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Who are the terror-mongers, then? I don't know who all of them are, but I'll tell you, our blasted media is among them.
There is a difference between reporting the germane news of the day, and terror-brewing. And the American media have cross the line. Take, for example, the following article, from the AP, via the Yahoo! News site:
Rumsfeld: Taliban Targets Remain
The article, its headline implies, discusses the fact that targets still remain. Now, read the opening paragraph of that article:
WASHINGTON (AP) - Despite a full week of bombing, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Monday, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan still possesses planes and helicopters ``that we have not gotten yet.'' Initial tests found anthrax in a letter opened in the office of a Senate leader.
Why, yes, this is a nice, tightly-focussed article (the full article, by the way, is here. Bejeebers. Come on, guys. At least give the anthrax its own article - these two items are not tied together in any way I can see, as far as news value, and it makes you sound incoherent. Furthermore, we've all got the damn point already, okay? There are twenty zillion repetetive articles on anthrax. The anthrax topic is creeping across news categories, from full coverage to entertainment (Tom Brokaw might have been exposed, after all!), to science and health (where at least they make sense).
It's everywhere. It's the new buzzword. Yes, it's big and scary. Yes, I definitely don't want to get it. Yes, I want to be aware of the fact that there are cases out there and that this terrorism is going on. (Yes, it's terrorism - whether it's bin Laden and Al Qaida, or someone else, may be an open question - but shipping anthrax through the mail is terrorism to my eyes.)
But I do not want it to take over the news, and freak out at me. For every article urging common sense and simple methods to limit your risk (opening mail, especially suspicious mail, with gloves, if you're worried - seriously, guys, unless you're a significant public figure, who's going to send you anthrax at your home address? - at businesses, I can see it)...for every article urging simple things, at most, and common sense, there are five trying to panic you.
To the media, I say, knock it off. You're giving bin Laden, and whoever is involved in sending the anthrax, exactly what they want. Terrorists want fear. It's their weapon. I'm not saying sugar-coat things. I'm not saying hide them. But I am saying, for pity's sake, present them sensibly!
I would not want to be a public figure, or work in the office of one, now. I would not want to work for a major media organization. I would be nervous, and very careful, if I did. But you know what?
There are less than 1000 confirmed exposures that I'm aware of. Even if that's wrong by a factor of 10, it's only 10000. Do you have any idea how small a portion of our population that is?
Of that, there are 12 people who apparently actually got the spores on them or in them in some fashion. Of those, most have not yet showed signs of being affected by them - and all are being treated. One man died.
Yes, anthrax is big and scary. Yes, a release over a metropolitan area would be a huge disaster.
This is not a release over a metropolitan area. This is a few dribs and drabs via mail. So far, their big campaign of terror (if that's what they see it as) is pathetic...except for the hurry-scurry it is occasioning in the media. I'm sad, for the family of the man who died. It has to be very rough on them. Certainly many other people directly exposed, and their families, are scared.
And certainly, it would be good for us to know what precautions we can take, to avoid risk even if such a letter were to be sent to our place of business; and probably people whose companies might be targeted should be using these methods, at the least wearing gloves.
But so far, the actual effects are limited, and it appears that outside certain industries, the risk is extremely low of even being sent (let alone getting) anthrax.
Please. Don't tell us it's all okay, because it's not; but don't tell us the sky is falling, either, just because a bird shat on your coworker's head.
There is a difference between reporting the germane news of the day, and terror-brewing. And the American media have cross the line. Take, for example, the following article, from the AP, via the Yahoo! News site:
Rumsfeld: Taliban Targets Remain
The article, its headline implies, discusses the fact that targets still remain. Now, read the opening paragraph of that article:
WASHINGTON (AP) - Despite a full week of bombing, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Monday, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan still possesses planes and helicopters ``that we have not gotten yet.'' Initial tests found anthrax in a letter opened in the office of a Senate leader.
Why, yes, this is a nice, tightly-focussed article (the full article, by the way, is here. Bejeebers. Come on, guys. At least give the anthrax its own article - these two items are not tied together in any way I can see, as far as news value, and it makes you sound incoherent. Furthermore, we've all got the damn point already, okay? There are twenty zillion repetetive articles on anthrax. The anthrax topic is creeping across news categories, from full coverage to entertainment (Tom Brokaw might have been exposed, after all!), to science and health (where at least they make sense).
It's everywhere. It's the new buzzword. Yes, it's big and scary. Yes, I definitely don't want to get it. Yes, I want to be aware of the fact that there are cases out there and that this terrorism is going on. (Yes, it's terrorism - whether it's bin Laden and Al Qaida, or someone else, may be an open question - but shipping anthrax through the mail is terrorism to my eyes.)
But I do not want it to take over the news, and freak out at me. For every article urging common sense and simple methods to limit your risk (opening mail, especially suspicious mail, with gloves, if you're worried - seriously, guys, unless you're a significant public figure, who's going to send you anthrax at your home address? - at businesses, I can see it)...for every article urging simple things, at most, and common sense, there are five trying to panic you.
To the media, I say, knock it off. You're giving bin Laden, and whoever is involved in sending the anthrax, exactly what they want. Terrorists want fear. It's their weapon. I'm not saying sugar-coat things. I'm not saying hide them. But I am saying, for pity's sake, present them sensibly!
I would not want to be a public figure, or work in the office of one, now. I would not want to work for a major media organization. I would be nervous, and very careful, if I did. But you know what?
There are less than 1000 confirmed exposures that I'm aware of. Even if that's wrong by a factor of 10, it's only 10000. Do you have any idea how small a portion of our population that is?
Of that, there are 12 people who apparently actually got the spores on them or in them in some fashion. Of those, most have not yet showed signs of being affected by them - and all are being treated. One man died.
Yes, anthrax is big and scary. Yes, a release over a metropolitan area would be a huge disaster.
This is not a release over a metropolitan area. This is a few dribs and drabs via mail. So far, their big campaign of terror (if that's what they see it as) is pathetic...except for the hurry-scurry it is occasioning in the media. I'm sad, for the family of the man who died. It has to be very rough on them. Certainly many other people directly exposed, and their families, are scared.
And certainly, it would be good for us to know what precautions we can take, to avoid risk even if such a letter were to be sent to our place of business; and probably people whose companies might be targeted should be using these methods, at the least wearing gloves.
But so far, the actual effects are limited, and it appears that outside certain industries, the risk is extremely low of even being sent (let alone getting) anthrax.
Please. Don't tell us it's all okay, because it's not; but don't tell us the sky is falling, either, just because a bird shat on your coworker's head.
no subject
I did not laugh at her to her face. Aren't I a good little girl?
Bah.
no subject