Comments on: When all else fails, blame the Internet http://www.whydontyou.org.uk/blog/2008/11/17/when-all-else-fails-blame-the-internet/ Challenging the Zeitgeist Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:20:34 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: TW http://www.whydontyou.org.uk/blog/2008/11/17/when-all-else-fails-blame-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-14304 TW Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:00:49 +0000 http://www.whydontyou.org.uk/blog/?p=2079#comment-14304 This story creates two lines of thought for me: First off, I am repulsed beyond belief about it. Sensory overload is an understatement. There have been a few news stories I have avoided but this sets a new level. I can not watch any news bulletin which mentions it and I skip over any news article about it. I am deliberately trying to shield myself from any contact with the details of this horror. I cant take it. This leads on to the next thing that gets under my skin. News is not (or at least, I never thought it was) the same thing as "horror story." The news is supposed to tell you things that will help you make an informed judgement about your life. News that there is a global shortage of oil is something you can (and should) react to. News about traffic jams helps you plan a new route. That three poor examples of humanity have killed a baby is (just about) newsworthy, in that it helps people make informed judgements on the state of society (yes, I know...). What is not, and as far as I can see, will never be "news" is the unbearable detail with which we are exposed to the end of this childs life. It serves no purpose except the vicarious thrill you get from a slasher movie. 99.9999% of the people who are exposed to this news will not be in the jury for any future trial, and if they are this is prejudicial to the case. We can do nothing with the information presented to use here, so how is it newsworthy? All the news outlets do is seek out more and more shocking items with which to tantalise, shock and surprise the public. It is depressing that the horrific death of this child has fallen into the same bucket of sadness. This story creates two lines of thought for me:

First off, I am repulsed beyond belief about it. Sensory overload is an understatement. There have been a few news stories I have avoided but this sets a new level. I can not watch any news bulletin which mentions it and I skip over any news article about it. I am deliberately trying to shield myself from any contact with the details of this horror. I cant take it.

This leads on to the next thing that gets under my skin.

News is not (or at least, I never thought it was) the same thing as “horror story.” The news is supposed to tell you things that will help you make an informed judgement about your life. News that there is a global shortage of oil is something you can (and should) react to. News about traffic jams helps you plan a new route. That three poor examples of humanity have killed a baby is (just about) newsworthy, in that it helps people make informed judgements on the state of society (yes, I know…).

What is not, and as far as I can see, will never be “news” is the unbearable detail with which we are exposed to the end of this childs life. It serves no purpose except the vicarious thrill you get from a slasher movie. 99.9999% of the people who are exposed to this news will not be in the jury for any future trial, and if they are this is prejudicial to the case. We can do nothing with the information presented to use here, so how is it newsworthy?

All the news outlets do is seek out more and more shocking items with which to tantalise, shock and surprise the public. It is depressing that the horrific death of this child has fallen into the same bucket of sadness.

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