TV and Deaths

[skra75]

SO I resolved not to vent on this board but I can't help it - it's so easy and I feel so much better after I do it.

Anyways, a close friend made mention of the young guy who just got signed on to the Angels as a rookie player and I guess this same guy got into some accident and passed away. It's on the news and such. click if you want (http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=207187&cl=12902560&ch=207401&src=sports)

My feeling is this (and I explained the same to my friend) - why is it that we make such a big fucking deal about sports figures dying in this country - moreover - why does death make the headlines? When my Grandpa passed away, I wouldn't have wanted his name on TV or anything - it's a private thing. I feel bad for this young guy's family but - really?

If a professor or a chemist or a budding young author passed away - would it garner the same media attention as this poor kid? Why is it that sports figures (especially baseball stars it seems) get so overexposed in the mdeia when something like this happens?

I feel bad for the guys family. But I kind of feel bad for this fucking country too. I wish we had other shit to put on the headlines - like "fossil found on asteroid orbiting earth" or "man discovers synthetic skin that can grow hairs" or some shit. What the hell good is it that we put sports figures ahead of other, more important shit in our world.

Gay. Anyways, I'm going out for a cigar and a can of shitty beer, who's in?

[kaiser soze]

Baseball season just started and this guy was a young star, add tremendously horrible accident caused by a drunk driver and you have news

It is sad that he died, so much potential as a professional athlete. I agree though - what makes his life and death so much more important other than being able to throw a ball?

[ericlee]

drama sells man. It's just how it is. If it weren't for drama, my wife's reporter job will go down the drain.

[HEIRESS]

I had a similar rant once after a couple (in their late twenties, one was from my home-town) went on an month long extreme skiing/backpacking trip, got lost in a storm, built a snow-cave and then perished.

everyone was making the hugest deal, front page news etc etc. yes, they were young and in love and yes it was tragic that their lives were cut short.

but all the media attention was bullcrap. they put themselves in that goddamn situation. both were from rich families I believe (you can't be poor and afford to go back country skiing through the rockies for a month). people who do shit like that are always applauded for their "zest for life"
fuck that, all these extremoids have a deep rooted death wish. it's just that most of them have the money to attempt to make every trip their last in a far more glamorous way than the regular joe who just picks up a meter of rope.

Im sorry if this makes me seem like a jerk but it's the media that I have an issue with. Alot of other people died that week in canada let alone the rest of the world (and probably a bunch who had contributed alot more to society) and they sure as hell weren't applauded across every major media outlet like this pair was.
do I want a whole paper listing the name of every person that died in the country that day, not specifically and I understand that you have to make a choice at some point which ones to highlight, but like skra said, why do we fixate on only certain types.

ok I am done.

[b i o n i c]

^ but they just give people what they want. i agree though. PEOPLE are stupid.

the worst is political figures. everyones a saint when they die

[nodanaonlyzuul]

people who do shit like that are always applauded for their "zest for life"
...
it's just that most of them have the money to attempt to make every trip their last in a far more glamorous way than the regular joe who just picks up a meter of rope.


(y)

also I'd like to +1 "people are stupid".

[YoungRemy]

This story is big because he threw the game of his young career just hours before the accident.

From that night's starting pitcher to the following morning's Obituary- I'm sure the story would have been big in Orange County/SoCal even if the guy wasn't a pro.

They STILL would have reported an awful tragic car accident that could have been avoided if the goddamn drunk driver had some sense to him- already convicted of prior drunken driving, leaving the scene of the horrific accident.

It was the biggest game of his life and he called his father to fly in from Baltimore. He told him that he had a feeling "something special was going to happen." His dad saw him one last time and then after he got the call he went to Angels stadium and just sat on the pitchers mound and in the locker room just staring there.


Drunk Driving accidents are different than Backpacking Tragedies

[NoFenders]

I think about death way too much without the news. The news only makes me realise the sad side of death.

[Whatitis]

It amazes me how poeple bitch about this sorta thing. If you don't like how it's being reported, turn the channel, turn the page. People in the public eye will always get more media attention for that reason alone. I'm not saying it's right but it's true. If the story touched in ways of your interests it would be huge for you too. If it was an up and comming actor, or artist or another sports star not just abaseball players it would make the headlines. Maybe not as big as this, tough to say. It would depend on the sicumstances. It's a tragic story for a lot of reasons. River Phoenix got a lot of attention and he did it to himself.

[RobMoney$]

Because entire cities consisting of millions of fans aren't emotionally invested in your grandpa, or a scientist, or an author.

[skra75]

Because entire cities consisting of millions of fans aren't emotionally invested in your grandpa, or a scientist, or an author.

Thus my point about this country being messed up. Why the heck not? I've never understood why pro athletes are paid more than people who are creative thinkers or scientists. If it were a teacher on their first day of school - isn't that the same thing as pitching the first game in the pro leagues? I guess a bunch of rabid belching retards in the grandstands will prove me wrong.

Lesson: Never underestimate the power and influence of a huge bunch of rabid, belching retards.

[b i o n i c]

if people stopped watching/consuming garbage the media wouldnt be selling it

[fucktopgirl]

^Well,Yes, people should boycotted TV . I mean so much societal brainwashing is happening via this technological tool.

Media dont necessarily give what people want to see. Did we had a referendum about what we would want to see on tv? Never. All we see is Drama, fears and more drama. If they would put good news and positive stuff on tv, people would listen to it as much( imagine we have shitty stuff on tv and people stay in front of it so imagine good stuff). The thing is bad news/fears and drama sell and keep people in a mental stagnancy. Death is the end of existence, it is a big seller and if you had death of celebrity, well that top it all because they have been(media) constantly making us believe that the lives of rich people was more important then the lives of common people/poor people in far away countries.

Also, while they talked about the tragic death of this fellow sport dude, well attention is diverted from thousand of death over sea cause by things much more important that people should care about and look into..

[b i o n i c]

Media dont necessarily give what people want to see. Did we had a referendum about what we would want to see on tv? Never. All we see is Drama, fears and more drama. If they would put good news and positive stuff on tv, people would listen to it as much

how do you know? did you had a referendum?

[Adam]

gotta agree with RobMoney here.

Although I have a rant at the media on here (and other places) a lot, I know I can change the channel. What I am really ranting at is the people who watch the idiot box without tuning out the noise from the stuff that doesn't matter to them (although matters to others). The media know this and thus, for example, try and make 5 people sharing a house without a option to leave into a entertainment. And they are good at what they do, they choose what you see so they make up stories about the characters and have them more entertaining than they are. Then you [the public] become emotionally invested in the character more and more until they can sell you anything they want.

We are all victim of it, I'm such a snob about these things but even I know I fall victim to it. I conscientiously don't have a TV because I know certain part of my personality will like the mindless dribble. You gotta tune out the noise, like has been said, change the channel, stop caring. Pick your entertainment more precisely.

[fucktopgirl]

how do you know? did you had a referendum?

Prout!!! You like teasing me, dont ya?

[b i o n i c]

(n):D(y)

[marsdaddy]

Lesson: Never underestimate the power and influence of a huge bunch of rabid, belching retards.That could be every mayor's re-election campaign slogan!

It is annoying how the media reports over and over (and over, etc.) the same story with a 'new' angle -- "but wait, there's more!" But the reporting of 'news' is not really a statement about people's inability to turn the channel, or be led around like sheep. Rather the statement is that people would rather deal with things that couldn't possibly happen to them then look at their own lives. Then they can draw parallels and feel better about themselves. Or at least, I can.