Who watches Al Jazeera? - Page 6

Asher · March 25, 2003, 05:07

Quote:

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
So, are you suggesting that the media should "sanitise" what they show?

Yes, the mainstream media should be "sanitised" so it's not offensive and disturbing to the point where people do not watch it.

I believe the full-gore versions should be available to everyone to see, but not by default.

I'm all for people setting up their own channels similar to CNN that has no morals/guidelines about showing the excessive blood, gore, and devastation of war -- I just don't want to see CNN/MSNBC/BBC/etc go to hell to satisfy the people who think we should see soldiers without their heads, people with blood gushing from where their arm used to be, and that kind of thing.

I know that kind of stuff happens, I don't care to see it when I'm watching the news and eating breakfast.

Simple as that.

Dis · March 25, 2003, 05:28

Asher. There is a simple solution.

Let the market decide what it wants to see.

captialism can work if these damn lefties and anarchists would give it a chance.

Asher · March 25, 2003, 05:30

Absolutely. Start a competing network like CNN that has no guidelines/respect for the dead in combat. Just leave CNN so I can watch something.

Dis · March 25, 2003, 05:36

The only reason I'm against CNN is because all they have are analysts

Fox was showing a lot of Sky News coverage before, but today they have gone back to talking heads

Arggh. There are no good news networks in the U.S. I don't want to see dead bodies. But I would like to see video of what is going on. ie live coverage. If by some unforseen thing I see someone killed on live tv- sobeit.

Hurricane · March 25, 2003, 06:38

Quote:

Originally posted by TheStinger
Does anyone think WW1 would have continued past Verdun and the Somme if there was reporting like we see today.

I think this is a very valid question. Yes? No?

TheStinger · March 25, 2003, 06:49

My answer would be the war would have stopped. Especialy as there was an abscence of an obvious bad guy

Willem · March 25, 2003, 11:39

Quote:

Originally posted by Hurricane

I think this is a very valid question. Yes? No?

If you're talking about what we see on CNN et al, I'd say no. They're just acting like a rah rah chorus in support of the Coalition. But if you're talking about the kind of journalism that covered the Vietnam war, then I'd say yes. There's a very good reason why the US Armed Forces have taken firm control of the media coverage since then.

GePap · March 25, 2003, 12:01

The Pollyanish stance of the press in Rich countries greatly differs form that of poorer regions.

In Panama, front page of the tabloids they show you the badly mangled corpses of whomever died in the headline accident or shooting. Certainly in the Arab press seeing dead bodies on TV is nothing new. And no one gives any warning, or censors the pics from their kids.
Human beings can handle the view of death: perhaps only in the last 100 years have significant numbers of people being able to divorce themselves from death so completely as to shirk at seeing a corpse.

Agathon · March 25, 2003, 12:24

Asher you are losing badly.

Asher a song for you...

"Desperado... why won't you come to your senses..."

yavoon · March 25, 2003, 12:37

man this is the worst thread ever. disappointed I read it.

Nubclear · March 25, 2003, 14:54

I've chosen to continue the discussion with Asher through PM

Imran Siddiqui · March 25, 2003, 16:52

Quote:

Appeasement was in large part a product of the British upper class's sympathy for fascism.

May be, but it isn't like Chamberlain and most of Labor leadership came from families of mine workers.

Quote:

No ashwer, I dont want to FORCE them.

Well, it kinda sounds like you do. You want people to KNOW the results of their action, and you think news channels SHOULD show it, or else they are lying.

JCG · March 25, 2003, 18:10

Give people the option to see the gore/abuse/death, but don't force them...I agree that a 24/7 "Blood and Guts" channel would make people stop complaining about lack of coverage/censorship. Yes, standard U.S. TV is far too sanitized but that won't change anytime soon.

Still, who knows, such a channel might actually become popular among a select group of people, just like sensationalistic tabloids...

Uncle Sparky · March 25, 2003, 21:17

I also feel that dead bodies should be shown. It is the reality of war.

Whenever posible, the names of the people killed should also be used in the broadcasts. This would include the names of Iraqi civilians and soldiers.

Maybe then armchair hawks will realize that the stats were actually people who lived, breathed, had hopes, fears & actually lived.

You'd think 9/11 would have showed Americans that, but I guess not.

Dis · March 25, 2003, 21:19

But does Iraqi tv give the name of the U.S. soldiers killed?

Uncle Sparky · March 25, 2003, 21:41

Iraqi TV has been bombed off the air, according to CNN. Besides, wasn't Iraqi TV the mouthpiece of ruthless despots? I'm sure they had nothing good to say about the invading forces.

But isn't that why the coalition forces are going into Iraq, to teach them a better way of life? Now you might be able to put forth a convincing argument that CNN and Fox are mouthpieces of ruthless despots, but I think PBS, BBC & CBC might have a bit of independent integrity.

mactbone · March 25, 2003, 22:11

Why don't we just recycle footage of people dying and corpses to show every generation. We can have a special Sesame Street program shown every five years or so and all the little kiddies can understand what war is.

Sorry, but this doesn't fly with me. It's OK if it's incidental to purosefully show this is irresponsible. Do they show victims of violent crimes on TV right after the incident - with blown off heads or whatever?

Dis · March 25, 2003, 22:13

Iraqi tv is back on the air.

You can't bury the truth!! the truth will get out!!

but seriously it was only out for 15 minutes. It came back on the air, but with a weaker signal.

Uncle Sparky · March 25, 2003, 22:22

MacT - Don't you get Fox ?

... and that's only their "reality tv" shows; their news is worse !

Zero · March 25, 2003, 22:28

Quote:

Originally posted by TheStinger
Does anyone think WW1 would have continued past Verdun and the Somme if there was reporting like we see today.

Some of the most memorable WWII photos Ive seen was dead bodies loitered around Omaha beach. But I don't know if those images were available to public back then.

Sheik · March 25, 2003, 22:52

I watch it when I can tune in over the net.