New Orleans Death Toll »
I've been telling Denise for a week or so that the predictions of "thousands upon thousands" of dead in New Orleans will likely end up being way too high. Seems like some agree with me.
Note: This isn't meant to minimize those that have died, but instead to illustrate the fascination that our society in general, and specifically the media, has with sensationalism. Sure, it sells papers or keeps eyeballs glued to the set. But come on - what happened to reporting the truth, rather than reporting to boost your advertising dollars?
Comments (4)
When they predict 10,000 and it's ONLY 300, it tends to minimize those 300.
Posted by Ted | September 13, 2005 12:26 PM
Excellent point Ted. While I had thought of that, I hadn't really thought about it. But I'm sure it is the case.
Posted by Chad Everett | September 13, 2005 12:28 PM
I don't think it was the Mayor's intention to minimize those that DID die. Rather I think he was being inflamatory and exagerating how bad things were. As a result we now think of 300 deaths as no big deal. Had they died in tha plane crash, I think it would have been considered more of a tragedy.
Posted by Ted | September 13, 2005 5:06 PM
Oh, I agree completely. I don't think it was his intention. Rather, I think his intention was to make an issue out of just how many are dead in his town. I think it will end up being blown out of proportion in the other direction - that is, that he's just going to look like a sensationalist moron (assuming he doesn't already). But who knows - there could be loads of bodies waiting to be found and I could be proven wrong.
Posted by Chad Everett | September 13, 2005 5:32 PM