Author Topic: POLL: Which instrument is better at spreading terror and mass hysteria? (Read 449 times)

Mox · « **Reply #1 on:** October 23, 2002, 08:39:43 AM »

Reminds me of the movie Swordfish.

All the blood and gore, LIVE in HDTV on all channels.

LOL at the media!

lazs2 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 23, 2002, 08:59:33 AM »

In order to maintain a good mood....

I haven't watched the news or read a newspapper for about 9 years except during times of great impact like the WTC or gulf war. Even then... I watch fox and in very small doses.. Nothing about the current situation seems worth watching at this point.

I think we all might be a little better off without the talking heads.
lazs

midnight Target · « **Reply #3 on:** October 23, 2002, 09:46:39 AM »

OTOH, it is the best way to get info out to the public that just might save a life.

Wotan · « **Reply #4 on:** October 23, 2002, 10:08:58 AM »

all the news does is allow national coverage. Those that live in and around that area live it every time he strikes with long lines of traffic and by seeing the numbers of police cars all over.

A news black out my cause more panic to the folks that live there then the news coverage.

Imagine every other day all the freeways are shut down police everywhere stopping and searching vehicles while heavily armed. Aircraft zooming over head.

The media may play up the story and make the sniper a celebrity but that arent causing mass hysteria....

I havent seen any hysterical people running about.

Interesting enough most people the reporters ask in the area about being scared are all out on the street going about their lives.

Spreading terror? are you terrified? 200+ people were killed last year in that area. That would scare me more then the sniper. We get more folks struck by lightening every year here in florida.

I hope they get the bastige but come on. I thought it was the liberals who always pull out the dramatics.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #5 on:** October 23, 2002, 10:18:59 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Wotan

I havent seen any hysterical people running about.

If thats your definition of mass hysteria, then so be it. This is my definition:

Quote

In Virginia, more than 140,000 students in the Richmond area were to return to school Wednesday after a two-day school closure prompted by Saturday's shooting.

Washington-area schools planned to open with the same heightened security measures -- including no outdoor activities -- under which they have operated for more than two weeks.

Kathy Franco, who was shopping with her 2-year-old son, Liam, and six-week-old daughter, Katherine, in Silver Spring, Md., was angered by the suspect's warning about children.

"As a parent, it just completely brings out every animal instinct," she said. "These two are the most important things in the world for me."

Midnight, agreed, however when the press begins to camp out as they did at the OJ trial, I would tend to think that promotes the snipers intentions even more so...copy cats is what worries me.
In the 90's after Columbine, school shootings rose....will this type of crime due to excessive coverage rise as well? I guess thats what the poll is asking...

Wotan · « **Reply #6 on:** October 23, 2002, 10:25:04 AM »

come on rip thats not hysteria, the sniper specifically threatened children, he also shot a kid at school.

The police expected him to be in richmond. They had cops positioned all in henrico county. Near DC they had police at the highway exits hoping to catch him trying to get home.

Thats completely different then hysteria..........

Ripsnort · « **Reply #7 on:** October 23, 2002, 10:27:00 AM »

Yeah, right Wotan LOL! School closures affecting 140,000 students? Nope, nothing here to see, move along..LOL!

Thrawn · « **Reply #8 on:** October 23, 2002, 10:27:07 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ripsnort
copy cats is what worries me.

Same here. This guy is showing all the would be killers out there that someone with a rifle and some precautions can shoot at least 13 people and the cops can't do SFA about it.

Wotan · « **Reply #9 on:** October 23, 2002, 10:34:05 AM »

Rip in that guys note it included a specific threat against children. They expected him in that area. He already shot a kid at school.

So the police I am sure told this to the school boards. They decided to close. The media didnt cause that. The police also said that they couldnt guarrantee anyones safety. Regardless of the tv coverage I wouldnt want any of my kids in school.

We get lotsa lightening strikes on folks here in florida. The odds of getting hit are way high. Yet millions of folks go indoors when theyu see lightening. Are they hysterical?

Hysterical would be you folks on the left coast closing down your schools over whats happening in DC.

By the way this guy is a "copy cat" that Franklin guy sniped many more.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #10 on:** October 23, 2002, 10:42:36 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Wotan

We get lotsa lightening strikes on folks here in florida. The odds of getting hit are way high. Yet millions of folks go indoors when theyu see lightening. Are they hysterical?

Thank you very much for proving my point. If the media provided as much coverage on lightning strikes as they did this sniper, Yes, there would be hysteria, and folks would never go outside when a thunderstorm approached.

AKSWulfe · « **Reply #11 on:** October 23, 2002, 10:48:27 AM »

The worst part is, the news is saying nothing new and doing nothing more than going "we know there's a sniper out there, we know he can strike at any time, and we know everyone's a target"

Damn it, I knew that the first week he started cappin peeps... don't air news just to air it, they have no news... it's just rehashed BS that's been heard over and over and over and over and over.. last night at 2AM the montgomery police chief had a live conference.. and all I got out of it was nothing. Then these retards that are called reporters, and other assorted 15 minutes to fame dipshits, start trying to analyze it and arrive at a conclusion that I can arrive at after a 12 pack of beer.

To say the media is playing a role in informing the public is like saying pollution is good for the atmosphere.
-SW

Wotan · « **Reply #12 on:** October 23, 2002, 10:54:09 AM »

man your reachin bud,

if the guy was in your area and had already shot a kid. Then left a note threatening to shoot more and the police advise the school board of this would you be opposed to them closing the schools for a short time?

The schools in that area didnt close because the media scared people. They closed because the sniper made a threat. Not only that he actually shot a kid at school.

Btw they are open now, they didnt close school forever.

Evry time someone gets hit by lightening in this area its on the news. Folks go inside. Again not hysteria.

And one more time the media didnt cause the schools to be closed. It was the credible threat the sniper made against children.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #13 on:** October 23, 2002, 11:11:23 AM »

You couldn't be more wrong Wotan. The decision to shut the schools down were on Saturday, the police were not able to read the note until sunday (see below) and Monday it was reported, the schools were already shut down in and around that area of the latest shooting.

Quote

The Washington Post reported that the deadline for
delivering the $10 million was this past Monday, but that FBI
analysis of the plastic bag enclosing the Saturday letter
prevented it from being read until midday Sunday.

The note was NOT the decision for closing them, the act of violence, and media hysteria was
:

Quote

"In Virginia, more than 140,000 students in the Richmond area were to return to school Wednesday after a two-day school closure prompted by Saturday's shooting.

midnight Target · « **Reply #14 on:** October 23, 2002, 11:21:51 AM »

Big difference between hysteria and drastic action.

Drastic action can be appropriate, hysteria isn't.