Anyone else think that the amount of airtime - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

SteelBlue · 04-19-2007, 04:29 AM

every media outlet in the country is giving to the VT killer's videos/photos is dangerous? Seems that's just what this guy wanted. I don't mean to sound like Tipper Gore here but it also seems to me like it might be inspiring to other kooks around the country. Kinda like "wow, that's how I wanna go out too". Am I off base here?

Detroitdad · 04-19-2007, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelBlue

every media outlet in the country is giving to the VT killer's videos/photos is dangerous? Seems that's just what this guy wanted. I don't mean to sound like Tipper Gore here but it also seems to me like it might be inspiring to other kooks around the country. Kinda like "wow, that's how I wanna go out too". Am I off base here?

I don't think that you are. It is a fine line in satisfying curiousity and reporting the news and contributing to the next morbid, disturbed individual who will look at this horror and see romance.

RockyBalboa · 04-19-2007, 04:39 AM

You'd think Anna Nicole Smith had just died or something.

il Padrino Ute · 04-19-2007, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockyBalboa

You'd think Anna Nicole Smith had just died or something.

CNN is reporting that she is still dead and will make us aware if there are any changes in her condition.

Venkman · 04-19-2007, 05:41 AM

Olbermann had an FBI profiler on the program and asked him if he thought they should be airing the video and pics of nutso with a gun and a hammer, etc. FBI guy said he wouldn't because it gets all the other psychos pumped up to go copycat. Olbster says thanks and then they go right on showing the pictures. And every other news outlet is showing these over and over.

I see no reason to keep showing this stuff other than sensationalism, which = ratings which = money.

Black Diamond Bay · 04-19-2007, 07:58 PM

to continually play that video, I think it's a horrible thing to do to his family to keep playing it over and over again. It makes me sick to my stomach to imagine what they must be going through.

DrumNFeather · 04-20-2007, 12:11 PM

It is an interesting case study in giving people "what they want."

As this thing has played out over the last few days, or as any mass killing like this plays out, the media (speaking for the people) always wants to know why someone would do something like this...and with him, now we know. I suppose it is a be careful what you wish for type situation.

Even with the tapes and pictures, people are left to wonder why and the only thing that the tapes and photos do is satisfy morbid curiousity of the American viewership.

In the end, the killer got exactly what he wanted...he is a star, and the media outlets are continuing to look for people to blame other than the killer...it is all very interesting.

I like what Chris Rock said a while after the Columbine killings..."Whatever happened to crazy?"

Indy Coug · 04-20-2007, 12:45 PM

I see both sides of the argument. So many of these types of killers commit these crimes without ever saying why. Here was a chance to get a glimpse into the deluded mind of a mass killer.

I also agree that showing it both hurt those most directly affected by the attack and that it could possibly inspire other demented would-bes out there.

I think NBC could have possibly waited a little longer to show some of that material and they could have used a little more discretion in the video footage and stills they aired.

DrumNFeather · 04-20-2007, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

I see both sides of the argument. So many of these types of killers commit these crimes without ever saying why. Here was a chance to get a glimpse into the deluded mind of a mass killer.

I also agree that showing it both hurt those most directly affected by the attack and that it could possibly inspire other demented would-bes out there.

I think NBC could have possibly waited a little longer to show some of that material and they could have used a little more discretion in the video footage and stills they aired.

Or just quoted his manifesto and video clips rather than showing them...tough call.

UtahDan · 04-20-2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelBlue

every media outlet in the country is giving to the VT killer's videos/photos is dangerous? Seems that's just what this guy wanted. I don't mean to sound like Tipper Gore here but it also seems to me like it might be inspiring to other kooks around the country. Kinda like "wow, that's how I wanna go out too". Am I off base here?

I think it is disgusting and I don't care how they rationalize it, it is for ratings. I can't express how disgusting I think it is. If they want to show a photo of his corpse as they did with Sadam andhis sons, that would be okay with me. Seriously. I don't mean that as chest thumping either. Seeing him dead would be cathartic, seeing his sick rantings is hurtful.

04-19-2007, 04:29 AM	#1
SteelBlue Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Norcal Posts: 5,821	Anyone else think that the amount of airtime every media outlet in the country is giving to the VT killer's videos/photos is dangerous? Seems that's just what this guy wanted. I don't mean to sound like Tipper Gore here but it also seems to me like it might be inspiring to other kooks around the country. Kinda like "wow, that's how I wanna go out too". Am I off base here?

04-19-2007, 04:39 AM	#3
RockyBalboa Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 7,297	You'd think Anna Nicole Smith had just died or something. __________________ Masquerading as Cougarguards very own genius dumbass since 05'.

04-19-2007, 07:58 PM	#6
Black Diamond Bay Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: California Posts: 1,000	Aside from the seemingly obvious risk it poses to continually play that video, I think it's a horrible thing to do to his family to keep playing it over and over again. It makes me sick to my stomach to imagine what they must be going through.

04-20-2007, 12:11 PM	#7
DrumNFeather Active LDS Ute Fan Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Nantucket : ) Posts: 2,566	It is an interesting case study in giving people "what they want." As this thing has played out over the last few days, or as any mass killing like this plays out, the media (speaking for the people) always wants to know why someone would do something like this...and with him, now we know. I suppose it is a be careful what you wish for type situation. Even with the tapes and pictures, people are left to wonder why and the only thing that the tapes and photos do is satisfy morbid curiousity of the American viewership. In the end, the killer got exactly what he wanted...he is a star, and the media outlets are continuing to look for people to blame other than the killer...it is all very interesting. I like what Chris Rock said a while after the Columbine killings..."Whatever happened to crazy?" __________________ "It's not like we played the school of the blind out there." - Brian Johnson.

04-19-2007, 05:41 AM	#5
Venkman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: South Jordan, UT Posts: 1,799	Olbermann had an FBI profiler on the program and asked him if he thought they should be airing the video and pics of nutso with a gun and a hammer, etc. FBI guy said he wouldn't because it gets all the other psychos pumped up to go copycat. Olbster says thanks and then they go right on showing the pictures. And every other news outlet is showing these over and over. I see no reason to keep showing this stuff other than sensationalism, which = ratings which = money.

04-20-2007, 12:45 PM	#8
Indy Coug Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Between Iraq and a hard place Posts: 7,569	I see both sides of the argument. So many of these types of killers commit these crimes without ever saying why. Here was a chance to get a glimpse into the deluded mind of a mass killer. I also agree that showing it both hurt those most directly affected by the attack and that it could possibly inspire other demented would-bes out there. I think NBC could have possibly waited a little longer to show some of that material and they could have used a little more discretion in the video footage and stills they aired.