The Dark Side of New Media: #Newtown
I am a Mom. That says it all and my kids are my greatest joy, accomplishment, satisfaction in my life, hands down. Nobody can ever imagine the loss of a child. I can’t. What I can say is that gone are the days of privacy, mourning, delay—as the media is relentless and is now combined with social media on steroids to get information from millions of different directions. Some of it is true, lots of it is rumors. In a time of CRISIS, this is a problem. Here are my thoughts as they relate to the tragedies of the days we live in:
1. Horrifying events deserve respect and distance from media posturing. Report the facts, but for crying out loud, when did the media become the voice of what we should think? Most reporters today weighed in on their “opinion” and “thoughts” on the issue. WHAT? Have we lost the gist of what is real?
2. Why do we have to report 24/7 on the issue? Let’s report it. Let’s not create news to keep it going. I turned it off today, as I was sick of the media regurgitating non-news. Is the media in the entertainment or sensational business now? I think maybe.
3. Why do we not respect what has happened and stay clear of the drama posts, judgments, etc. on social channels until after funerals have taken place? It is sad that we have dead children still on the floor of the classrooms (where they were shot) and we are politicizing and glorifying the news story on this.
4. News media: Cover breaking facts and then shut it up. Personally, I am sick of the news media telling us how to think or feel and what is “relevant.” The law enforcement officers asked the media to stay away from families impacted. Of course, they can’t.
5. How do we prevent these tragic events from reoccurring? The answer is not taking guns away.
The whole gun verses anti-gun issue here will be big. I believe guns have been around for way too long to blame it on that. The problem is not guns but people who use them incorrectly—just like anything else. We need armed guards at schools, not only banks and shopping malls. Think on it.
