As this terrible Boston situation continues to unfold in real time on our TV screens (and even closer up for those unfortunate enough to be in proximity to the tragedy), I have one simple question to ask. This may not be the best use of a Diary, but it has to be asked....
Are these young angry radicals who have terrorized a community and a nation the bigger threat than the media itself, which makes these deranged people famous? I am sickened by the "ambulance-chasing" mainstream media that will now tell us all more than we ever wanted to know about these individuals. They are, in a sense, glorifying them. They are making them famous, almost celebrities, by talking about every aspect of their lives they can learn. They talk to their friends, their family, they look at their Twitter accounts, and I'm sure Facebook and other social media will be examined and reported on exhaustively in coming days and weeks. The news media, especially the cable media, is guilty of raising the profile of extremists and dropping all other news coverage for this sensational story.
By making these killers famous, the media will just encourage copy-cats and loners who want their 15-minutes in the spotlight. Sure, we need to know what happened, where it happened, who did it, why, and when and how they planned this event. That's called journalism. The who/what/when/where/how/why of reporting. Beyond that, it is voyeurism. It is exploitation for ratings. It is cheap. AND it is dangerous. Dangerous to all of us that the media gives a platform to these idiots and sick people out there who would do people harm. Making nutcases famous is the worst of what the news media can do in this open society.
Yes, the story needs coverage. It's a HUGE story. However, let's not dive too deeply into the stories of these individuals. Sad that the media can't control itself, and is so desperate for ratings that they'll make these bad people into "martyrs" or even heroes in the twisted minds of some others. This INCREASES the risks we face in this country. Thanks, mainstream media. Thanks a lot!