Pandering to the public appetite for gore and grief

[debgeisler]

Since 911 calls are available to the press and public, we get to hear the worst (and sometimes, but more rarely, the best) of human nature.

Today, CNN has posted the 911 recording from the home where a Kansas City Chiefs football player shot and killed the mother of his child before, later, going to the Chiefs' locker room and killing himself.

I'm not going to play that video. The horror of the man's mother as she made the call about what her son was doing is not something that we should *want* to share. Instead, let me send her clean pity, untinged by hearing her anguished screams.

And CNN? Way too early. And what purpose is served by posting this?

Comments

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

Here's a take on another current bad-taste media controversy (although it wouldn't apply to CNN) http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/05/opinion/kurtz-subway-photo/?hpt=hp_bn7

[debgeisler.livejournal.com]

And then, of course, they turn 'round and post the audio. I saw this story, too. Horrific on so many levels.

[judith-dascoyne.livejournal.com]

This reminds me of the film of Karl Wallenda's fall and death from the high wire in 1978. I remember my father being so mad that they showed this film on TV.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Why would anyone want to listen to that? Ugh!

This has all been

[dragonet2.livejournal.com]

horrible and shocking. He orphaned an infant for goodness sake! Plus violated all the family members and his team.

It was an awful situation. It is in poor taste to keep showing/airing any video/audio of the event.

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

I SO agree. I see no reason for 911 calls ever to be made public.