Pirates of the Mediterranean

[ellyssian]

All manner of stories here... interesting how Australian headlines read "Aussies under attack..." and UK ones read "Cruise ship Britons attacked by Pirates" as if each is more important. Hmmm, I thought only the US media stooped that low as to pretend things were more newsworthy only when American citizens were involved.

People were attacked.

Why care only about those in your country? Next thing you'll know, you'll only care about those in your state or region. Or who went to your college. Or from your city. Or neighborhood. Or your household. Or... lets face it, at that point all you care about is number one, and you really are unsure of why your picture is there for the definition of "self-centered."

Comments

[silme.livejournal.com]

No, a lot of countries do it. It seems selfish, doesn't it? No Americans were injured. No Britons were killed. Etc. As if it doesn't matter that a lot of people with other nationalities were affected. :(

[wolfette]

I'm afraid that's always been the way of journalists. It's actually supposed to make the readership read that article - by giving them a connection to the people in the story, and in the process they learn about the non-Brits, non-US, non-Australians, etc.

Yeah, I did study journalism - about 30 years ago.

[luis-mw.livejournal.com]

and here is the news for parrots

[wintersweet.livejournal.com]

The Japanese media's exactly the same one. "Giant quake in Bora Bora! Thousands killed! One Japanese bruised!"

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

I guess the fact that it seems to work - indicating the readership as a big part of the problem - means that it's not just a media issue. Which is, of course, even more unfortunate.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

But... it cuts off before I can find out about the gibbon angle...

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

I suppose the reason for my surprise - and for some reason, I seemed to notice this more with this one boat incident - was that kind of self-centeredness is often placed (and sometimes, maybe even many times, deservedly so) on Americans.

Stuff like that helps feed the us vs. them mentality that is used as fuel and/or reasons (or at least justifications) for wars and other nastiness.

[silme.livejournal.com]

At least I haven't heard anything about how many Britons were hurt in the Paris riots...

We don't get as much of it here as in the US, but we do get some of it, alas.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

This one issue seemed to be every other headline... Aussies, Britons, Canadians... even Maryland Man (whoever *he* is... =)

Whatever is popular

[slamlander.livejournal.com]

most often reflects the nature of the audience.

[slamlander.livejournal.com]

They all worship at the temple of John Pulitzer.

[phantom_wolfboy]

I believe he's a bog body. ;-P

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Ah! That's how he survived the attack... he was well preserved!

[blackbyrd2.livejournal.com]

I don't watch the news or read the papers anymore. It's never about MEEEEEEEEE!!!!111eleventyone!!11!!


I'm going back to gazing at my navel, since it's the only interesting thing in my world. :P

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Navel watching can be a highly entertaining and satisfying endeavor!