Ragamuffin Soul - Latest Comments in Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

West Wheeler — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 16:00:30 -0000

Ben,

did you change the channel? I didn't. I was sickened while watching, but I didn't turn it. I was fascinated and saddened....I prayed for this man and his family. maybe....just maybe....it will give us some prespective on how to help someone else who is suffering from some of the same delusions this guy was under.

why shouldn't someone get spiritual? maybe someone will get a different perspective about the media and their business.

I am personally not for or against what they did. all I know is I didn't change the channel. I couldn't turn away.

(los, look what you did with this argument...LOL!)

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Ben — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 00:58:30 -0000

What you got to get all Spiritual on us? It's not about censorship. It's about ethics. Not one victim had even been buried before that guys voice was blaring.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Tony — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 00:10:45 -0000

The press should have the right to report anything that is news worthy or that pertains to a particular story that is currently relevant. NBC had/has every right to air whatever information that was left behind by the murdrer. Censorship is an evil way of allowing only one side to be told. The transmitting end should never be monitored and if people want to monitor media it should be monitored on the receiving end only. If it offends you turn it off. If we start removing the freedom of press then it is a slippery slope to one day censoring Christian broadcasts.

What a shame if the Gospel of Jesus Christ was censored and all of the gory parts were removed when telling the story. We have a right to hear the entire story without fear of censorship. I applaud NBC for their decision to air the murderer's media kit, as horrific as it may be, to get a glimpse into the mind of a sick individual who apprently needed the grace and mercy of God's love.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Bush — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 00:03:24 -0000

Ok Guys, so based on your comments we could issue the Whitaker New Testament...All visual depictions of the crucifixion have been redacted so as not to offend our sensibilities. How dare Paul use graphic language and visuals!!!

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

bobby — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 11:02:21 -0000

Hmmm. Quite a conversation.

Sorry Clay, but i think that unfortunately, most of those headlines would be found regardless. It's the jacked up world we live in. I do remember hearing things on Columbine anniversaries. If a guy had an explosive device that powerful, he probably didn't plan his attack in the past two days. There are bomb threats made regularly in our society.

Both sides make some good points. I tend to lean toward Anne's camp, though. (Now that it's kind become Los' camp vs. Anne's camp. ;) ) I think the thing that scares me the most, is who is the person or the people deciding what is and isn't appropriate for us to see/hear and at what point does it cross the line? Don't have an answer on that, just a fear.

As far as focusing on victims, I've seen more coverage overall on the sadness of the event, on the effect of the community, and the loss of the student than I have about the killer over the past week.

To be honest, maybe I need to watch more news, but I hadn't even heard about this til I read this post, so I went to MSNBC to see what we're talkin about here. I guess it just didn't seem that horrible to me. To be honest, I'd be really interested to hear a point of view from someone who had family involved. I wonder how much it really does add to their pain. Of course, their probably way to busy grieving and taking care of each other to let us know about this. If anyone sees anything though, let us know.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Clayman — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 18:25:44 -0000

Retraction alert!
After perusing the news over the last couple o' days, I guess I'm more inclined to agree with Los. And everyone else who agreed with him. Here are some of the recent headlines from our local news station's web page:
Arizona Capitol reopens after bomb scare
Man barricaded in engineering office at NASA with a gun
Threatening Note found at UT's library
Columbine massacre marks 8th anniversary (I honestly don't remember anything about 6 or 7...)
School district closed as police search for man who planned mass killing ("He had some sort of explosive device and he was going to make the incident at Virginia Tech look mild by comparison,")
Missouri man charged with plotting to kill 14
Teen kills himself after threatening others at high school
Two dead, others held hostage in Tijuana hospital
Bomb threat forces evacuation of University of Minnesota

Hmmm - I see what you mean. Stinkin' copycats!

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Compassion Matt — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 15:40:36 -0000

Anne, I think you understand how painful seeing those videos has been for everyone in our community. I understand that we can't base all media decisions on the fact that someone may be hurt, but I will suggest that reading the manifesto is a very different thing than seeing it.

Those of us who live here, if we haven't been working, have been ministering to the hurting, on campus or glued to the news all week. I didn't need to spend all day Thursday seeing his face, watching him point a gun at me. I can only imagine what that did to the families sitting at a hospital bedside. I pray the families of the dead didn't see it.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Crystal Renaud — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 12:09:52 -0000

i'm too emotional right now to make a real debateable argument with the dirty flower, but i agree 100% with Los - for whatever that's worth.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

anne jackson — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 10:41:58 -0000

Why thank you Mrs. M! :) (and Jenna)

(And Los for degrading FlowerDust to Dirty Flower....) :)

much love to all
and to all a good
friday.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Mrs. M — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 10:33:43 -0000

I didn't make it through every comment, but I'll give my point of view.

First, I'm in the media industry. I have a background in communications (journalism and pr).

My personal opinion? The public did not and does not need to see/read/hear anything from the "manifesto". What's the point? I'm certain we can all infer that the he was crazy/disturbed/ill/etc. We do not need the extra coverage of details. I think that should be restricted to police work.

I agree that showing these items gives leverage to other disturbed persons, it gives them ideas and thoughts, and assists in creating "copy cat crimes."

I do think that this is what he wanted, all of the coverage. Yes we're giving it to him, but it doesn't matter. He doesn't know. That's what is truly sad to me. This guy didn't know what lie ahead for him. Perhaps in his sick and twisted mind he'd be somewhere enjoying all of this. Reveling in his infamy. I'm sure he's surprised! I feel fairly certain that he was not a Christian and that breaks my heart. I can't imagine going through life feeling the depths of sorrow and depression that he felt.

On the flip side, I understand that the media as a whole has a different opinion about all of the details being news. It's nothing more than who can get the higest ratings and break stories first. I still don't think it is all necessary. The victim's families are feeling enough sorrow and grief without the media coverage. However, I'm not sure the media will ever change. I also wouldn't be surprised if more video/paper/recordings/etc. are released before this is over. I think that's tragic.

Lastly, Anne Jackson, I don't think you're insensitive at all!! I don't think that having a difference of media opinion makes a person more or less compassionate.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Mrs. M — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 10:32:20 -0000

I didn't make it through every comment, but I'll give my point of view.

First, I'm in the media industry. I have a background in communications (journalism and pr).

I agree that showing these items gives leverage to other disturbed persons, it gives them ideas and thoughts, and assists in creating "copy cat crimes."

Lastly,m

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Russell — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 08:54:02 -0000

At first I was disgusted. Then I realized that there was no way in the world it wouldn't evenutally hit the internet. (I'm actually surprised we haven't seen that Steve Irwin video yet).

I think the video actually helps people realize that this dude was a lunatic. The more people call him a loser and moron, the less likely someone will want to do the same. If they were saying stuff like he was a genius, then we might have some problems.

I don't know. That sure was a tough decision, but I'm sure it was market and publicity driven.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

jennita — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 01:23:06 -0000

My problem with it..... My mom was trying to catch the weather when they flashed a clip of Cho pointing a gun at the camera at that moment my son walked in. I just wish they gave more of a warning of how disturbing it was going to be before showing it so I could change the channel.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Ben — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 01:07:58 -0000

NBC should be applauded for airing this material when the easiest thing to do would have been to cover it up for no one to see, for no one to think, for no one to react. That would have been the safe, sanitary choice.

We could have all stayed asleep, deaf, blind and dumb to the real problems this situation has illuminated, safe in our insulated, watered-down world.

Instead, we've seen the face of mental illness, a problem more than most would just as soon see swept under the rug - it's funny how millions of people suffer from mental disorders but largely no one seems to care until it blows up in our faces. And we've seen the problem with America's lax gun laws, where a man who'd been committed to a psychiatric institution was allowed to buy two guns and a helluva lot of ammunition without so much as an afterthought.

Sometimes it takes harsh, graphic reality for the truth to set in, for people to wake up. Often, we don't like what we see, it disturbs us, and - shocker - it makes us think. But the problem is there whether we ignore it or not. Might as well grow up and acknowledge it so that maybe, just maybe, something can be done to keep it from happening again.

So bravo, NBC, bravo. If only the media behaved like this with every story...

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Tim — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:56:21 -0000

Please excuse me if this a repeat of someones point as I need to get to bed, and I don't have time to go through everyone's comments.

Two Points.
1.) I don't believe in censorship.
2.) We have showed videos of people responsible for thousands of more deaths than 33.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Fayola — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 23:34:47 -0000

well, i'm chiming in here, albeit a bit late, but i honestly don't think there's a right or wrong answer and i've been journalism workshops in which we'd spend hours debating the ethics of situations like this. in fact, for any other journos/press junkies interested, poynter.org has an equally interesting debate about the topic here: http://poynter.org/column.a...

(full disclosure: i used to be a reporter)

it's one of those damned-if-you-do/don't-situations. if you tell the public about the video, you have to air it or at least make it available. yes, that point is arguable but this is the environment technology has created. everyone's plugged-in and connected and there's a stupid need to always be in the know about crap that's really not important, and we can watch sickness like the cho video and al-queda beheadings.

obviously, it wsn't always like this, as this story about the columbine shootings proves (http://www.cbsnews.com/stor.... the video in this story was released a four years later. would that happen today. i
think we can all agree that the answer is "no."

i'm not saying it's right, but what nbc has done shouldn't be surprising. is airing the video a few months later going to hurt the victims' families any less than airing it now? and how much more respectful would it have been to just post the videos online when most people have access to a computer?

they only way to soften the blow might have been to make the clips available to reporters only and then have describe it, sort of like what they do with executions.

what i'd like to find out is if victims' families were notified before releasing the clips and photos..anyway, that's my $.02.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Jenna — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 23:20:20 -0000

Reading Dirty Flower's post and having my schooling and career (which is kind of permanately on hold while I do the kid thing but I had three years in) in broadcast journalism, I agree with her.

THAT said, I'm totally glad that it wasn't my call to make.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Laura — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 21:25:31 -0000

Los, I TOTALLY agree with you and am glad you've started this discussion. As one who has a journalism degree, and is a former managing editor of a newspaper, I have had to make these kinds of calls before and I ALWAYS refused to glorify suicide/murder. There is no benefit. NBC should NOT have run the video or released the photos. They could have given some transcript from the video and left it at that. The focus should be on the victims, not on the killer. Nothing about what I've read from the video transcripts has helped me to "understand" this any better. I don't understand and I never will. NBC runs an incredible risk of spurring on copy-cat crimes because they gave this guy a platform.

My roommate and I had this very discussion last night after the video came on the news and I left the room. I won't even watch it or look at the pictures (except for the ones that are on the front page of every news Web site).

I've read about all the decisions and what went into it. I've been in meetings like that before. And I tried to find a media outlet that refused to show the video/audio/photos. I found one in Canada: http://www.cbc.ca/news/abou...

I admire this guy for having a back bone and being a lone candle in the darkness.

NBC absolutely has blood-stained hands.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Moo Goo Hoo Cahoo — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 21:05:07 -0000

Moo Goo Says:

Moo Goo is sad. Very Sad.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Rodge — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:48:28 -0000

get all the dads of the vicitims to go mano e mano with NBC management - case closed, justice served.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Mrs. Tostada — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:16:06 -0000

I felt sad for every person in this incidence.. including Cho.. I personally don't think the video's and pics helped me understand him better. I was just as confused.. One pic he's smiliing, the next he's posed like he's ready to kill.. This video in my opinion was a bad call for numerous reasons.. Many already mentioned.. Are we really in need of every possible detail to be able to feel compassion for all involved (including Cho)? Are we really that calloused that we need all the visuals we can get to make it real to us?

It's not about us people...It's bigger than just our own personal knowledge and understanding. It's about the victims, witnesses to what happened, even Cho's own family.. and yes those who sadly will be influenced to see him as a hero..

I'll stop here and say that I agree w/ Los on this one...

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

jackintl — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:11:46 -0000

hmm. otter, huh. damn. maybe next time.

I still think it's alright.. obviously.. or I would never have ventured to comment for the first time since I started checking this blog.

I'd be willing to bet that I might feel differently if I had kids old enough to watch television. Then again, I might just be willing to limit what they watch instead.

I like the idea of being careful about what impressionable mines encounter without trying. I don't like the idea of eliminating all things that I'd find helpful on the off chance that someone impressionable might stumble across it.

and yes, los, I undoubtedly took some comments i've been hearing in relation to the "it's exactly what he wanted crowd" and ran with it. I'd be interested in seeing if any christians at that school will reach out to his family with love. Similar to the way the Amish did after their school shooting.

rock

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

loswhit — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 18:44:38 -0000

Actually Jackintl, I was not referring to that line.
It was this one..."All I seem to hear is from everyone on your side is some version of “that evil bastard better be glad he’s dead and he doesn’t deserve to have the world see his face”.
And I'm a otter, not a tiger.
;)
Los

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

Mark — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 18:33:46 -0000

Great discussing with you all; I think everyone had relevent points.

Until next time...

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » NBC News May Soon Have Blood Stained Hands

jackintl — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 18:33:18 -0000

easy tiger ;-) i was referring to others comments with that line.