Charlie Brooker's Newswipe 25/03/09

A psychiatrists (and Charlie Brooker's) insightful perspective on news coverage's perpetuation of mass shootings in schools.
The full version of this wondrous and though provoking programme is currently available in the UK via BBC iPlayer:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/...

• Category

  News & Politics

[nanoradio]

park dietz has probably presented the most rational argument i have heard, but how the hell do you control the media, it has no integrity all it thinks about is ratings... and unfortunately we as the viewing public are drawn like moths to tragedy and carnage

[Luke Harrison]

And now for Boston :/ 

[taketimeout2]

You enjoy making holes in paper? Are you some kind of nut? Is that why you do it? What are you training yourself to shoot in the modern world of the USA? Do you need to hunt tins of soup? Or hold up a Burger joint? I had an air rifle and I loved it. Then I shot one sparrow too many and seeing how cute it was I felt so ashamed. I was ten and though I kept shooting kit planes I understood this was a lethal weapon. But I grew out of guns. Give me stamp collecting anyday. Holes in paper! Weird.

[taketimeout2]

Its OK. I really feel uncomfortable pointing out something so obvious and at the same time feeling like I'm some old maid telling kids not to pull the wings off flies for the hell of it. I can guess by your response that your only young so I dont have a problem with you not getting it. If you were older with a relation killed in some war or illness I would hope you could see what I am getting at. Guns are bad news, such bad news that we done need them around at all. Like murder and mutilation.

[Gary Finch]

So, those not interested in carnage have less human nature?

[AllBloodyNamesTaken1]

I would take issue with the 'provide' aspect of your first argument, but on the whole, what's wrong with nudity? If my imaginary 8 yr/o is brought up around nudity, so what? So long as nothing sexual happens then it's fine!

Dinosaurs? Really? I shan't even entertain you on this point.

Please tell me how shooting paper equates to paying to watch murder? Or even, what's violent about making holes in paper?

[mikek2k6]

And now for Woolwich. :/

[taketimeout2]

With that argument you could defend anything.Provide your 8 yr old son with a naked lady so that he can respect women better.How about an uncaged dinosaur for him to train or own so that he learns that pets need to be fed and looked after? I know that the rifle clubs are probably well run and the members responsible but then so were the Roman circuses where people watched gory happenings. It doesnt make the glorifying of the primal act of aggression any nobler or worthwhile.

[AllBloodyNamesTaken1]

Yes, because rifles are WMDs and shooting clubs are terrorist organisations.

As for the 'Kiddie rifles' What is wrong with bringing up a child to respect firearms and handle them knowledgeably? I'm assuming that you are referring to the incident a few weeks ago with the brother and sister and that was a horrible incident. That rifle is positively brimming with safety features which the parents obviously disabled and left the rifle loaded. Breaking almost every gun safety rule there is.