| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people 19:02 - Aug 21 with 10844 views | ghostofescobar |
Tragically die in a boating related incident (and I appreciate a black man too) in Italy, which is terrible beyond words, genuinely shocking, and I do mean that, and there is wall to wall press coverage, which I kinda get. Last month, four migrants drowned trying to get across the English Channel in a single incident. And………..not quite the same level of press coverage, was there? Why is that? Guess they are worth less. It troubles me. Really troubles me. Maybe I’m too woke, so await the brickbats. |  |
| |  |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 19:09 - Aug 21 with 6376 views | bluelagos |
In Jan 2002 around 1000 people died in Lagos after a munitions dump exploded. Most had fled in panic and drowned in a canal (covered in moss and looked like grass) near the exploding bombs.
The Times covered the story with 57 words on page 11 - I know cos I counted them and wrote an unpublished letter asking why the lack of coverage?
Some lives are seen as less newsworthy than others - has always been thus - and like you I find it very uncomfortable the way the media will focus on the "wealthy and successful" as opposed to ordinary people when tragedy occurs. |  |
| |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 19:10 - Aug 21 with 6361 views | pointofblue |
I understand what you mean, but news is also about the new. As horrible as it is to say, people drowning in the channel is a devastating regular occurrence. From memory, there was a run of news last summer with an update on how many people had died in the channel each day, which was heart-breaking, but the exposure also led to a level of desensitisation from the public, which then was twisted to the Stop the Boats debate.
It's the same with the War in Ukraine and the Gaza war - when both started there was live updates on the BBC News site. Now, we maybe get an article a day, and this won't change unless something big happens (hopefully a truce in both cases). Again, it is a case of desensitisation. |  |
| |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 19:12 - Aug 21 with 6337 views | lowhouseblue |
can't argue with that. the whole thing is utterly tragic and mike lynch is a interesting and significant person, but why the media gives it days of headline coverage i'm not at all sure. |  |
| And so as the loose-bowelled pigeon of time swoops low over the unsuspecting tourist of destiny, and the flatulent skunk of fate wanders into the air-conditioning system of eternity, I notice it's the end of the show |
| |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 19:28 - Aug 21 with 6211 views | Buhrer |
What do you think the purpose of press coverage is? To help migrants? Arf. Only to maintain and stir the pot.
Isnt "Rich can be unlucky or stupid and suffer at the hands of fate too" just another regular "society is okay" trope story seen in the media. Which are owned by the rich, consumed by the poor. Viddy well. |  | | |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 19:41 - Aug 21 with 6098 views | Oldsmoker |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 19:10 - Aug 21 by pointofblue |
I understand what you mean, but news is also about the new. As horrible as it is to say, people drowning in the channel is a devastating regular occurrence. From memory, there was a run of news last summer with an update on how many people had died in the channel each day, which was heart-breaking, but the exposure also led to a level of desensitisation from the public, which then was twisted to the Stop the Boats debate.
It's the same with the War in Ukraine and the Gaza war - when both started there was live updates on the BBC News site. Now, we maybe get an article a day, and this won't change unless something big happens (hopefully a truce in both cases). Again, it is a case of desensitisation. |
... and in the 70's we had Northern Ireland.
They were called the 'troubles' by the press.
Reports of bombs killing people were headlines in the first year, but as time progressed it was just a 'by the way, a bomb killed some people in NI'.
It was only when the IRA started bombing the UK that it became headlines again.
The devaluing of peoples lives (they're other people so they count less) still bothers me today.
It also bothers me that a black player playing for the opposition is all manner of derogatory remarks but when bought by your club is 'one of us' and is no longer a ***** ****. |  |
| |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 19:57 - Aug 21 with 5989 views | redrickstuhaart |
Its a very different situation. No more morally newsworthy perhaps, buy far more actually newsworthy given the freak circumstances, the boat and the identity of those on it. | | | |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 20:04 - Aug 21 with 5944 views | Trequartista |
It's not really because the people are worth less, its because the event is less newsworthy because its (sadly) a more regular occurance. If there were only one instance of migrants drowning in the channel, and several occurances of super yachts capsizing, I suspect the coverage would be the other way around. |  |
| |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 20:08 - Aug 21 with 5907 views | vilanovablue |
In the late 90s I worked in Emergency Planning for Surrey County Council. I was lucky enough to enjoy a lot of training at the emergency planning college. Did a media training course there and interestingly the subject of dead English victims was covered, they were very on point about how much more the media were interested in these victims... |  | | |
Login to get fewer ads
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 20:26 - Aug 21 with 5802 views | Plums |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 20:08 - Aug 21 by vilanovablue |
In the late 90s I worked in Emergency Planning for Surrey County Council. I was lucky enough to enjoy a lot of training at the emergency planning college. Did a media training course there and interestingly the subject of dead English victims was covered, they were very on point about how much more the media were interested in these victims... |
You may very well have worked with one of my best friends - Mark M? |  |
| |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 21:02 - Aug 21 with 5685 views | Zx1988 |
It's the same with Matthew Perry, and the news of raids/arrests following his death.
I imagine, had he been a stereotypical impoverished addict, there would have been the usual collective shrug and everyone would have moved on as if it had never happened. | |
| |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 21:12 - Aug 21 with 5616 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 19:10 - Aug 21 by pointofblue |
I understand what you mean, but news is also about the new. As horrible as it is to say, people drowning in the channel is a devastating regular occurrence. From memory, there was a run of news last summer with an update on how many people had died in the channel each day, which was heart-breaking, but the exposure also led to a level of desensitisation from the public, which then was twisted to the Stop the Boats debate.
It's the same with the War in Ukraine and the Gaza war - when both started there was live updates on the BBC News site. Now, we maybe get an article a day, and this won't change unless something big happens (hopefully a truce in both cases). Again, it is a case of desensitisation. |
You are correct but it is deeper than that.
I like to ask people what the worst industrial disaster in the world was. I wonder what most people on here would answer to that. The responses reveal very much what our media feeds us. |  |
| |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 21:16 - Aug 21 with 5584 views | BlueForYou |
Just reading that they found the guy, Mike Lynch with his daughter. Lived in Suffolk apparently. Sad events. |  | | |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 21:26 - Aug 21 with 5520 views | Oldsmoker |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 21:12 - Aug 21 by Nthsuffolkblue |
You are correct but it is deeper than that.
I like to ask people what the worst industrial disaster in the world was. I wonder what most people on here would answer to that. The responses reveal very much what our media feeds us. |
On December 3 1984, more than 40 tons of methyl isocyanate gas leaked from a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, immediately killing at least 3,800 people and causing significant morbidity and premature death for many thousands more.
How does that compare to the human disaster caused by the neglect of the Ethiopian government that resulted in the deaths of thousands - also in 1984. | |
| |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 21:32 - Aug 21 with 5482 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 21:26 - Aug 21 by Oldsmoker |
On December 3 1984, more than 40 tons of methyl isocyanate gas leaked from a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, immediately killing at least 3,800 people and causing significant morbidity and premature death for many thousands more.
How does that compare to the human disaster caused by the neglect of the Ethiopian government that resulted in the deaths of thousands - also in 1984. |
Not an industrial disaster but I do get what you mean.
Bhopal was the answer I was looking for (although the Banqiao Dam failure is an equally valid suggestion). Few people suggest either with Chernobyl being the most common suggestion (albeit the ongoing effect of cancers due to extra radiation exposure is difficult to assess). | |
| |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 22:01 - Aug 21 with 5307 views | DarkBrandon |
It is because Mike Lynch is pretty famous. Certainly in the tech world.
His trial in the States was covered in some depth. |  | | |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 22:51 - Aug 21 with 5137 views | Europablue |
Firstly they are British, secondly there was hope that they might be rescued, and thirdly there was a young woman involved.
I'm not sure there was a race angle involved. | | | |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 23:02 - Aug 21 with 5078 views | Europablue |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 19:09 - Aug 21 by bluelagos |
In Jan 2002 around 1000 people died in Lagos after a munitions dump exploded. Most had fled in panic and drowned in a canal (covered in moss and looked like grass) near the exploding bombs.
The Times covered the story with 57 words on page 11 - I know cos I counted them and wrote an unpublished letter asking why the lack of coverage?
Some lives are seen as less newsworthy than others - has always been thus - and like you I find it very uncomfortable the way the media will focus on the "wealthy and successful" as opposed to ordinary people when tragedy occurs. |
The other side of it is what the readers are interested in. Especially now it is easy to track interest in stories in real time. If there is a lot of interest they will give a story a live update page.
We can't take onboard every tragedy in the world, so we have to be selective. | | | |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 23:07 - Aug 21 with 5022 views | Europablue |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 19:28 - Aug 21 by Buhrer |
What do you think the purpose of press coverage is? To help migrants? Arf. Only to maintain and stir the pot.
Isnt "Rich can be unlucky or stupid and suffer at the hands of fate too" just another regular "society is okay" trope story seen in the media. Which are owned by the rich, consumed by the poor. Viddy well. |
The best way to help illegal immigrants is to stop them getting into boats in the first place. It is a needless waste of human life really for no good reason. It isn't cheap to get a place on a boat to the UK. Migrants should either be deported or settled where they come in or distributed across Europe. Instead all countries in Europe allow migrants across their borders and tolerate their presence as long as the ultimate destination is somewhere else.
I can't understand someone not wanting to stop the boats. | | | |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 23:09 - Aug 21 with 4995 views | Europablue |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 19:41 - Aug 21 by Oldsmoker |
... and in the 70's we had Northern Ireland.
They were called the 'troubles' by the press.
Reports of bombs killing people were headlines in the first year, but as time progressed it was just a 'by the way, a bomb killed some people in NI'.
It was only when the IRA started bombing the UK that it became headlines again.
The devaluing of peoples lives (they're other people so they count less) still bothers me today.
It also bothers me that a black player playing for the opposition is all manner of derogatory remarks but when bought by your club is 'one of us' and is no longer a ***** ****. |
I don't know who you are associating with. Maybe 20 or 30 years ago black opposition players were disparaged based on their race, but I haven't heard anyone say anyone under the age of 90 say anything remotely like that. | | | |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 23:11 - Aug 21 with 4978 views | Europablue |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 20:08 - Aug 21 by vilanovablue |
In the late 90s I worked in Emergency Planning for Surrey County Council. I was lucky enough to enjoy a lot of training at the emergency planning college. Did a media training course there and interestingly the subject of dead English victims was covered, they were very on point about how much more the media were interested in these victims... |
Can you guess why the British media might be more interested in the lives of British people?
Are people questioning why there was so much coverage of Team GB at the Olympics? | | | |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 23:13 - Aug 21 with 4937 views | Europablue |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 21:02 - Aug 21 by Zx1988 |
It's the same with Matthew Perry, and the news of raids/arrests following his death.
I imagine, had he been a stereotypical impoverished addict, there would have been the usual collective shrug and everyone would have moved on as if it had never happened. |
Yes, but people only care about Matthew Perry because he was in a show that they liked.
There has to be some relevance to you. If it's a random guy who died in America, it wouldn't be relevant to UK audiences. | | | |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 23:23 - Aug 21 with 4897 views | hatch |
Said to my wife it was only a matter of time before I saw this exact take.
A family friend in my village in Suffolk is a very close friend of Mr Lynch and has been on that yacht a number of times. Speaks extremely highly of him and his generosity and good character so I dread to think what she’s going through.
I acknowledge the news coverage is weighted perversely but it is a very unique story and still extremely tragic so not surprised its headline. |  | | |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 23:23 - Aug 21 with 4896 views | ITFCson |
Things that are different make news, things that repeat a lot lose there news appeal. I read about this tragedy, I didn’t read about the last tragedy across the channel. That doesn’t mean to say one is more tragic than the other. Also you can relate a small way to a name you are familiar with. I read the Sven Eriksen story today, if it was the same story about a person not in the public eye than I probably wouldn’t have. | | | |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 00:14 - Aug 22 with 4793 views | factual_blue |
Glamour, beauty, power, wealth sell newspapers. Stories that don't feature any of things will usually get lower billing.
I'm not saying that should be the case, but that it is. |  |
| |
| Going to stick my head above the parapet here, but some rich white people on 00:18 - Aug 22 with 4786 views | Edinburgh_Blue |
As callous as it may sound, if you get into a small over-crowded boat to attempt to cross the channel, you are risking your life. People will die. This is not a surprise. Stopping in France or whichever safe country you hit first will remove that risk.
It’s of course sad when people needlessly die at any time but it can clearly be avoided. [Post edited 22 Aug 2024 0:19]
|  |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
