Sobriquet 27.6: Another Reason to Distrust the Media
Australia's Courier-Mail newspaper reports that a group of television journalists in New Delhi were so eager to score a sensational story that they "coaxed [a protester] into setting himself on fire and even supplied him with matches and diesel fuel."
Gaya District police chief Amit Jain was quoted as saying "The media people fully knew the intention of the man and still allowed him to proceed with his plan to commit suicide and went on shooting the scene."
Remember when the indifference towards human suffering at the center of the "Good Samaritan" episode of Seinfeld seemed both funny and disgusting? Remember when reality television--picking up where Jerry Springer, Maury Povich, Geraldo Rivera, and Donahue left off--began bringing more and more depraved behavior into our living rooms? Remember when people were trying to get prisons to agree to put executions on Pay-per-view?
Maybe it's time to heed those "Kill Your Television" bumper stickers. And, as you kill your TV, be sure to check if there isn't a news crew drooling on your stoop.
Gaya District police chief Amit Jain was quoted as saying "The media people fully knew the intention of the man and still allowed him to proceed with his plan to commit suicide and went on shooting the scene."
Remember when the indifference towards human suffering at the center of the "Good Samaritan" episode of Seinfeld seemed both funny and disgusting? Remember when reality television--picking up where Jerry Springer, Maury Povich, Geraldo Rivera, and Donahue left off--began bringing more and more depraved behavior into our living rooms? Remember when people were trying to get prisons to agree to put executions on Pay-per-view?
Maybe it's time to heed those "Kill Your Television" bumper stickers. And, as you kill your TV, be sure to check if there isn't a news crew drooling on your stoop.
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