"I'm sitting here watching an elderly man with a cooler trying to make his

[Lone_Star_Dem]

way up the railroad track. The tracks are under two foot of water and it would appear he's trying to get himself out."

I just turned on the TV and this was what I heard on CNN from a reporter in NO.

I couldn't do that job, I'd be wading (swimming?) my butt out there to help him. :cry:


ON EDIT:

I wasn't bashing the reporter, I know they are there to report the news. I just realized I couldn't do what this lady does for a living. I'd wind up being on the news as one of the people who was washed away trying to rescue the people caught in the water.

[tavalon]

1. Most reporters are sociopaths

It wouldn't occur to them to help out. Most are just vultures with nice hair.

[Shakespeare]

7. "most reporters are sociopaths"

uh, complete bullshit....

[Teaser]

8. You're right...

they're psychopaths.

[Shakespeare]

12. Helen Thomas, Bill Moyers, Keith Olberman...

...Molly Ivins, David Corn, David Talbot, Dan Rather....

And on the list goes. Thanks for the nasty throwaway comment, though.

[tavalon]

17. You're welcome

BTW, that's why I put the word "most" in there.

[Shakespeare]

19. Don't try to qualify it now.

With or without the word "most," that was a completely untrue and really terrible thing to say. I was responding specifically to Teaser, but the sentiment about it being a nasty and unnnecessary post goes for both of you.

Flip side of that: more journalists have been killed in the last two years in Iraq than during the entire Vietnam conflict. It's a tough-as-hell job with little or no thanks, and occasionally quite dangerous. As a former reporter, I get really, incredibly, completely tired of the knee-jerk, broad-brush dissing that goes on around here. There are many in my former profession I'm ashamed of, but most are good people who do a good job.

[tavalon]

21. Most is and always has been a qualifier

You're a journalist. You know words as well as I do.

I'm not stepping back from what I said. I've watched enough talking heads and been splooged on enough by their smarmy bullshit to feel confident in my assessment. I have also met enough decent reporters to place the term "most" in the header of what I wrote so as to not include them in my opinion of the sociopathic nature of most of the others.

I commiserate with you're being tired of the way many of us view many of those who are in your previous profession. That said, tough. I have an opinion. You have a different opinion. So be it.

[WilliamPitt]

18. You know a lot of reporters?

Tell me of your personal experiences among the psychopaths.

[newswolf56]

10. As a print reporter who has risked his life more than once...

for stories that actually help people -- also as a print reporter who more than once has pitched in to help sandbag crews battle floods or help the cops deal with the chaos of accidents and disasters -- I have to vehemently disagree.

The truth is that most people who go into print journalism -- aka REAL journalism -- do so out of fervent conviction our work truly serves the public interest. We damn sure don't do it to get rich -- with the exception of a few word-stars, we are among the most underpaid workers in America, especially given all we have to know to do our jobs. For me, the ultimate reward is sometimes genuinely making a difference in people's lives: that and occasionally being the court of last resort that levers the weight of bureaucratic arrogance and systemic vindictiveness off some innocent victim's back -- and therefore maybe off the backs of many such innocents.

I will freely admit that "television news" is a contradiction in terms: bread and circuses disguised as information, with the so-called "journalists" chosen accordingly. But not even those dismal and often frustrating realities excuses the viciously ignorant bigotry expressed in the accusation "most reporters are sociopaths" -- precisely the sort of knee-jerk hatemongering I'd expect to encounter on some freeper site, not here on DU.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

11. You get an apology from me, also.

The reaction this created was not my intent. Please, note I did edit (in bold type) to make that point.

[Shakespeare]

13. Well said. n/t

[tavalon]

16. Sorry

I was talking about the talking heads, the fluff TV "reporters" who would much rather get the story than help anyone out.

[Fleshdancer]

2. That's what I never understood...

to look at another human being in need of help and just stand there watching and reporting on it. I couldn't do that.

[WilliamPitt]

3. Someone has to

You like to know what's going on? That doesn't happen by osmosis.
P.S. You don't know what they did for him and others after the report ended. Also, in a situation like this, there isn't much they can do without a hydroplane or a helicopter.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

9. *sigh*

I edited the post to make my original intent more clear.

I apologize for any adverse reactions it caused. That wasn't my original intent.

[Fleshdancer]

20. I'm just pointing out that I couldn't do it

kudos to all the people who can report first, I just don't think I could.

[ohio_liberal]

4. I saw footage on CNN

of a local weather guy who rescued an older man who had driven his car straight into water waist-high.

[LeftyMom]

14. Sometimes they do both

Last time we had a real bad flood here (1996 I think?) one of the local newschoppers was overhead showing people on the roofs of thier cars and rescued a few familes and pets.

As a practical matter, they can't save everyone, especially on foot and without special equipment. The best thing they can do is show the devastation (and help what people they can) so we can call our congresscritters to demand relief money, phone a donation in to the relief org of choice, take some dinner over to a hotel where the evacuees are staying (if you live that close,) donate blood and generally do our part.

But yeah, if I was going to be in the area I'd try to have some extra food and dry clothes with me and I'd do my best to save people. It's just human decency, and I'd never live with myself if I didn't try.

[flvegan]

5. I'd do both. Seriously.

I'd tell my little story, then sign off:
"This has been flvegan, reporting live from Gulfport. I'm gonna go help that guy over there. Back to you, Stu."

Not only would I get to help someone out, but the karmic backlash would be immense. I guarantee that folks would remember that, and send supporting e-mails and letters of how great my station is for letting me do that or just for employing me in general.

[WePurrsevere]

6. OMG... I don't even walk well & I'd be doing my darnest to get out there..

and help that poor man. What the heck is wrong with these people? It's only two feet of water? A kiddie pool is about that so unless it has one heck of a wild current it's not like he'd be risking his life to help him really... just helping a fellow human being.

[BikeWriter]

15. That really sucks. A lot of times though...

the elderly are the ones who know how to survive!

[Moderator]

22. Locking...

at the author's request.