I mean, now any other sicko out there is going to see how this guy got his 15 seconds of fame, and isn't this unusually cruel to the victims families to have to see this guy splashed all over the media? I just think maybe they should have used more discretion. I'm all for freedom of the press, but how about some morals over ratings? Shame on NBC.
2007-04-20 03:18:37 · 32 answers · asked by Amanda L 3 in News & Events ➔ Current Events
News is news. The problem with broadcast new today is ratings. How would I envision the Holocaust in my mind if I didn't see those graphic pictures? Whether you like it or not the news has its responsibilities to all of us. Good, bad or indifferent there are lessons to be learned.
2007-04-20 03:35:37 · answer #1 · answered by Fern O 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think it is their right, considering the way the police handled it. The authorities should have considered the stuff as evidence pertaining to an ongoing criminal investigation and prevented the release, at least for now. I wonder, if this guy new for sure that the public would NEVER see the material, would he have done the same thing? I think maybe not. Perhaps in the future if people know for sure they will not have any chance of being heard by the public they will not be as interested in doing such a horrible thing. Some people will do anything to be famous, or even infamous. A law should be considered to eliminate the chance of such material being released to the public, ever. That would practically eliminate copycat crimes as well, and eliminate some of the motivation these sick people may have to do the same thing. It was inconsiderate of the network to release the video, but they most likely feel that it is their job to do so.
2007-04-20 06:11:16 · answer #2 · answered by earnest dubois 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know if it's right or wrong. I see why friends and families of the victims are horrified. I'm also not sure if it served a "higher" purpose or not. I was sickened by what I saw and heard and stupid shooter boy (he doesn't deserve to be named) took the focus off the heros and the victims and turned it back to himself - which is probably what he wanted.
We are also a nation of voyeurs. We all slow down at a traffic accident. Many of us remember watching the first Gulf war on TV. If we as a nation didn't hunger for this information, there wouldn't be so many 24 hour "news" channels. News has become a form of entertainment - sad to say.
Most of us can say we hated seeing it, but how many turned it off?
I myself am tired of hearing the media blame and point fingers at everyone about who failed and who screwed up and who did wrong and yada yada.
We keep forgetting something. That stupid shooter boy did this. Not VT, not NBC, not a teacher that didn't get him help, not a judge that didn't lock him up.
There is only one person to blame and he's dead. So all this anger has to be directed at others. Evil works like that. It creeps in and makes you doubt everything around you that is good.
Stupid shooter boy was evil. Period. Could he be stopped? Doubtful. Will other evil people kill innocents? Yes. It's horrible and sad, but that's not the fault of NBC either. It's the fault of the person who is evil. It's time for us to start talking about personal responsibility and not blame everyone and everything else when evil strikes.
When we do that, evil wins.
I don't think it was one NBC's best decisions, but we all watched. Simple supply and demand folks. Sad to say. If we didn't watch, they wouldn't have aired it.
- sorry for the rant-
2007-04-20 03:42:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
They don't care about discretion, they care about ratings - hence money. I think it's deplorable how this society - especially the media - is violence hungry and the tiniest, minute bad thing that happens they sensationalize it. I agree shame on NBC but shame on America period. Since that massacre at VT, there have been bomb threats in various schools across the country. In high schools and universities alike. Any nut with the slightest notion of being "famous" has pulled out all his toys and munition and is set to strike. It's so you fear sending your kids to school anymore!
2007-04-20 03:32:16 · answer #4 · answered by Brandy 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Everyone who thinks it was wrong was still sitting in front of their tv's watching this. We're voyeuristic society. Some may have had their eyes covered, but I bet they were peeking.
As for NBC and other media outlets saying it was a difficult decision to air, I totally think that is bs. This was a 30 second decision with an additional 15 mins of "what do we say to appease those who may object to us airing this?"
I don't doubt the networks planned the airing and the response afterwards.
2007-04-20 03:57:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think NBC should have thought of a better way to let the public know exaclty what went down. I feel sympathy for those of the students and the parents..and I know I would not want to see that being played over and over again!!!
2007-04-20 03:55:01 · answer #6 · answered by Mandy 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No it wasnt wrong like i answered ina question like this 2 minutes ago. People around the country and even people at Vt where saying Why! Why could someone do this! What would make someone do this!! Well the answer was... In the video, but when you get the answer people dont want to hear it... The only thing i thought that wa wrong is to the extent that they played it..
God bless
2007-04-20 03:23:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I can flip the coin on this one and go with either side.
One side is that it was like we were all in this thing together. We sat glued to our t.v.s waiting, watching and praying for these students. Me not knowing any of them but feeling like I knew everyone of them. And I wanted to know who was doing this and why. I felt like my family was being ripped apart. As a family member I deserved to know.
Flip side is of course is what you stated. That someone else with thoughts like the shooter will want the world to know their face and name.
What can we do? At a time like this all we can do is pray that it doesnt happen again. Like that scene in "Its A Wonderful Life" when everyone is praying for George at the same time and the angels hear them. Maybe if we're loud enough, or just in unison? I really dont know.
I do however think he's had enough of our time. I think they shouldnt show the video anymore, or read his writings. Report about it but dont show it anymore. I have had enough of seeing his face and hearing his awful words.
Take care now.
2007-04-20 03:29:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO. It shows people how disturbed he was and many of us wanted to know how someone could have done this.
It also lets those of us who work with charity and people what to look for...
The media told us about the hospital stay, his roommates, his interactions with classmates,the stalkings, the guns, etc.
It is good information. Those of us concerned are treating it as that. It is not making us "fans".
As for ratings, all media does this...NBC is just one more station. If this was something you were interested in you would love it.
2007-04-20 04:00:11 · answer #9 · answered by soulflower 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The people have a right to know! They debated for a long time about doing it - like I heard one say this morning - "This is NBC News, not NBC Mother
2007-04-20 03:28:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋