What's the point?

[Daddles]

I've just seen an ad for a show on tele. It's described as 'the last hours, minutes and seconds of the Bali bombings'.

Who's interested in this? And why? :confused:

To me, a mob of fundamentalist idiots successfully set off a bomb. Do we really need to relive that? Would a dramatised rendition help me understand it? No. Not me anyway. Just another case of the media cashing in on life's disasters.

What do you think?

Richard

[ozwinner]

Sensationalism!!

Bucks for ratings!
I hate this kind of media, makes me turn off straight away.

Al :mad:

[DavidG]

I agree with you Daddles.
Tried to give you a greenie but got to spread some first.

[Gingermick]

In the wake of the London bombings some pinhead TV exec thought this would be a good idea perhaps.

you can see their ego's from 35000 feet away but you can't see their brains from 3.5 inches

[Simomatra]

Sensationalism!!

Bucks for ratings!
I hate this kind of media, makes me turn off straight away.

Al :mad:
Right on Al. I for one won't be watching it. if we all boycot it then that will hurt them most.

Daddles I think you are spot on greenie on the way
Sam

[zenwood]

Yesterday was Hiroshima day. When is the right time to stop talking about a disaster? I don't know. Human beings seem to like telling each other stories about dramatic past events.

I agree though: the media certainly cash in on that story-telling drive. TV just isn't the right medium for communicating in-depth understanding. All you get is sound bites and startling images. If you wan't to think seriously about an issue, books are still the way to go.

[Gumby]

It's sensationalism and it's pointless crap. We don't need it. I feel for the families of those who died having to put up with it.

[doug the slug]

Actually its propaganda. The governments comprising the coalition of the willing to wage war on terror cant let us plebs in the street forget what they have gotten us involved in fighting for. this way we remember to vote for them at teh next election

[Ian007]

In my HO all it is, is the grab by the station for cash, there theory is that there will be more people watching therefore lets jack up the advertising dollar for this show. ratings = $$
unless of coarse its on the abc in which case its a waste of our money

[echnidna]

..and if less people watch it,
The advertisers still pay a premium for hosting the "special"
and the station laughs all the way to the bank

[javali]

When is the right time to stop talking about a disaster? I don't know.


I do not know when the right time is. I know that people stop talking about a disaster when a new one comes. I hope we get a new Bali Bombing movie every year from now on.

[zenwood]

The governments ... cant let us ... forget what they [are] fighting for That's a very interesting point, Doug. I heard someone on the radio yesterday quote a government official saying something to the effect that "It's quite easy to get into power, and stay there. All you have to do is keep reminding the people of the threat they are under from outside." The government official was someone like Goering (Hess?) during the Nuremberg trial.:eek:

Found the quote, here it is:
"Why, of course, the people don't want war," Goering shrugged. "Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? ... That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a parliament or a communist dictatorship ... That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

Source: http://www.earthrainbownetwork.com/Archives2003/MiscelSubjects189.htm

[zenwood]

... I hope we get a new Bali Bombing movie every year from now on.Well put, Javali.

[floyd7]

What I don`t get is, they say they are going to show what "really happened!!"
Haven`t we seen what really happened?

[doug the slug]

What I don`t get is, they say they are going to show what "really happened!!"
Haven`t we seen what really happened?
Up until now, all you have seen is the reality created by the media in accordance with the governments wishes.
in the upcoming broadcast you will see the previous reality being modified by the media to conform with the reality which the government wants promulgated in line with the most recent events

[doug the slug]

oh, and public opinion too, to continue my last post, dont forget influencing public opinion

[Sturdee]

Just another case of the media cashing in on life's disasters.

What do you think?

Richard

Richard, I think it is just a ploy to get an audience and ratings for the following show being 2 episodes of 24. Seeing that 24 deals with a similar theme. :(


Peter.

[silentC]

I tend to agree that the motivations of the producers are to make money. If that plays into the government's hands, then that is coincidence.

I'd like to believe in conspiracy theories because it might explain some of what goes on. However, although the government, or individuals within it, know how to manipulate the media, I don't think they control it and it can turn on them if they're not careful.

So, yes it probably is propaganda, but not something that the government has initiated. At the end of the day, it makes no difference either way because it serves their purposes just as well.

[Kev Y.]

What I don`t get is, they say they are going to show what "really happened!!"
Haven`t we seen what really happened?

It can not be too "realistic", I don't believe that the old attention seeking "journalistic" fossil Ray Martin is having anything to do with it

If it was real, our man would be there with his highly accentuated and punctuated voice over

[jshaw]

Bit of a chicken and egg situation really.

Population becomes nervous.
Media sees chance of more sales/viewers in nervous side of population, reinforces that nervousness to protect/increase revenue.
Political parties see up-turn in interest in media coverage of whatever makes population nervous, thinks “hmmm, there be votes in this”, reinforces nervousness through policy stances/announcements.
Nervous population votes for party that says “we’ll keep you safest”…….
Repeat as required.

Every now and again a world event will start this off but often it’s just a matter of the media or a political party dipping a toe in to see if they can provoke a reaction.

No need for conspiracy theories, just faith in human nature to get its knickers in a knot. Of course, deciding whether the nervousness of the population is warranted or not is the trick.

[Sturdee]

It can not be too "realistic", I don't believe that the old attention seeking "journalistic" fossil Ray Martin is having anything to do with it

If it was real, our man would be there with his highly accentuated and punctuated voice over


Sorry, wrong network. :D

Peter.