What obligations do the media have to report acts of heroism?

[Eudaimonist]

If a Married Lesbian Couple Saves 40 Teens from the Norway Massacre and No One Writes About it, Did it Really Happen? « Talk About Equality

Here is an example of a heroic act, and yet barely a peep from the media. Normally, this would have been big news. So what happened? What obligations do the media have?


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[1000Flames]

I'd wager quite a bit of quid that if the couple happened to be devout Christians, and male and female; then the news would report how THEY were the "Real Christians" as the antithesis to the terrorist who proclaimed to be Christian.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

I thought that the media were obliged to make money.

My advise would be stay away from the media and read a good book instead, GIGO you know. Politicians and journalists get far too much attention IMO. Long live the www and the bookstore.

As for heroism we ought to be looking at ways to avoid it by really focusing on reducing social probles in a scientific manner rather than trusting in "brave" individuals to act at the last minute when things inevatably go down the pan again. In that sense the hero is a bad role model. Prevention is better than cure. Plus in cases like the above there are whats called "agent centred concerns" link meaning lets not forget our own welfare.... lets not put there Holywood/pop culture style self endangering acts of "heroics" on a pedestal. Holywood, another pet hate, for its glamouriosation of violence. And a certain amount of pop culture glamourises violence or 'delinquent' attitudes too.

 

[Eudaimonist]

As for heroism we ought to be looking at ways to avoid it by really focusing on reducing social probles in a scientific manner

Do you mean like the former Soviet Union, who thought that they could engineer their command economy in a "scientific manner" to the point where they would "bury us" in their amazing productive output?

rather than trusting in "brave" individuals to act at the last minute when things inevatably go down the pan again.

And yet one could argue that heroic individuals deserve public recognition, even if one doesn't want to trust to their help in the long run.

Sure, it might be good to develop fire-proof houses, but until then we'll need heroic fire fighters.

In that sense the hero is a bad role model.

A heroic fire fighter is a bad role model just because one might imagine fireproof houses?

lets not put there Holywood/pop culture style self endangering acts of "heroics" on a pedestal. Holywood, another pet hate, for its glamouriosation of violence.

Heroism =/= violence.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Jade Margery]

They definitely deserve credit and they are clearly heroes--not many people would move toward the sounds of gun fire to save others lives.

Though I think it's worth mentioning, if I were in their shoes, I wouldn't want to be hounded by the media or put up on a pedestal for all the world to judge. I would want to accept the gratitude of the people I saved and their families, and then go on with my life. Maybe they aren't being covered because they don't want to be?

 

[Paulos23]

Maybe they aren't being covered because they don't want to be?

That is a good point. If they where Americans and did this, they would at least be making the rounds of daytime TV talk shows to make money.

I can understand their desire not be on TV.

 

[keith99]

It seems lots of detail is not making it over to the States.

Perhaps this is not being reported more because it raises a very nasty question. There were boats available yet the police could not find a suitable baod while teens died.

 

[Jade Margery]

That is a good point. If they where Americans and did this, they would at least be making the rounds of daytime TV talk shows to make money.

Y'know, I'm an American, and by your little symbol so are you. Aren't there enough negative stereotypes about how fat and lazy and greedy we are that we don't need to generalize ourselves also?

 

[Paulos23]

Y'know, I'm an American, and by your little symbol so are you. Aren't there enough negative stereotypes about how fat and lazy and greedy we are that we don't need to generalize ourselves also?

But it is so easy when it is so true....

 

[keith99]

That is a good point. If they where Americans and did this, they would at least be making the rounds of daytime TV talk shows to make money.

I can understand their desire not be on TV.

If they were Americans the odds would have been pretty good that this would have been their Bass fishing boat. The odds are good a fisherman is also a hunter.

Take my family. Growing up we had a ski boat. Nope no guns. My brother in lay and brother have boats. Brother in law hunts. 1 in 3. Not sure what brother in law would have done faced with this.

Oh wait. The boat we had growing up! It went to a second cousin. A match marksman. I know what he would have done. In a situatiomn like this he would have been fine killing someone, and he was good enough to hit his target.

Not saying anything bad about the ladies, it is in many ways easier to shoot back than to get close enough to die while unarmed.