LittleWitch]

I don’t have a TV so I listen to the radio for news. I surf the internet with pictures disabled (the best way to surf). I am in control of what images I see. I like having access to all images and then deciding for myself what I want to look at.

Also, last year on vacation I stumbled across a exhibit of prize winning news photos. Most of the photos were of war and violence (sequence photos of people being executed or shot in the back, scenes of death) but my favorite was a photo of a boy and his grandfather in a refugee camp, laughing. This photo stood out in my mind because it was surrounded by so many images of death.

[Robby_Johnson]

Actually, I went to the local mall last night - something I do once each year whether I need to or not (and always incognito, since I would die of embarrassment if someone actually saw me there) - and there are some really cute things out now. I sort of quit shopping during my 3.5 years with Willow as her shoes and my garb were more important (I have 2 custom made riding jackets and a plethora of other “show apparel”). This year there are actually clothes that a 30 year-old male can wear and not feel like he’s attempting to look like a thug.

Robby

[Kaori]

which alot of it is. I think that’s what Velvet was getting at.

Yes, the situation is dramatic but I think the presentation of it makes it unnecessarily dramatic.

I don’t condemn the videoing and the picture taking because it is important to record history.
I was born years and years after the Vietnam War, but thankfully I can understand how gruesome it was because of the photographs… They are as horrific as the ones that have been taken over the last couple days. The pictures give me understanding of how several generations of Americans were so deeply affected by it.

What I hate is the constant replying of the same images over and over again. I think it’s inconsiderate and raises a blood lust in the American people that just isn’t wise. Going to war is not a good idea, even though taking down Bin Laden is. A war isn’t necessary to do that; it would be Vietnam all over again.

At first I was just in shock by the news. Like many others, I was getting the news as soon as it came out. The images that only shocked me days before (especially the planes crashing) now make me angry and vengeful… as I am sure it is having the same effect on many others.

Spel chekers, hoo neeeds 'em? Alan James Bean

[Canter]

I luv ya Beezer. Thank you.

[Brookes]

Geez Beezer you’re good!

Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!!

[lilblackhorse]

but I do. I think that having all the networks, plus the myriad of other stations all broadcasting essentially from dawn to midnight is too much, at least now that things have settled down a bit. The newscasters are all vamping essentially, filling up the airwaves with the same stuff over and over again, from a different angle–even the government officials are saying some stupid stuff that just makes we want to say “well, duh”…ie “we have found x amount of people involved, but I am sure there will be more”…how much of this stuff do we need to hear until there is concrete news? Iam sorry if this ruffles feathers, but I truly think this whole situation was a wake up call to the US-We are the all powerful nation that for some reason thinks that nothing bad will ever happen on it’s soil, or that because we are so powerful, that noone will dare touch us. It scares me to death, since there a lot of countries out there that hate Americans and America for what it stands for-I see this situation as a very large religious war, which frightens me even more. Listening to GW tonite saying that the whole purpose of his presidency is now to get even and exact retribution for this is the scariest thing…Pakistan has nuclear weapons for god sake…do we really want to just grab a big stick and go waving it around so soon because we are so awe struck that something so horrible could strike the US? I am very patriotic, I grew up on military bases, and my father spent most of my younger years fighting for nothing in VietNam. I would like some of this incidiary rhetoric to slow down instead of whipping a saddened nation into anger and retribution. JMHO, and you can just flame away…I think that all along the US should have been far more strict on airplane security…why now do we suddenly worry about our water supplies…are they any more in danger than they were two days ago??? We really need to think of this stuff all the time…the pessimist in me for sure, but the “what if’s”…you can never be too sure or too paranoid…we are so dependent on technology something like this was bound to happen-hell, even here in the middle of nowhere, life comes to a standstill when one measly fibreoptic line gets cut and long distance is out…think about it. I just don’t want GW rushing us into a war that will really incite the whole Muslim/Islamic world…it would be a sad day for the US and for the world. Think about it.
praying here for pacifism…

[Duffy]

Sign me up for the Beezer Fan Club as well, please. Thanks for being here.