i hate the media.

of course, that can't be taken as an absolute. however, the tragedy at virginia tech has underscored the sensationalism of popular media.

i learn nothing, absolutely nothing, when an academic who wrote an article about columbine spouts off his opinion regarding school shootings. i also learn nothing when talking heads interview fbi agents from california regarding their opinions on how the situation should have been handled.

newsflash: the tragedy happened. your professional hindsight only serves to rub salt in open wounds, at worst. at best, you're preaching to people who have no control over campus security and sit on their couches under the impression that you, talking head, you could have stopped the massacre if only you had been in charge.

that is disingenuous and disrespectful, frankly. virginia tech's campus police are JUST that: campus police. given their training and protocol, they did the absolute best that they could, and should be commended for their quick rescue of injured victims. will the news underscore the fact that some of the students who were saved might have bled out if not for paramedic and police aid? ** addendum: and also if not for individual acts of heroism that i have yet to see in american mainstream media? ** further addendum: aforementioned individual act of heroism was perpetrated by a romanian shoah survivor. further proof that what we should have learned from the shoah is that good people cannot do nothing and expect to remain good. also phrased by panther as, "he knew what happens when good people stand by and do nothing." kiddush hashem.

whatever happened to respect in the media? smearing faces and bloody images across the screen feeds fear, and doesn't entirely serve the original purpose of the media: disseminating knowledge. if it's all about finding the right theme music [ all of it sounds ripped from jaws ] and properly shocking sound byte, then count me out.

i've got hollywood for that, thank you.