People smiling/waving at the mall news conference behind speaker

[rainbow4321]

Good Lord. Is this how insensitive we've become to shootings? Just watched the presser and as speakers were giving out information at a scene where there are dead and injured....one guy waving for attention, another on his cell phone on his cell phone smiling and making happy faces as if he is showing off to whoever is on the phone who is probably watching the presser....and prior to that a store manager interviewed via phone who starts off her interview with a pitch for her store before the anchor had to interrupt her and direct her to a conversation about the shooting and NOT an ad for her store.

What a bunch off insensitive idiots...

[elleng]

1. Major problem that there's news coverage of this stuff,

because so many want attention, like the by-standers you mention, but worse, imo, is the notoriety obtained by perpetrators.

[Paladin]

3. You keep putting that line forward, and it never is convincing.

You know who else doesn't want media attention on incidents like this? The NRA and the pro-gun movement.

[elleng]

4. Its only rational, reasonable to understand enticement of attention

for those who feel somehow deprived. Sorry you're not 'convinced.'

NRA and pro-gun movement don't seem to mind the attention.

[Mojorabbit]

8. Google do not give shooters attention

And you will find a lot of information agreeing with this. It is not an NRA talking point. Several are excellent including the Atlantic and bill Moyer's pieces. They present a very convincing viewpoint..

[Paladin]

9. So the reporters on this mall shooting should be doing something else?

Like what---Seeing what Justin Bieber's up to these days?

And if you haven't picked up on the "These incidents don't happen as much as they used to"/"We're safer than ever"/"It's all the fault of the evil, liberal media" talking point, you haven't been paying enough attention.

[Mojorabbit]

12. If you read any of the articles

They are fine with reporting on the incidents but not the sensationalism of the reporting which may influence some unstable people to copycat. I would post the links but I am on my new tablet and have not figured out how to copy paste on it yet. Easy to Google using terms above. Bill Moyers and the Atlantic are hardly proponents of "safer than ever".

[muriel_volestrangler]

17. I recommend the last section of this program about TV

from about 24:00 onwards:

The psychiatrist says that, to avoid copycat killings, you need to desensationalise the coverage, and keep it local (after all, local people may be affected; but, nationally - or internationally - a killing in one place doesn't have much effect on those far away, unless someone suicidal thinks "I'll get famous while I die, like that guy&quot .

[AtheistCrusader]

20. Exactly.

[elleng]

15. Thanks

[ErikJ]

11. NRA LOVES these shootings! It means another explosion of gun sales. Cuz Obama...

is comin to take yer gunz away now fer sure!!

[AlinPA]

22. Unfortunately, I have to agree with you. It's sick that the NRA and the gun industry will benefit

from these shootings.

[Paladin]

13. Good news for those of you advocating a news blackout on this.

Switch over from MSNBC and CNN, and you'll find that FOX isn't saying jack shit about the Maryland mall incident. Happy?

[kcr]

18. Yep. This right there shows you why the "Don't cover them" argument

panders to the NRA right.

[jsr]

2. They could have waited 5 minutes for somebody to come along and blame Obama

[Iggo]

5. That's entertainment.

[GeorgeGist]

6. Glad to know ...

I have no idea what you're watching.

[spanone]

7. the new american dream is to appear on a television show, whether it embarrasses you or not.

how sad

[1000words]

10. Seriously, what do Americans do that inevitably doesn't become a spectacle?

If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing. If there is a camera about, ham it up.

We are an insecure, attention-starved society.

[cbayer]

14. People react in very unique, unusual and unexpected ways when faced with a shock

or a tragedy.

There is no "right" way and it might be an error to read too much into this.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

16. Remember when the epidemic covered by the media was "going postal"?

[AtheistCrusader]

19. Welcome to America.

[W.J. McCabe]

21. This country is full of selfish children.