.jpg)
1.25.2007
Taboo
We had a suicide in the county yesterday but there is an unwritten rule that the media won't print a story about it (unless it involves some very public facts - like jumping off the High Five in Dallas.) I've always thought that was a little unusual. I mean, the lack of coverage is simply done out of respect. I suppose that makes sense in a goodness-and-mercy sort of way, but I don't know any other aspect of society which is treated with such deference by the media. The mainstream media is normally not concerned about privacy, hurt feelings, or compassion.
(But the facts will likewise not be printed here.)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
16 comments:
Truely nothing stronger than a fathers love...very sad...
As a journalist for several yers, I've struggled with this before. When I was in Jacksboro a few years ago there was a fellow who shot himself in his home. Normally the paper wouldn't have done anything with the story, much as they won't with deaths of natural causes (unless in a public place), but the police chief asked to have a story done because rumors were running rampant about what happened.
I was torn about it, especially when a family member called and vehemently complained - and I couldn't blame her. There are times, however, when responsible journalism doesn't have the answers to make everybody happy.
All I try to do is to be as responsible (read: accurate, truthful, tasteful) as I can be - and let the consequences fall where they may.
God bless the family...
Truly a tragic situation
I hope that the Wise County Messenger will show a little class and leave this situation alone.
In the past they have clearly not been concerned about anyone's privacy, hurt feelings, or compassion. Recently, they plastered a picture of the crime scene from the woman that was killed in Alvord. Was it necessary to show that picture? What did it prove? Was their only concern about selling papers? Was making money at someone else’s expense their main priority? I felt so bad for the children and the family of that victim. Do you think they wanted or should have seen that? Just goes to show how trashy the Messenger is.
I don't know anything about this case.
But generally, the media does not report suicides because they are considered "death from mental illness."
Nobody wants to invade privacy and publish a big story that essentially says, "This person was depressed."
I will never pretend to understand what it must feel like to lose a child or what it must feel like to be at such lows to even contemplate suicide. However, it is my understanding this man left behind a 15 year old and a wife. Suicide is always selfish no matter the circumstances.
Mary Mack you preferenced your post by saying you could never know how it would feel to lose a child or contemplate suicide. In the same post you state that suicide is selfish. I have suffered from chronic depression for 10+ years, so unfortuntly I have first hand expierence on this debilitating illness. When you are in the thoes of a full fledged depressive episode, you honestly believe that your family would be released from a tremendous burden (the depressed person)if you put an end to their suffering as well as your own. They are not thinking rationally at this point, this is the nature of the illness. It is almost impossible for someone who has never truly expierenced extreme depression to understand, thus the reason this disease carries such negative stigma. I have a very strong family history of depression in my family so sadly this is a genetic illness. I'm not fussing, I just wanted to try to shed a little light on this subject.
It seems to me that within the last year or so, the Messenger covered a suicide and I remember thinking it seemed odd that they covered it, because they typically don't.
Anon 11:59 a.m.-
I am truly sorry to hear about your depression. I have watched many of my own family members suffer through depression, have seen one of them hospitalized because of it, and a very close cousin did commit suicide. My very best friend's mother committed suicide when she was 4 years old. I can see how someone might "think" suicide would relieve themselves as well as family members from the pain; however, it does not, and it is selfish as far as I'm concerned.
I'm glad you've gotten through your depression for the last 10 years. Although I'm sure it's been difficult, please continue to take care of yourself for YOU and your family members.
Having posted before that I had personally been through the pain of losing a family member to suicide, certainly my heart goes out to the family.
Added to our loss was a religious person who told us our family member was going to "hell".
The Scriptures said so.
Folks can be so mean, UNTIL it happens to them.
Hmm, don't they make drugs for that?
What ever happened to pick yourself up and move on, everyone has problems in their lives so quit whining about it and deal with it. Maybe depression is a form of natural selection, anyone ever thought of that?
And yes, for those of you who were wondering, I am an A-hole but I would never tell a family that their loved one was gong to hell after they had just died.
2:38.. they do make drugs for that, but some people are resistant or build up a tolerance, I've had shock treatment (ECT). As far as pick yourself, great advice from someone who is ignorant regarding this disease. Thank you Mary, it's a daily struggle but it beats the alternative!
Ignorant? Think of it this way.
For that instance that you are peeved at me you're not depressed.
the woman in alvord was not suicide, it was murder ... and that is always newsworthy. as sad as it is for those involved, that is what i expect from the tc media and the newspapers to report.
Yes, the Messenger has covered suicides. Many, many times.
4:20.. you are funny, but have you ever heard of an angry, depressed person (woman), now that's a scary thought.
i have been reading all of the replies and clearly they have gotten off the subject of this well like community member who could not bear the fact of loosing his daughter, he went straight home from the hospital and committed suicide, in my opinion for what it is worth it was a selfish act leaving his 15 yo son at school not knowing he had lost his sister and and his father also, the mans wife was still at the hospital with their daughter making all the necessary arrangements, YES THIS IS VERY SELFISH!!!!!! I do know this family and my heart goes out to the mother and wife and son and brother who lost their father,husband,daughter and sister on the same morning we are praying for this family
Post a Comment