tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post6046684117385732888..comments2024-03-28T12:03:34.366+00:00Comments on Shadows & Light: CompassionSteve Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11684120060438252945noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-81068270226499000742008-03-22T13:14:00.000+00:002008-03-22T13:14:00.000+00:00When did my profession, and our society, became so...<i>When did my profession, and our society, became so luridly cruel? Why do we enjoy watching public humiliation, verbal stoning? When did we become so averse to compassion, even for those who violate our most basic social codes and morals?</i><br><br>I think it's instinctual behavior. People have always loved watching a gory fight, beheadings, public humiliations (like the stocks, for instance) and various forms of torture.<br><br>Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can never hurt you. At least that's what my mother used to say. At least the reporters weren't throwing actual stones. Their behavior was exceedingly rude, and ... base. Is that the word. Devolved, down to the brainstem, no consciousness at work there, oh no.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-46504214573300317022008-03-22T16:30:00.000+00:002008-03-22T16:30:00.000+00:00I agree with Reya - plus it all comes down to what...I agree with Reya - plus it all comes down to what sells . . . . and trash sells. The trashier the better. Right or wrong, your profession is simply filling a demand. It's our SOCIETY that's got it wrong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-11792219695996174702008-03-22T17:48:00.000+00:002008-03-22T17:48:00.000+00:00"vigilante frenzy" is the word. There was a horrib..."vigilante frenzy" is the word. There was a horrible miscarriage of justice here in France where several people spent years in jail following false accusations of sexual abuse on children. Cruelty sells - whether the cruelty inflicted on children exploited for the gratification of adults or the cruelty you describe. As one copy editor once shrugged to me after his paper had filed a "factually incorrect" paper on my boss: "so? we'll do a second story with your version."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-48360155992535665662008-03-24T23:57:00.000+00:002008-03-24T23:57:00.000+00:00Have you read Foucault? He wrote "Discipline and ...Have you read Foucault? He wrote "Discipline and Punish." I agree w/your take, and these people are only "alleged" to have committed the crime. But Foucault talks about how the public "Perp Walk" to the public lynching has been a part of culture and maybe is better than "quietly" taking people away.<br><br>Funny I just checked Wikipedia on Foucault, the picture of Foucault looks a bit like you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_FoucaultAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com