Let's think about this

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The Media Malpractice on Katrina For those who want to openly bash the media with a black and white view, please stay away. I would like to see people actually THINK about this topic before posting. How did the media's reports shape your view of victims? Of New Orleans? Of poor, black people (let's face it--the majority of subjects featured in the reports were black)? Have your views about New Orleans changed or do they remain the same?

In all honesty this is the narrow minded view of me and me alone.However, in a perfect world there would have been NO media coverage of katrina what so ever BECAUSE people would have put down their camra's and started picking up people and homes. People would have been too busy helping their fellow men out. Their (quite literally) neighbors would have been top priority.That being said. Since we don't live in that perfect world I think the best real source of news or the best way to get an idea of what actually happened in katrina is to just look at the pictures. I really believe they can speak for themselves without the aid of some news anchor talking.Granted your not going to easily get me to believe the rescuers who were going in their suddenly got demoralized because of what they were watching on the news.. when they were the ones who were actually going out and seeing first hand what was going on. Seems like a huge gap there.

Originally Posted By: A.W.

Well Kristal, I'm sorry. I'm one person who dislikes the media all together. They are the reason why there is still racism.

How so? If anything, the media has helped extinguish a lot of racism. How could people get up in arms and tackle a problem if they have no way of knowing about it?

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That's why I always stick to watching religious programs, where I can feel happier and not be so depressed by the liberal media plaguing our people into depression.

Well at least you're not being brainwashed... Where's a rolling eyes smiley when ya need one!

The problem with discussions like this is there will be folks on here who define "black and white view" as anything that disagrees with their own.That being said...in answer to your questions...my concern is not so much that media reports shape our views, but the extent to which it shapes our views. Whether it's the reporter who tries to make me feel it my fault that decent people died or lost their homes, or the reporter who attempts to portray those same decent people as losers who are to blame for their own demise, the reporter or media outlet who actually reported the stories with no attempt to press their own opinion or agenda is very rare. And that is the case for this or any story.On the level of my personal opinion of the victims, if I were just given the information "hurricane hit, XXXX people were killed, XXXXX people lost their homes and property, the lasting impact on this city and it's people will by XYZ", than the opinion I would be left with of these folks would be one of sympathy and sadness and concern and hopefully "how can I help". And, frankly, I think that's the right opinion.

Originally Posted By: A.W.

That's why I always stick to watching religious programs, where I can feel happier and not be so depressed by the liberal media plaguing our people into depression.

Y'know, if you're one of those Christians who think that Christianity is about sticking your head in the sand so you can feel happy and avoid the depressing realities of life, then:

A. You are practicing the brand of "religion" that so many of my non/anti-Christian friends on this site and in real life are reacting against, and

B. I would love to sit with you and have discussion with you that would change your life.

Originally Posted By: damien Originally Posted By: A.W.That's why I always stick to watching religious programs, where I can feel happier and not be so depressed by the liberal media plaguing our people into depression. Y'know, if you're one of those Christians who think that Christianity is about sticking your head in the sand so you can feel happy and avoid the depressing realities of life, then:A. You are practicing the brand of "religion" that so many of my non/anti-Christian friends on this site and in real life are reacting against, andB. I would love to sit with you and have discussion with you that would change your life. Oh dear sweet Zeus, I agree completely!A.W. - I'd also love to have a proper discussion with you, but obviously you don't see me in nearly as good light as you see Damien.

“I think the best real source of news or the best way to get an idea of what actually happened in Katrina is to just look at the pictures.” The pictures don’t say but a little. The only people that truly know are the ones that lived threw it and the ones that lost family and friends. I had a friend that I Haven’t heard from since. I have seen laces since and asked about every one we hung out with . I know they all escaped and got the hell out but no one has heard from Quint. For my own I assume he and his family have moved away too but I really have no idea. My dad went there for a while dealing with our hay. Yea we have our land and property but nothing on it… can’t sale it. (who in their right mind would buy if we did try to sale it) my dad’s words when he came home was it looks like a war zone…completely wiped out. (this is right now..2007, 2 years latter) And yea the only people there are the poor and lower middle class that can’t afford to leave. They live in fuma trailers (btw I dk how true this is but I have heard fuma is about to start kicking theses families out of the trailers) there are very ..Very little business so wut does that mean? they have very little / no jobs. (I think there is one casino open tho that rebuilt) People say well it was 2 years ago. But the coast I used to live on is still living in Katrina like it was yesterday. My dad said he met a family of 6 living in a fuma trailer that was the size that maybe.. maybe 2 people could live in comfortably. The storm is over and every one is forgotten about. Trees are still laying around and uprooted, pieces of homes are still scattered roads are still ripped up. I think ( and I could be wrong..) only full building down there is a casino, hospital and school. And personally I think it’s fucking sad that the first fucking thing open there was the fucking casino.. But then I guess it’s good too cuz at least some people have a chance of getting a job. As for the media play on New Orleans. I’m sorry but it wasn’t the only fucking place that got destroyed. Oh wait.. I take that back. New Orleans got flooded (yes it is bad.. very bad) but the coast was freaking wiped out completely…. When we were living with my aunt and had got power and got to watch the news….every thing was New Orleans… New Orleans.. Oh a 10 second clip of Waverly and then…. New Orleans. Wut the hell was going on in my home place?? Oh..wow a 5 mint clip on bolixi….. Oh more New Orleans. Then now I read that all the shit they reported like the rapes were fucking lies. Do u know how pissed I am!!! No u don’t. cuz they don’t know how their false reporting made me go deep down in health and came close to offing myself. (yes I know it wouldn’t be their fault that I offed myself.. But it was their false reports that made me stressed… got me upset. I know none of u under stand but when I saw the news about people getting gang rapped I felt like I was one of them. It’s not really explainable… I had so much going on and worrying and just so many emotions that I literally lost my mind. If u want the truth... don’t listen to stupid media.. If u can find some one that was involved in it.. Like the rescuers, helpers, the people handling out food and water, taking care of the people living in the caluciums, victims them selves, and so on……..then u have a better change of truth. Wtf does the media know. they got to go fucking home to their lights, power and warm beds. And then to make shit worse by lieing….. URGGGGGGG!!!I think I’m done with my ranting now….. Katrina like some other issues I got I’d rather not talk or think about. u know... i had a pet Siamese fighting fish (aka bata)... i fille dup a bucket and pu thim in it and he lived in that bucket for months.. lived threw it all...in a nasty horse bucket and a year after he died. i cired liek a baby........over a fish. i used to tell him (ye si talked to fishy) that when got in our new home i;d get him a nice new bowel and get him some shells and rocks.. i know i;m wired but he was my therpy kinda i guess.

I'm trying to remember if there was a racial angle on the psunami disasterno, never mind, it wasn't in America

My understanding is that the people who stayed were generally extremely poor, with virtually no resources, and in many cases had no means by which they could leave.

There were some who refused transportation. It's pretty common that people choose to ride out a hurricane, and in New Orleans I don't think a lot of them had any ideal the magnitude of what was about to hit.On the other hand, there was nowhere near enough transportation assistance offered to take care of the people who wanted to leave. Some would have, but couldn't. One of the many ways Nagin failed his city was not making available the resources that were there to be used.On the other hand (if you'll allow me three of them) I don't think Nagin or the Governor or anyone else are evil, non-caring people. They were one part caught off guard, one part short-sighted, one part clueless, one part scared shitless, and one part a bit arrogant.

And if the damned hurricane had not hit, we wouldn't be having this discussion at all.

meh. I was debating this one.. But, I think everything the foamy says is true.Its the best way to describe the media. To hell with whether or not its black and white.Its the way I feel about nagin, the news, the president and everyone invovled.