Media Gives Mass Murderer His Dying Wish

[sirio11]

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They are giving him exactly what he wanted

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So, Do you believe in the after-life?

I mean, I really find your sentence strange (in a weird logical way)

[latefordinner]

No because he is not just criticizing it, he is admitting that a free market in news is often going to produce this particular negative outcome (not just the NBC is a crappy news station). Now this doesn't mean he can't also argue, eh, yeah it sucks but it is better than any alternative. He is not saying NBC sucks, I'd rather watch XYZ but that a free market where TV stations sell advertising by attracting visitors is going to lead to situations where news stations are profitable to the extent that they sensationalize and present a skewed version of reality ("if it bleeds it leads....")

However, I think you could also argue that the proliferation of blogs, podcasts, you tube videos, DIY documentaries, etc is good and that the free market will make corporate-controlled news irrelevant.

Personally i can't wait until that new subscription based news service that accepts no advertising starts. I'm brainfarting on the name of it now, but I know it includes both leftists (Howard Zinn, Naomi Klein) and some ACers on the advisory board.

[BCPVP]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
They are giving him exactly what he wanted

[/ QUOTE ]

So, Do you believe in the after-life?

I mean, I really find your sentence strange (in a weird logical way)

[/ QUOTE ]
What does believing in an afterlife have to do with Boro's post?

[ConstantineX]

Agreed. And just because the media largely provides people what they want doesn't make Boro's point any less valid. I see it as a criticism of the American psyche.

Do any college students find the "VT ribbon" fad just as disgusting?

[samsonite2100]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
They are giving him exactly what he wanted

[/ QUOTE ]

So, Do you believe in the after-life?

I mean, I really find your sentence strange (in a weird logical way)

[/ QUOTE ]
What does believing in an afterlife have to do with Boro's post?

[/ QUOTE ]

Because the only way that caring about the killer getting his last wish makes sense is if you believe in an afterlife. I mean, there are plenty of reasons to hate everything going with this, but whether Richard McBeef would or would not have wanted them is immaterial since he no longer exists.

I also think it's a little early for high dudgeon about the media. How does anyone figure they're not supposed to be frantically covering the biggest, craziest, scariest news story in the last few years? Is there something specifically awful being referred to here that I'm unaware of?

I mean, at least this is a real news story. I get more pissed about stuff like the month-long Natalee Holloway coverage.

[andyfox]

What about the next nutcase who sees this guy getting exactly what he wanted?

I, too, am interested in what the killer was about, but I would rank the families' feelings above my curiosity.

[nietzreznor]

[ QUOTE ]
he is admitting that a free market in news is often going to produce this particular negative outcome

[/ QUOTE ]

Two points:

1. We certainly don't have anything resembling a free market right now, so I don't think it's fair to make any claims about deficiencies in a free market--if Boro is pointing out a 'market failure', it seems to be one of corporate capitalism.

2. Free markets are great at providing *what people want*, so of course there will be times when things that may be objectively bad are produced/sold because people believe they are good. I think the only way this problem can be solved is by people learning what is truly good.

[Borodog]

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What about the next nutcase who sees this guy getting exactly what he wanted?

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Exactly. Hence the second point in the OP about copycats.

[goodsamaritan]

[ QUOTE ]
What about the next nutcase who sees this guy getting exactly what he wanted?

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What about him?

He is irrational and will likely do whatever he wants regardless of whether NBC had aired this guy's video or not. Do you honestly think there is some guy out there who would be the type to go on a murderous rampage, but would refrain from doing so if NBC had not aired this guys' video?

Nowadays a nutjob does even need the media to spread his legacy. All he'd need to do is post the videos on an internet website and write the link on his arm.

[andyfox]

"Do you honestly think there is some guy out there who would be the type to go on a murderous rampage, but would refrain from doing so if NBC had not aired this guys' video?"

Not sure. But there may be someone out there who would if NBC does air the video. TV news is still a bigger deal than internet websites.