Mt. Hood climber story a slap in the face to dead troops

[Blu Dahlia]

Where was the coverage of the troops who died today in Bush's optional war? Instead, nonstop coverage of three rich white men who didnt care enough about their families to stay their asses off a mountain in the dead of winter. Or at least care enough to be properly equipped with GPS devices. May the media and everyone propelling this story forward kiss my ass!

[OneBlueSky]

1. excellent point . . . kicked and recommended . . .

and this is not to take anything away from the tragic loss of life on Mt. Hood . . . it's just a commentary on how the corporate media continually provides these kinds of distractions while ignoring the disaster that's going on in Iraq . . . and Afghanistan . . . and New Orleans, for that matter . . .

[longship]

2. Another R&K

:kick:

[Wonk]

3. It's not even the most significant missing climber story at the moment, either.

It just has live video.

http://www.mounteverest.net/news.php?news=15388

American star climbers Christine Boskoff and Charlie Fowler missing in China's Sichuan Province

06:32 pm EST Dec 14, 2006
American star climbers Charlie Fowler and Christine Boskoff are missing in China, Alpinist reports today. This is very unsettling news for the American climbing community. With 6, 8000ers summited, Christine is among the top female high altitude climbers in the world. She mantled the Himalayan commercial outfit Mountain Madness after founder Scott Fisher vanished on Everest.

Charlie Fowler is described by Alpinist as "one of America's most prolific pioneers, with countless expeditions and first ascents to his credit."

After months of climbing in central-western China, the two traveled to Genyen, in China's Western Sichuan Province, November 9 to do a 2 day hike to an un-named 6000-meter peak in Dechin. After the climb, they expected to return November 25 and catch a December 4 flight home. When the two failed to show up in US however, a search party was sent to Litang today to investigate the town for clues about the Americans, but has found no information regarding any stays in local hotels or other details yet.

more


also
http://www.everestnews.com/stories2006/missing12142006.htm

[sandnsea]

18. Mt Hood was a training climb

People do the north face to train for more difficult climbs, like this one in China I'd imagine. Just to add info. When they criticize these climbers, people are basically saying nobody should climb any mountains, or do anything more dangerous than walk down the street. Even riding a bike requires a certain amount of skill and judgment.

[WinkyDink]

33. It's not the climbing, for me, so much as the expensive rescue operations and the media coverage.

And how many DU'ers would be in Mocking High Dudgeon were this a story about the Dreaded Missing Blonde?

[treestar]

46. Yeah, and it's weird too, because the missing blonde was only

taking a trip to the Caribbean, so she wasn't putting herself out there in any more dangerous a position than many a young person does.

So you'd think the moral prigs would be on their high horse even more for anybody criticizing the coverage there. In that case, they seem more likely to get the point that it is the media coverage, and the media deciding whose life matters more.

But to every individual who dies, their life was the world to them, even the Muslims and the Arabs who had nothing to do with 911 and who we are killing every day. Or who had nothing to do with oil being under the ground in their country. The MSM does not seem to value their lives at all, and neither does the average American.

[Supersedeas]

121. John Mark Karr flight from Asia to the States set the new low--so watch your expectations

of the dysfunctional U.S. media.

[Hissyspit]

134. I thought the Martha Stewart vigil set the new low.

If ever there were so many hours of television time devoted to a non-story...

[sandnsea]

81. Well the media hooplah, yeah

But that's another complaint altogether. I remember the little girl in the well though, so this isn't anything new.

[treestar]

41. Nobody should climb any moutains, yes

It is not ridiculous to suggest that, nor does it say no one should do anything. Bikers and people walking down the street don't need rescuers, or if they do, the rescue is basic and does not involve going to places where there is not already an infrastructure.

All this publicity is only convincing that people should not be allowed to climb mountains, ever. Anything that happens, getting lost, getting sick, breaking a leg, costs the rest of us a hell of a lot, and we could use those resources for the more needy. There are people who don't have enough shelter and enough to eat, maybe we'd rather spend the money on that than on the recreation of the middle class.

We could be spared the pathetic horror of unnecessary deaths, too. Their families will pay a terrible price, that will last for years, long after the MSM has forgotten all about it. Not a monetary price either.

[sandnsea]

80. Oregon makes A LOT more from outdoor recreation

Than we could ever spend on rescues like this. We had people lost looking for a Christmas tree a couple weeks ago. Should we not have looked for them either? You can never tell out here, anybody can get lost and need an expensive search. I would imagine experienced climbers much less than Sunday drivers actually. I think people either don't ever go outdoors or aren't thinking this through when they make such comments.

[roguevalley]

128. I shudder about winter climbs every year because this always seems

to happen. I feel for them. Hood is a killer.

[sandnsea]

147. Or deep sea fishing trips

We lose folks in those almost every year too.

[piedmont]

151. Or riding cross-country in a small airplane...

Or hiking in the wilderness, canoeing in the Okeefenokee swamp, or spelunking.

There seems to be a lot of dishonesty in some of these mountain-climber hatin' posts. I don't think it's the activity they dislike as much as the percieved race and class of the people doing the activity.

[Blue_In_AK]

107. Good point...

People come up dead or missing on Mt. McKinley every year, but I don't remember this kind of national coverage.

[blonndee]

4. SOP for the corpmedia

I'm devastated by these climbers' situation (and am NOT among the "blame the victim" crowd when it comes to them at ALL), but I totally agree about the corpmedia coverage.

Now, if only they found Natalee Holloway in that snow cave...

[treestar]

42. There is more than one type of victim

Just being the victim doesn't make you completely without any responsibility, either.

It is just lying to ourselves to pretend otherwise.

People in the towers on 911 were blameless, people in auto accidents can be anything from blameless to completely at fault and anything in between. These people are very highly to blame themselves. Recognizing that does not mean we don't feel sorry for them and don't want to rescue them, or for that matter, even pay for it.

[northzax]

97. maybe that's why they haven't released his name?

interesting...

[Fridays Child]

5. I was just saying the same thing, earlier, tonight...

...sort of.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2936286&mesg_id=2936286

[edwardsfeingold08]

6. The climbers paid the ultimate price for their decisions

I don't think they chose the media coverage or need to be put down. The media in this country is a disgrace. But, I feel sorry for the climbers and their families.

I've been involved in a couple of search and rescues. I once found the body of a man who died in the desert because he got lost hiking. When you see someone's body in that condition and realize the extent to which they suffered and the fear they faced, it is really traumatic. I am still haunted by that sight from fifteen years ago.

Everyone who ventures into the outdoors could probably be a little better prepared. I don't think that relates to how they care about their families.
I've been disgusted about the animosity showed toward the climbers on here today. I hope everyone who is putting down the climbers asks themselves if they do any risky activities such as driving a car while tired, smoking, drinking alcohol, eating bad foods, not exercising, etc...does that mean they love their families less?

[Skittles]

10. if I am eating bad foods, no one will risk their lives trying to save me

I have sympathy for the climbers but please do not compare what they do to the risks we all take

[edwardsfeingold08]

11. I am comparing how they felt about their loved ones.

People are saying they didn't care about their loved ones by putting themselves at risk. I take offense to that. If you or I eat poorly, for instance, it doesn't mean we don't care about our families.

[acmejack]

43. There are some people here will show animosity to anyone for anything.

It is an amazing phenomenon. But in a community this large, I suppose it is inevitable that a few perfect people will be swept up in the mix. They are here to comment negatively on anything and everything, sharing the scope of their expertise on all matters-and rest assured, their brilliance does indeed cover all the issues. They are willing to pass judgment on anybody, anything, anytime, anywhere. Moralists supreme, it must be fine to be so pure...

[edwardsfeingold08]

75. Best post I've read on here in a long time.

Thanks for the perspective.

[springhill]

94. Oh man..........

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I have been wanting to say the exact same thing for a long time. There are some unbelievably judgemental people.

[Raine]

136. So true

and these "perfect" people are what give us liberals the reputation of being so self-righteous and arrogant. Sometimes I cringe when I read what these "perfect" people have to say about those who they find so flawed and their lack of empathy toward them. x(

[treestar]

44. But immediately changing the subject to that false one

That nobody raised is something you have to wonder about. The issue of financial responsibility, the media coverage, all get swept aside with the accusation "you don't care about these poor people" and it is an annoying sort of moral priggishness, trying to keep other people from discussing that, for some reason.

Nobody said don't feel sorry for them. Anyone who said they don't care about their families means they took risks knowing they could leave their families without them, just for recreation, admitting that they took these risks does not mean we don't feel sorry for them.

It's some sort of failure to face the truth that is hard to figure out the reason for. If only you people don't discuss it, I don't have to deal with this truth, is what they are saying, so that I wonder, are they risk-takers themselves, who expect us to be ready to bail them out, or what?

[edwardsfeingold08]

74. Talk about it all you want.

Sorry I annoy you. If the costs of rescues are really a concern to people, then by all means fight that cause. I hope they fight it every day and not just slam some people who died and then move on to the next issue of the day.

I have a right to air my opinion too. You're right. I've taken lots of risks. I was a forest firefighter which is risky. I've taken part in several difficult search and rescues. I go hiking and mountain biking on the weekends which I don't consider any more risky than driving on the freeway. I still love my family.

As for the cost issue, when I worked as a firefighter and a backcountry park ranger, what was I doing when there wasn't a fire or a rescue? I was sitting around getting taxpayer money to do basically nothing. Maybe people should fight the existence of those jobs since those are jobs that exist to protect the safety of people who choose to venture into the outdoors.

[cwydro]

122. Thank you for a good post.

I am amazed at the armchair quarterbacks around here who obviously never get out in the outdoors or try a new sport or understand those of us who like to live life to the fullest. What is the point of having search and rescue if we don't search and rescue? People go in to those professions because they want to help, or enjoy working in extreme conditions. Other rescue people are volunteers. You never hear them whining like the armchair pedantics in here. The absolute insensitivity and holier-than-thou attitudes are nothing less than astounding. As I said on another thread: God forbid if those men had relatives who belong to DU. I am just blown away by what I have read in the last few days.

That said, I do agree with the premise of the OP...that the media should pay more attention to Iraq.

But leave this rescue mission out of it.

[girl gone mad]

150. The implication being...

that people who don't participate in these extreme sports aren't living their lives to the fullest?

I'm at a loss to understand how this particular sort of risk-taking has achieved status as a glorified sport while less dangerous activities, such as taking hallucinogenic drugs or drag racing, are outlawed and frowned upon by polite society.

[piedmont]

154. Those activities are less dangerous? Got some stats to back that up?

There have been only 130 deaths on Mt. Hood in the last 100 yrs.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/05/30/national/main510637.shtml



There are on average 10,000 summits attempts per year. I don't know if that figure counts each person or each group, and I don't know how long that average has been that high, but 130 deaths out of what must be hundreds of thousands of attempts sounds pretty low-risk to me.

[pa28]

15. Agreed and welcome to DU

:toast:

Iraq is and should be THE story. But, in the reality we face media priorities focus on what's easily put in dramatic context, cheap to cover and as local as possible.

Demonize the media by all means but I'll bet most people on this forum have made serious errors in judgment. So far it's cost nothing more than the climbers own lives (yes, and the dollar value of the s&r effort) so let's give these guys a break.

[Raine]

20. Agree

I'm get disgusted too for the same reasons. :-(

and by the way HELLO and WELCOME to DU ... :hi:

[goclark]

7. Excellent point, my prayers are with their families

I heard today that the National Guard are looking for them and other rescue teams are rosking their lives.

Where were the National Guard during Katrina?!

[treestar]

45. Your prayers are with anyone who gets media coverage

There are a lot of people you could pray for that are going through things that are just as bad, losing loved ones to disease, poverty, other less dramatic things.

Why so many have to make this into a personal thing. None of us know these people.

Do you jump for joy when something wonderful happens? Pray for Britney at her next wedding? Because it would make as much sense.

[goclark]

63. I was trying to be kind

PEACE

[Virginia Dare]

69. It is psychological manipulation by the media...

which is why the corporate conglomeration that controls us so well has been able to stay in power for so long.

[bullwinkle428]

60. Where was the National Guard in the search for the Kim family?

:shrug:

[brentblack]

65. Be direct...stop being so passive

If you want to make an accusation...simply say so. I am inferring from your implication that you think that the media and rescue efforts were less due to the fact the Kims were Asian. Is that what you mean?

I live near Washington, DC and heard every single detail from start to finish - including the massive money put into a search and rescue effort. Troops and hundreds of law enforcement personel were used to try and locate the family.


Why add race to a story where race is not an issue? There are MANY, MANY times where racism is a real issue and to use it when it is not necessary only cheapens the time where it is justified.

All that said....If I hear about Natalee Holloway one more time, I may confess to the murder just to shut her mother (I do sympathize, but this woman is acting like her daughter was the only person ever murdered) up.

[ecstatic]

78. I can't help but think race does play a role

At least in media coverage. I would hate to think it would play a role in rescue efforts, although I'm sure people would be more eager to condemn minority climbers as being reckless and deserving of their fate. Remember how the mostly black Katrina victims were blamed for not evacuating?

[goclark]

92. We sure do remember Katrina

The lack of interest from our government was very telling and will never be forgotten.

[jus_the_facts]

124. Thank You....lest we FORGET....

[Bjorn Against]

180. self delete

[ClayZ]

8. UnHuh! K and R

I told my daughter the same thing.

[Selatius]

9. Anything to keep dead soldiers and bloodshed off the primetime corporate news broadcasts.

This is America. We like mindless drivel and sensationalistic stories instead of stories that talk about whether our next door neighbor gets to come home from Iraq in uniform or in a coffin.

:sarcasm:

[LuckyLib]

177. Your neighbor may come home in a coffin, but you won't see it.

Media crime #46832: carrying water for Chimp the Decider.

[Higans]

206. YUP! Quick LOOK! A Puppy down a well!!! FOX News 24/7 N/T

[NJCher]

12. why does the media suck?

Why do a big percentage of the people in this country suck? Why do most of our politicians suck? I think it's endemic to the system.

Something is very wrong in the system when so much sucks so bad!



Cher

[StClone]

28. That deserves it own Discussion!

If this country/system/time is so great why does everything suck so bad. Health Care cost, environment, Elections, News, Food quality...

[Bluebear]

13. "Three rich white men": White men die in Iraq as well.

From one who steadfastly detests racism against minorities, this reads racist as well. What does their being white have to do with it?

[Syrinx]

16. that's what I'm saying!

People claim they hate racism, yet they sputter about white this and white that. :shrug:

[Cobalt-60]

19. how about 3 stupid rich guys?

I wasn't aware of their race.
One way or another this distraction will be gone from the news in a matter of days.

[lynne]

29. RICH? Where did it ever say they were rich? Last I checked -

- wealth wasn't a factor in mountain climbing. I've not read that any of them were particularly wealthy. Did I miss something? :shrug:

[rfranklin]

30. You don't see many poor minority folks climbing mountains...

It just costs too much and it is a frivolous activity.

(And yes, I have gone mountain climbing myself. Makes you think twice when you pass the graves of others on the way up.)

[lynne]

32. Since you've gone mountain climbing -

- are you telling us you're rich? :)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

89. "poor minority folks climbing mountains..."

Um, hello? Sherpas?

[Leopolds Ghost]

185. Since when? It is an easy one-day trip from Portland to climb Mount Hood

You can rent the equipment just like you can rent skis. It's a solidly middle-class activity. The fact that rich white guys who climb extreme heights around the world and trustafarians like winter sports is purely a culture issue. Want to know why black people aren't as into winter sports? (a) most people who are really into winter sports are from Canada or the northern tier. (b) many of the fans, such as hockey fans, are racist. (cf. a recent article by a black woman who was detained from entering a Washington Capitals hockey game while white families marched right past. The reason? The usher "had never seen her before, and all these other people are familiar." Also, when the Washington Capitals moved to DC, there was a drop in ticket sales because many season ticket holders were quoted saying they would not venture into Washington, DC for any reason.) By assuming the climbers were rich and white, you have become part of the problem.

[roody]

153. How many RICH white men die in Iraq?

Well they did try to get Ollie.

[sce56]

14. Dead right on! Where is the runaway bride now? Media wants to tell us. n/t

[ChairmanAgnostic]

53. or a besotted blond bimbette on a carrib isle?

[Bluebear]

54. Evidently blondes & whites are supposed to get NO coverage? NT

[moondust]

17. It's crazy.

Undertaking this (unnecessary) climb knowing the weather could turn brutal at any moment probably qualifies these guys for a Darwin Award. Yet look at all the fuss and vast resources being spent and the idiotic MSM's almost nonstop coverage as if these guys were heroes! It was the lead story on NBC Nightly News Friday evening! Where did all the poor judgment come from?

[Bobbieo]

21. This is a kind of story that takes us away from the horrors of the Iraq war.

and make us realize we still have aome compassion left for our fellow human beings.

[moondust]

23. Delete.

[treestar]

40. There are plenty of people in Iraq to have just as much compassion for

What are you saying? That we should be distracted from what we're doing in Iraq? That we have no compassion for the people we are killing over there, and so we need some American objects of compassion to try to pretend we are compassionate?

We must look like real asses to anyone outside. I mean, we kill people in the M.E. with abandon, but when it's one of us we make a huge deal of it.

We really seem to indicate to the world that 1)our lives are more valuable than theirs and 2) that we expect those who are not of us to recognize that.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

135. don't forget!

the American god's penis is larger than their's and he can beat him up with one cosmic arm tied behind his back.

[Philosoraptor]

22. One of thousands of slaps

I couldn't agree more, it's obscene.

[malaise]

24. But. but, but

this is no surprise.

[annabanana]

25. Suicide Sportsmen

They are adrenaline junkies. They chase their high just as assiduously as any street level addict, yet are lionized and celebrated for it. Why?

[treestar]

38. So true. And your sig line is terrific.

[anniebelle]

26. Did they not know the way to the recruiting office?

The very idea -- have we run out of missing white girls! Their families should have to pay for all this time, money and effort trying to find these three un-wise' men.

[seaglass]

35. Does everything in our society come down to how much

something costs? Would you be unwilling to contribute $1 to try to save someone's life?

[treestar]

37. I'd rather the $$ go to help the poor

Or to properly equip the troops.

Money does not grow on trees, you know.

[seaglass]

51. There's money for all those things, it's not the fault of the hikers

that those with the purse strings do not allocate money to all those in need.

I don't know how you can so easily judge that the life of one of the hikers is worth less than the life of a poor person or the life of one of our troops.

[edwardsfeingold08]

146. What about money for the arts?

Should we stop putting money towards the arts, towards parks, towards libraries, etc. and just spend all government money on the poor and on the troops?

Do you think if this incident didn't happen, the money would go to the troops or the poor. Do you think they're gonna lower our military budget this year because of this rescue mission?

[liberal N proud]

27. To the librul media, it is just another diversion from the war bu$h created

Another story they can spend hours on and not have to mention IRAQ!

[Rockholm]

31. Next Natalie Holloway will emerge...

Either she is still alive somewhere or they will find her body. Distract the sheeple.

[sarge43]

34. Good point, Blu Dahlia

and welcome to DU.

[Vinca]

36. Agreed. I hadn't heard a thing about the Hilo soldier who died

on his FOURTH tour of duty in Iraq until I came here. Maybe military people being blown to smithereens is considered old news to the whorish media. But I do know "The Donald" took away Miss USA's crown.:mad:

[dapper]

39. ?Doink?

I guess all other news should cease since we are in Iraq.

three rich white men who didnt care enough about their families to stay their asses off a mountain in the dead of winter. Or at least care enough to be properly equipped with GPS devices

What about that rich man, his wife and two kids who got stuck in Oregon, perhaps they should not have gone out in the dead of winter...?

Maybe we shouldn't even watch Football on Sunday as it would take away from the news in Iraq?

Dapper

[Bluebear]

47. But he was Asian. Oh, but SHE was white. I'm so confused.

Are we supposed to be outraged that their tragedy was covered or not? :sarcasm:

[dapper]

57. how do we know...

These guys where White and Rich?

Maybe there is some secret family indiscretion?


Dapper

[Bluebear]

58. I dunno, the OP is all over their background though

:eyes:

[Generator]

125. Oh they climb mountains in the dead of winter for fun

And they are from TEXAS and New York. Do we need to say anything more? How much money does it take to have your extreme sports fun in other states and countries? The mountain is in Oregon. They have no respect for Oregon and it killed them. It's called beautiful but deadly.

[piedmont]

127. So only Oregonians should climb Mt. Hood?

This isn't "the dead of winter," by the way. Must feel nice to take pot-shots at dead people. Did james Kim get what he deserved, too?

[Leopolds Ghost]

186. Are you familiar with Mount Hood?

It is an easy-to-climb alpine volcano only a few miles from downtown Portland, Oregon. They even have their own hotel, built by poor craftsmen during the Depression. I suppose the hotel should be closed? After all, it gets snowed-in every winter.

[Sparkly]

48. You're not saying the climbers *deserved* to die, are you? nt

[KharmaTrain]

49. Cheap Corporate Media...Plain And Simple...

This story happened on a Sunday...when the big money anchors, producers and others were busy watching football or shopping or praying to their Karl Rove altar...and what is left is a combination of B-list talent and re-runs that were shown a second and third time cause there was no original programming to put in its place. Some may remember, when JFK, Jr.'s plane went down, it was a Sunday and the coverage was similar...endless reports saying the same thing...repeat and rinse. The lack of staff, writers and "competent" management to decide when to pull the plug on this story is what we saw. Also, operating on the cheap with little other programming or information to go with.

What's worse is the "talent"...watching Carol Lyn and Rick Sanchez was a new version of "Dumb and Dumber". It's amazing how these people become instant experts on everything from Terri Schaivo's brain waves to building snow caves. This story is a young producer's "wet dream"...lots of neat pictures along with a "story-line"...a literal video cliff-hanger...but this one hung on waaaaaaaay too long.

I can understand many here who are condemning the climbers as some elitist fools. Maybe they are, but they have a right to be...and few of us here have any clue into who these people are. We have a cartoon template that the networks place on these disasters that go for the broad strokes before any true substance...the real meat of the story...comes to light. Sheesh, Larry King had to interview the "spritual adviser" for one of the climbers...giving some blowhard preacher a few minutes of network time and added zero to ones understanding of the person. But it fit into the story line here the networks are playing with...once this story plays out, they're on to the next tragedy with the same templates, just different names.

[elehhhhna]

50. Where were the dammned Chinook helicopters when the Kim family got lost?

[anitar1]

111. James Kim's family hired 3 helicopters and other resources

to help locate the missing family. One of the hired copters spotted his body.Sheriff's office was grateful for the extra help and mentioned this often, on the news here in Oregon.Not sure if the big 3 networks mentioned this on the national news as I rarely watch it.

[elehhhhna]

114. Okay, good. This big fat rich country could do better, IMO.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

52. finally, a realistic thread on the issue

well put, and recommended.

[Christa]

55. Exactly

My thoughts as well - what the hell is happening with this world we live in??

[genie_weenie]

56. Sodliers are just easily replaceable cogs

to be used up and discarded when broken or destroyed. Why waste anytime speaking of their fate?

[tabasco]

59. The corporate media serves those who profit from war.

Our men and women in Iraq are ignored because of the "bad PR."

[mistertrickster]

61. I wondered about the GPS too. Or how about emergency transponders?

I was backpack camping in the Beartooth Primitive area one time and I could easily communicate with a park ranger on a mountain about 120 miles away with a 2 meter handheld ham radio on no more than 5 watts of power.

If gov't is going to be required to try to rescue these risk junkies, we should at least require them to take equipment that will reduce costs and help survival rates.

Lastly, considering that only ONE body was found in a snow cave, it looks like their discipline fell apart. They should have stuck together as long as they were alive.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

73. Radios and Their Ranges

I've got no moralizing to contribute, just comments about radios. The first link is to a story about a call for help made from a climber on Mt. Hood using an FRS. The transmission was heard 80 miles away. It is my favorite FRS story.

Youngsters hailed in radio rescue

The second goes to a detailed version of that incident.

Mt. Hood - Falling Rocks - Sandy Glacier. June 19, 2000

[Stuckinthebush]

62. Actually, I think it is an important story

On a number of levels...

But most importantly it tells the story of how mountain climbing can be very dangerous and should not be undertaken lightly. I know people who do dangerous stuff on a whim without thinking first. I am not saying that these three hikers were not careful nor experienced, but that the story of how dangerous it can be even for experienced climbers may give other non-experienced climbers pause.

I watched the Discovery Everest show the other day and was amazed at how many "teams" had little experience or came dreadfully unprepared.

[goclark]

64. Who pays for their recovery effots?

Does their family pay, do they have any insurance for their passion to climb mountains?

[Stuckinthebush]

112. Someone mentioned in another thread

that in some country (sorry, I can't remember which) that if the climbers were at fault, then they would be billed for the recovery effort. I like that method.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

66. K&R - Thank you for saying this. Our troops are dying in significant

numbers, and it is reported as an after thought, and in one sentence. I write the media all the time and tell them they do not support the troops. Recently CNN had a picture of a dog on their site the same day several of our troops died, I wrote and let them know how despicable and disrespectful that was. This extensive reporting of Mt. Hood and the lack of reporting about the deaths of our soldiers and Iraqis are a slap in the face. Once again, thank you for saying this.

[goclark]

96. Larry King did a special show on it with callers

I don't recall a discussion about the Safety Lessons that should be learned from this Climb of Passion.

I don't recall seeing new legislation that addresses the Safety Laws that must be put in place to protect those that Climb from not following exact directions or face massive fines for any recovery efforts.

This is something that they wanted to do because "they loved the feeling that you get from viewing the world from a mountain top."

I am sure that it is an awesome feeling but I'm just not sure that our government and our Media should have this Adventure as the lead story 24 - 7 for the last number of days.


I just don't get it when Katrina Victims,in the water not because of their thrill of being there, got little attention of our government. The lack of help was HORRIBLE!

I don't recall seeing 24 -7 clips of Condi looking for shoes in New York ~ that should have been 24 -7 NeoCon Owned News.

Was Katrina 24 hour coverage, YES!

Was it a stain on our humanity and government operations ~ YES!!!!

Now for those on the mountain, we are pulling out all stops to help them and their families. I have no problem with that ~ I just want JUSTICE for ALL.

Bring our troops home NOW!
They are not there for the Passion, they are there at the direction of GW and that ain't JUSTICE!

[progressoid]

67. Exactly right.

[Virginia Dare]

68. Agreed...

while I feel very sorry for the families of those involved, this is essentially a regional story, and doesn't deserve the in-depth widespread national coverage that it's getting.

The media continues manipulate us in the most contrived way, they control what Americans think and care about every single day.

[specimenfred1984]

70. My Feelings Exactly!

The corporate media is so full of whores now they have made themselves completely worthless.

[mtnsnake]

71. You don't know what the f**k you're talking about

Don't give me that crap that the three men involved didn't care enough about their families to stay off that mountain or that it has a freakin thing to do with being rich or white. You simply have no idea what it's like to climb or hike up a mountain or what's involved in any of it. It's something anyone in decent shape can do with some experience, and it's got NOTHING to do with anyone who's rich. In fact, hiking and climbing mountains is usually about people who love the environment and who AREN'T rich, with the exception of extravagant expeditions like Mt Everest.

Another thing, Ms. Know Nothing....you don't know anything about what GPS devises can or cannot do. They have little use in the whiteout conditions these guys were facing (near 100 mph winds w/sub zero wind chills to 70 below) because you can't see where you're going anyhow and under those conditions you can't move anywhere. GPS devices don't normally work in sub zero conditions and even if they did, their batteries only last so many hours.

This story has nothing to do with the lack of coverage on the troops. It's a human interest story, period, and a damn good one. It's about people caring enough about those poor hikers to stay tuned for one reason: They empathize with the torture these guys have gone through.

What a bitter OP.

(edit: changed Mr to Ms)

[Bluebear]

72. bravo. nt

[edwardsfeingold08]

79. mtnsnake you are my hero

Hiking and climbing is usually about people who love the environment.

If people on here are so against hiking, then maybe they should also be against parks to be consistent.

[cascadiance]

83. I think the point is that if the troops dying in Iraq got adequate coverage...

... by a media that habitually and complicitly ignores them, then, yes, we should also have these human interest stories too, and those should get the attention from everyone after people inform themselves on other stories of the day that are currently missing.

I personally don't diminish the stories of folks dying on a mountain either, as I wouldn't diminish the loss of Natalee Holloway either. But those stories being elevated to the top of the corporate media's radar *conveniently* to obscure other stories that they don't want you to hear about is what is just plain wrong!

They know that people like us can't and won't bad mouth these folks too much, because the story is a tragedy, and deserves some degree of coverage/discussion. But when it is elevated to occupy people's minds at the expense of other stories like the criminal actions taken on an American citizen whistleblower being held and tortured in Abu Ghraib in Iraq over 90 days because our military is DAMNED inefficient and criminally negligent at determining that he was working with the FBI or because they WANTED to intimidate him, our media is borderline criminal in its negligence in its duties to keep us informed.

Perhaps Blu Dahlia went a bit far in her characterization of the climbers, but dammit, perhaps at some point we need to be that extreme for the media to hear us that they are F'ING us when they don't cover the news they should!

[lastliberalintexas]

93. Yes, there are "human interest" stories behind the troops too

How many of the men and women killed in Iraq have had families of their own, perhaps even children they didn't get to see? How many wanted to go into education once their stint was up, so that they could help shape the next generation in our country? How many enlisted to obtain citizenship, for themselves and their families? (oops, sorry, I guess that last one is actually a dirty little secret to most Americans) Would one of them found the cure to cancer? Or AIDS? Or been the next Pollack? Or the next Harry S/FDR/Kennedy/LBJ all rolled into one? (the good parts, anyway)

I agree that the OP might have been a little sharp, but that doesn't make its point any less valid. Our troops are being ignored while our 24 hour news stations fawn over adults who chose to engage in a dangerous hobby. That should make everyone angry- or least everyone who is opposed to the war, and everyone who "supports the troops" anyway.


I also found it ironic that the story in LBN came up with a banner ad for aid to Darfur, which is completely ignored by our media as well. Must have distractions from real news, doncha know?

[L A Woman]

192. the troops didn't know they might go to war???

that's funny, because when I joined the military, they beat into our heads over and over and over that we were being trained for war - even if there wasn't one going on at the time. It's the whole point of the military. Everyone who has ever actually BEEN in the military is aware of this (as opposed to those who have never served yet display non-stop fake anger).

So by the logic (if you can call it that) of this argument, each troop's family should have to pay for their hospitalization should they be wounded or their funerals if they are killed, as well as travel expenses to ship the bodies home. After all, they weren't joining the Girl Scouts.

Right???

[lastliberalintexas]

196. I think you might have meant to reply to someone else?

I've never said that anyone should have to pay for the S&R efforts, or that I wish any ill will on these men or their families. My only comment was that the MEDIA is ignoring substantive stories about Iraq, Darfur, corporatism, the falling dollar, Gitmo and the like and jumping at the chance to dwell on infotainment stories like the one of the hikers. That's not the hikers' fault, it's the fault of the MEDIA and the corporations who control them and their airtime. And certainly, if they didn't have the hikers to use as the diversion, we'd all be treated to more of the "juicy" details of Spears' divorce or whatever the latest in the Jolie-Pitt or Cruise-what's her name sagas.


And no, I've never served. Though my brother, the ex-jarhead, wants the troops home as badly as I. I hope that's not too much fake anger for you, though.

[piedmont]

100. Excellent post. The OP would have us all in sackcloth and ashes, watching Iraq 24/7 nt

[cascadiance]

116. If covering it MEANINGFULLY 24/7 is what it takes to get us out of Iraq then so be it!

Heck, we were getting non-stop coverage of Watergate hearings, etc. when I was in high school with no distractions available to us save going out and playing sports or listening to your cassettes or LPs then. And that helped Americans feel involved with that crisis then.

[ecstatic]

118. So the question becomes- how do we make the Iraq story sensational?

On par with stories about Britney, Tom Cruise & Co?

[piedmont]

120. I already "feel involved" without being force-fed, thank you.

Until you become dictator and take over mass media, I'll stick with being able to learn about stories from ALL OVER THE WORLD instead of the issues most important to YOU. Some people just can't stand the thought of others having freedom of choice.

And to say that "sackcloth and ashes and watching coverage of Iraq 24/7" is what it takes to get us out of Iraq is to present a false dichotomy. There are PLENTY of people who are unhappy with the war, as evidenced by the Nov. elections. They did something about it. They continue to act on their unhappiness. All while stories of blonds going missing, geeks going missing, and climbers going missing continue to get their 15 minutes in the spotlight. If you want to focus on one issue 24/7, join a convent or monastery.

[roody]

155. What media are you watching? The MSM is not

giving you stories from all over the world.

[piedmont]

175. That's the one tangential part of my post you disagree with?

It's pretty clear that I meant I don't want my news coverage to be Iraq 24/7. Yes, I would like more international news in MSM news content. But, they do in fact give us some stories from around the world (which I supplement with online sources, like many Americans). And they cover many stories from around the nation, which is what I might expect. Should we not have local news reported on, either, since that might distract us from the 24/7 Iraq-a-thon?

[sinkingfeeling]

138. Absolutely.

[aaronbees]

198. Thank you for saying that, mtnsnake

Amazing to bring some sense and actual knowledge to the discussion rather than spout the ridiculous, obscene junk in the OP. Really, I've been amazed at some of the social Darwinist claptrap that's been spewed on this board after the Kim family's tragedy and this episode on Mt. Hood. It's shameful and shows a small regard for actual human life and frailty. But hey, I guess it wins some posters political brownie points, and I think that's all they're after with this nonsense.

[QuestionAll...]

76. I don't know if they are rich or negligent

I do wish a happy outcome for them and their families, tho.

but you are so absolutely right about this over coverage. How disgusting and transparent. CNN will always be the most Rusted name in news to me.

this all screams Cover Up real news with 14 blasting megaphones, to me. pathetic lying enabling fuggers, the lot of them.

[ecstatic]

77. A real life horror/ mystery. I cannot lie--this story has captured my imagination

But you are absolutely right. I got sucked into the story yesterday from the non-stop "breaking news" updates yesterday. I didn't hear any mention of the 59(+?) US soldiers killed in this conflict this month. Still, I hope they find the other two missing men. I have so many questions, now that the media has forced me to be interested.

[mondo joe]

82. That's inane. These sort of stories are ALWAYS hot. Kids in wells,

missing pergnant women, families lost in the snow - they are pure human interest. They'd be in the news with or without a war.

[butterfly77]

84. I think the thrill seekers like these should...

volunteer for duty in Iraq...

[Bluebear]

85. What if they are Democrats who disagree vehemently with the war?

Should they still go to Iraq? The OP pointed out that the climbers were rich and white, do we know that they are hawkish Republicans too?

[butterfly77]

105. What if, I said that they were thrill seekers...

and since they went knowing that there was a storm coming, shows that they were seeking something.

[piedmont]

117. Provide proof of that allegation, please.

To my knowledge, every report so far has said that they went up without knowing that there was a storm coming.

[mtnsnake]

86. What an ignorant thing to say

It's as if you're equating these guys with being some sort of gung ho wasteful repukes or something.

FYI, the majority of people who hike/climb mountains, even mountains like Mt Hood, are people who do it because they like being in shape, love the outdoors, cherish and want to preserve the environment, and do it because it's a very affordable way to do something beautiful and do it with only your own two feet. They don't waste any gasoline, they don't make any noise, they don't pollute anything. They simply love the outdoors and Mother Nature. They don't do it just because they are "thrill seekers". They do it because they love climbing up a mountain. Try it sometime on a smaller mountain. You'll see what I mean, especially when you get to the top and look out at the view.

[butterfly77]

104. Evidently they were after a thrill ...

since they knew that their were signs of a storm coming and they still went...

[ruiner4u]

113. Well now you have your pound of flesh...

Also, the storm report didn't come in until after they left

[butterfly77]

119. I have thought about it...

and maybe I shouldn't have said that...

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

87. I wonder if it's possible to bring up effed-up media priorities without being so fucking callous.

"....nonstop coverage of three rich white men who didnt care enough about their families to stay their asses off a mountain in the dead of winter. Or at least care enough to be properly equipped with GPS devices."

What the FUCK? These are people. Their families are devestated. One's already grieving. But you talk about it as if these men deserve blame for being covered by the media.

Give me a fucking break.

[mtnsnake]

88. thank you. nt

[Burnsey_Koenig]

90. For Clarification, they are not all white.

One of the men is a japanese man, and his mothers pleas to the Mountain, to return her son, were heartwrenching.

The coverage of their story is not a slap in the face to dead troops, or anyone else.

Would you prefer no information be given about this story?

Would you prefer that the valuable information that has come out about hiking safety never be heard? Lot's of "sunday" hikers will now know that you create a "y" to show location, that it's best to relieve yourself of excess equipment, that you build an ice-cave, and you keep trying to use your cell phone regardless.

I am ashamed that anyone could begrudge these people any coverage on this tragic incident, or that the attempt to save 3 lives is fodder for yet another lame-ass thread. Please Blu Dahlia, leave us your true name, and if anything horrid ever happens to you, we will make sure the story get's no coverage.

The problems getting stories out about the soldiers in Iraq, and the coverage their deaths recieves, was not compromised by this life saving effort by hundreds of people, it has been constantly compromised by the US Government and it's under-reporting of those deaths.

If it had been another Brittney without panties stories, I could see a point.

[mondo joe]

91. Please stop channeling Ann Coulter.

This sort of insulting lack of decency is not appropriate.

[pdxmom]

95. I do agree that the media's sensationizing of this story and the blanket

coverage is blown way out of proportion. We get lost hikers and life-threatening situations up on Mt. Hood every year. I don't remember any of the other search-and-rescue operations getting the kind of national coverage I'm seeing now. I was shocked when I turned on CNN yesterday and saw it covered as "breaking news". To me, this is a regional/local story and not one that necessarily merits the over-coverage it is getting. It smacks of the Holloway coverage to me.

That said, this is a story that needs to be told, though I maintain that it's the sensationalization of it that is wrong. People need to understand the dangers involved in these types of climbs. This isn't something that a "Sunday hiker" should ever consider doing, not even in their wildest dreams. Mt. Hood has claimed an average of 1 life a year for the past 100 years - and that is just one mountain around here. The Kim's and before that, 8-year old Sammy Boehlke, who disappeared while on a hike with his father at Crater Lake in October, show that the terrain and weather in Oregon can be a deadly combination for those who are unaware and unprepared.

[ecstatic]

99. I read a shocking story about a high school field trip to Mt Hood that claimed 9 lives!

Back in 1986. 7 students, 2 instructors died due to shoddy planning and failure to recognize when its time to turn back. What on earth were they thinking sending teens on a trip like that!?

http://www.traditionalmountaineering.org/Report_Hood_EpiscopalSchool.htm

[Pierzin]

98. Rich White Guys get sympathy and coverage

Even if their actions are irresponsible and unwise, to say the least.
To those who think race and class has nothing to do with it, get real! Where do you think you live? Are there any news anchors who are black? Sure there are a couple guys on the weekend and late night, but are they prime time? Why is it that the story about the three black guys in NYC who were gunned down by 50 rounds by the NYPD isn't making national news the way this is? Why do you have to listen to NPR or Democracy Now to hear the story on that, instead of MSNBC?

Where were the black hawk helicopters when the Kim family was missing? Where was the c-130? WTF is going on here when authorities can call up these expressly military machines to rescue some hikers??? How is that going to be paid for?

The MSM is once again following a path where they hope to get the most viewship and ad revenue by covering a certain story. They are whores.

If these guys were so experienced, why couldn't they wait until some better weather to climb the mountain?

Blu Dahlia is right, this Mt Hood story is a slap in the face. The media is doing a disservice to us every day it does not cover Iraq. This is the same country whose "wise" leaders gave authorization to invade Iraq, even though plenty of souces warned us not to, even though plenty of sources said Iraq posed no threat, even though Iraq was contained, and is half way around the world! We need serous help when attention is given to something like this at time when our president can lie about going to war and get away with it.

[brentspeak]

133. Congrats. You win the award for SECOND Dumbest Post of the Day

"To those who think race and class has nothing to do with it, get real! Where do you think you live? Are there any news anchors who are black? Sure there are a couple guys on the weekend and late night, but are they prime time? Why is it that the story about the three black guys in NYC who were gunned down by 50 rounds by the NYPD isn't making national news the way this is?"

The New York Times, Boston Globe, papers from Oklahoma, Baltimore, Houston, Illinois, etc., have all covered the NYC police shooting. It's also been in Time and Newsweek magazine, and CNN and MSNBC TV.

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/5-0&fp=458726d3c02f9264&ei=1wWHReftNLTIHKmFnIsO&url=http%3A//www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/12/17/thousands_protest_nyc_police_shooting&cid=0

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/7-0&fp=458726d3c02f9264&ei=1wWHReftNLTIHKmFnIsO&url=http%3A//www.nytimes.com/2006/12/17/nyregion/17protest.html%3Fem%26ex%3D1166504400%26en%3D95569440b1bfe227%26ei%3D5087%250A&cid=0

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/9-0&fp=458726d3c02f9264&ei=1wWHReftNLTIHKmFnIsO&url=http%3A//www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4407418.html&cid=0

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/10-0&fp=458726d3c02f9264&ei=1wWHReftNLTIHKmFnIsO&url=http%3A//www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/16/AR2006121600629.html&cid=0

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/3-0&fp=45877a1c7f54715d&ei=HgaHRdnzIcP4HK7PkYoO&url=http%3A//www.kotv.com/news/national/story/%3Fid%3D116515&cid=0

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/5-0&fp=45877a1c7f54715d&ei=HgaHRdnzIcP4HK7PkYoO&url=http%3A//www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-shooting121606%2C0%2C2995263.story%3Fcoll%3Dbal-nationworld-headlines&cid=0

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/6-0&fp=45877a1c7f54715d&ei=HgaHRdnzIcP4HK7PkYoO&url=http%3A//www.whbf.com/Global/story.asp%3FS%3D5823389%26nav%3D0zGo&cid=0

To paraphrase the words of Mark Twain: It is better to remain silent and give the impression of being a fool, than to open one's mouth (or type on the Web) and remove all doubt.

[w8liftinglady]

101. I did email the usual media sources to remind them that we lost 3 ..

soldiers Sunday,and asked that they at least give equal time to their story,their families.

[RamboLiberal]

102. I agree with you on the damn cable media's obsession with this

I don't think it would've gotten quite this attention except that it came on the heels of the James Kim family story.

Meanwhile they give a few seconds if they mention at all, # of soldiers died in Iraq today.

[senseandsensibility]

103. k and r

While I agree with most of the sentiments expressed, the main culprit to me is the lapdog lazy media, not the men themselves. They made mistakes, as we all do, and I hope they learned from them. But the media chose to emphasize their story and ignore our soldiers.

[opihimoimoi]

106. Its the Serial GOP Media distracting us with crap...Abusers/Bullies do this all the time

[Trajan]

108. Someone with 50 posts

Makes this place look like a bunch of dogmatic, life-hating scums ...

Where is your heart ? ...

Sorry but it is WRONG for you to trample on the freshly dug grave of a foolhardy but decent human being simply because you dont like the news media .... There is NO CONNECTION between the two subjects, except what goes on between those beady little eyes in your head ...

This is DU at its WORST ....

What became of decent sympathy ? ...

I dont CARE how much coverage it gets: THAT isnt the point ....

Where the fuck is your basic humanity ? ... and DONT point to the graves of dead soldiers OR dead Iraqis (whom also deserve decent respect) as a figleaf of your own callousness ...

This is cynical, fallacious nonsense ....

[Bluebear]

110. Bravo.

And I don't know if the people recommending this truly believe it or just skimmed that it said something about our "troops".

[brentspeak]

130. OP sounds like a concern troll

[piedmont]

193. Not one post in the thread she started. nt.

[Swede]

109. Some of us can walk and chew gum.

Apparently,some can't.

[Marie26]

115. .

:eyes: I'm guessing you don't like the kitten stuck in a tree stories, either.

[Leopolds Ghost]

188. The kittens deserve their fate. They distract us from Iraq n/t

[nini]

123. not the same issue

The troop fatalities haven't been covered like they should from day 1. The hiker story is not the source of this issue.


I too wonder why this is a constant national news story. I feel for the families, but don't understand why the reporting is so widespread - unfortunately people die, become missing etc.. every day. Why does one story outweigh the others when all are tragic?

[Catherine Vincent]

126. Kick!

[brentspeak]

129. Congrats. You win the DUMB thread of the day

"three rich white men"...What does their skin color have to do with anything?

[piedmont]

131. A well deserved award. nt

[ContraBass Black]

132. How does it matter what color they are?

[valerief]

137. Perfect subject line. nt

[sinkingfeeling]

139. If so many of you agree with the OP, then why aren't you posting stories on

the Iraqi dead and K & Ring them? This thread has more 'votes' than anything today talking about the Iraqi occupation or military buildup.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

191. Hear Hear On The Dead-On Accurate Exposure Of The Hypocrisy.

:toast:

[Flabbergasted]

140. Thats a stupid and insensitive statement. It makes the left look petty.

[rpgamerd00d]

141. Since when has news been worthwhile, ever?

[proud2BlibKansan]

142. YES!!

Thank you. My thoughts exactly!!

[ripple]

143. It isn't one or the other

The Mt. Hood story is indeed tragic, as of course are the daily troop losses in Iraq. You probably won't see coverage of the troops who died *today*, as their families have probably not been notified. Plus, even when they are notified, many families prefer to avoid the media during their time of grief.

I do agree that the press should be doing a hell of a lot more to educate the public on the true, human costs of the Iraq debacle, but to me, that doesn't mean they can't cover other stories, as well.

You presumption about the race of the climbers is dead wrong, which leads me to believe that you probably aren't privy to their socio-economic status, either.

It seems hypocritical for you to decry the loss of our troops in Iraq, while showing such disregard for these mens' lives. We have a volunteer military, just as these men voluntarily climbed the mountain. None of them deserve to die.

[Sequoia]

144. "We failed them. We literally failed them.

But we tried our best, I know that." Sheriff Joe Wampler

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2734205

NO. You did "fail" them. You had the weather against you, they should not have gone there in the first place. Why did they go after the reports of the Kim family. Why didn't they check the weather, the satellite view of the storm moving in. Now this sheriff and the volunteers will think it's their fault the men died.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

148. "they should not have gone there in the first place."

And all the other climbers that make successful summit attempts this time of year shouldn't go either?

"Why did they go after the reports of the Kim family."

Because the Kims got lost weeks before in a completely different storm and a completely different mountain range, doing a completely different activity.

"Why didn't they check the weather, the satellite view of the storm moving in."

They did. They're expert mountain climbers. Do you really think they didn't?

"Now this sheriff and the volunteers will think it's their fault the men died."

I hope those dead climbers really feel sorry.

:eyes:

[piedmont]

149. I swear, it's just one fallacious argument after another with these mountain-climber-haters.

When they run out of facts to support their bashing of dead men, they make them up!

[Sequoia]

215. Asking questions does not mean you hate them.

That's silly.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

218. but you weren't asking questions.

Just making up statements.

[novalib]

165. HURRICANES!

They are very much like the people you sometimes see when HURRICANES are approaching.

They go OUT OF THEIR WAY to put themselves in DANGER!!

Or, they simply IGNORE the advice of other people and go into danger for the THRILL OF IT ALL!!

They should not have gone up the mountain in the first place.

[mondo joe]

174. How do you feel about funding for abortions?

Or did those women put themselves in danger?

[Leopolds Ghost]

189. Yes, that is exactly what the State & Fed are now saying about Katrina victims

They "put themselves in danger by living in a flood-prone area". In the future, according to Mississippi's chief consultant for reconstruction, "only rich people should live south of the railroad tracks" in the flood-prone area (where blacks were originally forced to live precisely because they were flood-prone). They must've been thrill-seekers, too. Catch-22.

[novalib]

212. PLEASE!!!!!

Do YOU REALLY see NO DIFFERENCE between poor people of color who have NO OTHER PLACE TO LIVE and RICH WHITE DUDES who DRIVE their SUV's from their luxurious homes in the suburbs up to a mountain, where they DO NOT HAVE TO BE???!!!!

GEEEZE!!

[cboy4]

145. Ummm, maybe this will turn out to be a life-saving story

for those thinking about climbing a mountain this time of year?

That's the way I look at it, rather than criticizing the dead.

[L A Woman]

152. Aaah, I've missed the grave-dancing...

we haven't seen it too much since the Crocodile Hunter died because he was such a horrible person and was violently attacking a stingray. :eyes:

Some of us have compassion for everybody. I don't care who the media covers. Were you born yesterday? The media covers stories that interest people, stories with drama. I know a lot of DUers are very young, but I promise you that this is nothing new.

I feel for the families of the soldiers AND the climbers.

And by the way, no one deserves to die just because their idea of adventure and excitement involves something other than eating and posting on a message board.

[edwardsfeingold08]

158. To be fair, I think these people have other hobbies

I'm sure they like to go to "rape victims deserved to be raped" meet ups. They also collect plane wreck memorabilia. When they're feeling giddy, they go to the hospital to cheer for cancer.

[novalib]

160. JUDGMENTAL???!!

I wish I could be JUDGMENTAL!!

I wish I could KNOW that the ideas of adventure and excitement held be people here involve only eating and posting on a message board.

How DO YOU DO IT???!!!

Please, SHARE your secret with the rest of us --- poor mere mortals that we are!

And, do you REALLY think that the media cover stories that "interest people"???!!

Perhaps there is SOME interest among "the people" about the plight of the 3 rich white dudes who PUT THEMSELVES in harm's way and RISKED THEIR OWN LIVES.

But 24/7 SATURATION COVERAGE of this story???!!!

[L A Woman]

184. it's not rocket science.

high ratings = money = what the media covers. it's 24/7 coverage because people are watching.

maybe you shouldn't get into a car. you're risking your own life, you know.

[lonestarnot]

156. 3 goofballs out in a freakin' blizard of their own volition and probably in

their pajamas and houseslippers. Dee dee dee go fucking figure.

[novalib]

157. EXACTLY RIGHT!!!

EXACTLY FUCKING CORRECT!!!

While poor young men and women are shipped off to fight *'s ILLEGAL WAR OF AGRESSION, and while those same young men and women are BEING KILLED AND MAIMED in IRAQ, the media focuses NONSTOP on the plight of 3 RICH WHITE DUDES who STUPIDLY put themselves in harm's way!!!

It makes me SICK!

[cboy4]

161. So we should not care about them because they are "rich and white?"

Otherwise, why would you feel the need to mention race and socioeconomic background?

And not only mention it, you felt the need to capitalize it!!

Don't like rich white people or something?

[novalib]

163. CORRECT!!!

I stand corrected.

"Rich" and "White" are redudant terms.

Do you think that the money that has been spent on looking for these 3 RICH DUDES could have been better spent elsewhere?

Like on FOOD and SHELTER FOR POOR people, perhaps????

[cboy4]

164. So you're saying you're a bigot?

That's remarkable that you would feel comfortable enough to say so.

[novalib]

166. I DID???!!!!

I must have missed where I said such a ridiculous thing!!!

Perhaps you could point it out to me???!!!

By the way, are YOU saying that you lack compassion for the poor and suffering???

[Quantess]

168. You're a bigot for saying

"rich and white are redundant terms".

[cboy4]

170. Of course that's a bigoted thing to say.

A first grader can figure that out.

[novalib]

176. SILLY ME!!!!

Silly ME!!!

When I observed that "rich" and "white" were redundant, I OBVIOUSLY FORGOT all those RICH PEOPLE OF COLOR.

You see them, of course, strolling on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

Or in the BOARD ROOMS of America's top corporations!

How COULD I have forgotten all of them???!?!!!!

[cboy4]

169. The difference between you and me (thank god) is I have

compassion for ALL PEOPLE.

If people are suffering, I couldn't care less what color they are or how much money they have.

Do you know how much of an idiot you sound like when you say rich and white is redundant.

I don't think you're bright enough to comprehend any of this, but give it a shot.

[novalib]

172. THANK YOU!!

I CANNOT begin to tell you how much I appreciate your deigning to share your wisdom and insights with me!!!

I confess, though, that I really CANNOT figure out whether your opinion of yourself is too high or if your opinion of me is too low.

THANKS SO MUCH -- SO VERY, VERY MUCH -- for your opinions. I'll put them where they belong.

[cboy4]

173. My opinion of you is too low. Much too low.

Hope that helps you out.

[novalib]

178. AGREED!

Your opinion of me is, in fact, WAY too low!

[mondo joe]

171. You mean if these guys didn't climb there'd be more money spent on the poor?

Pretty fucking dumb.

[novalib]

179. READING COMPREHENSION 101

YOU: "You mean if these guys didn't climb there'd be more money spent on the poor?"

ME: "Do you think that the money that has been spent on looking for these 3 RICH DUDES could have been better spent elsewhere?

Like on FOOD and SHELTER FOR POOR people, perhaps????"

See?

It's not the money those guys spent climbing -- it's the money that THEIR ACTIONS caused to be spent LOOKING FOR THEM that i was referring to!!

[mondo joe]

181. READING COMPREHENSION 102

If those guys hadn't been climbing, there'd be no rescue effort.

You mean if these guys didn't climb there'd be more money spent on the poor?

[cboy4]

182. READING COMPREHENSION 103

No, no, no.

You didn't originally say spent on looking for these 3 RICH DUDES, now did you?

Tisk, tisk.

You actually said, "...of the 3 rich white dudes."

That's when you starting falling into the quicksand with your comments.

Accuracy first!

[mondo joe]

183. Oh, snap.

That is all.

[L A Woman]

187. "We're sorry, Mrs. James..."

but Americans have decided that we should spend no money trying to save your husband because he made enough money as a landscape architect to pursue his passion for mountain climbing. Therefore, he caused his own death and he is white, which means he is rich and evil. Instead, the money will be given to those who have less money but sit on the couch doing nothing adventurous. We're sorry for your loss, but next time you should marry a man who makes safer decisions, such as joining the army during a time of war." :eyes:

[Patsy Stone]

200. Fabulous

Why does this thread have 61 recommendations? :shrug:

[Bluebear]

217. Bravo. nt

[Redneck Socialist]

159. I have to disagree most strenuously

The story of the climbers is a compelling one and makes for good tv. Dead soldiers? That's old news, sad but true. I'm only being partially sarcastic here.

Not saying the war shouldn't be covered more thoroughly, I am saying that the Mt Hood story is an interesting one, albeit short term.

On Edit: This is an ugly thread. The dark side of DU lurches into the light once again.

[cboy4]

162. Yes, this place crawls of grave dancers. It's truly revolting. n/t

[Jcrowley]

167. It's outrageous

manufacturing reality for people. It's what is important and must be talked about at the water cooler and elsewhere as the echo chamber tells us what is important. Therefore all other topics of true import can be shouted down.

K&R

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

190. Oh For Heaven's Sake.

Give me a break.

The two have nothing to do with each other whatsoever. Not an iota. The way I perceived your OP was that it was in fact an intentional smack in the faces of those the perished tragically on that mountain. I find that smack to be extremely distasteful.

The two are not inter-related. To be so, you would be implying that had the climbing story not been in the news, that the Iraq deaths would've taken over the airwaves. Sorry, but I would think that you know damn certain that wouldn't be true.

You can get outraged just fine at the MSM's lack of reporting each troop in Iraq's death appropriately. But there is no reason whatsoever to have to smack others who perished tragically in the face just to twist their story to make a point that is completely false.

[young_at_heart]

194. CNN, etc. is giving this story far too much attention

Sadly, the country has many tragic stories.....this should be but one of them. It was the lead story on all the cable stations at 9pm and far more time spent on it than should have been.

[gristy]

195. Remember who pays for the MSM

Advertisers. The fewer dead soldiers reported, the happier they are.

[gulfcoastliberal]

197. 24 hr news cycle is a lot of air time to fill...can't show things like blown up Iraqi's and GIs,

so they fill it with "fluff" such a personal tragedies best left to the grieving families. These "stories" are as newsworthy as car accidents, cats stuck in trees, deep caught in stores, etc.

[Synnical]

199. Touche

I checked in on CNN Sunday, hours and hours coverage.

This AM, at the top and bottom of every hour, more coverage.

I noticed, though, that Google News (my homepage at the office), didn't have it anywhere on the Front Page.

That said, my condolences to the family of the climber who has been confirmed dead.

[Danger Mouse]

201. More garbage...

...for the masses.

[piedmont]

202. Ah, the masses. Always there for us to look down upon in smug self content. nt

[Danger Mouse]

204. To elaborate further...

...I feel bad for the guys, but why is it such a big deal? I'll never understand why the media has huge orgasisms over some stories and not others. Makes me think of the ONE THING that Bill O'Reilly ever said that I actually agreed with. A brick must've dropped on his head or something to make it come out.
Back during the Lacey Peterson thing, O'Reilly pointed out that a similar murder (pregnant lady and everything) had happened in the same area about that time, and received absolutely NO coverage, and the woman happened to be of Latino descent (I believe), and he was disgusted by this.
LIke I said, the only thing that ever came out of his mouth that I agreed with. I'm sick of these media feeding frenzies. It just feels wrong...like I'm being fed something that I can't digest. Continuing...
Honestly, I don't agree with the tone of the OP - way too harsh for no good reason. These guys didn't ASK for what happened to them. Give them a fucking break. They deserve to LIVE.

[piedmont]

207. ok, I can understand that.

Sorry for the semi-flame. It was too tempting I suppose.

[Danger Mouse]

210. Nah, it's alright...

i was being a bit of an elitist prick :P

[Blue_Roses]

203. Dumbest. Post. Ever.

The two are not one in the same. :eyes:

[Danger Mouse]

205. Rich white men...

...don't deserve to live. Grind them into sloppy joes and feed them to the poor. :eyes:

[piedmont]

208. you'll love this post then, if it stays up....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2943542&mesg_id=2944185

[Danger Mouse]

209. Wow...

just...wow...no, I don't think that one will stay up for long :P

[piedmont]

211. It's like watching a trainwreck.

I don't know whether to chalk it up to a case of posting-while-high or what!

:crazy:

[BoneDaddy]

213. So I guess

three white men and their families are not that important. Sure, I agree with you that the coverage of Iraq and it's enormous casualities should be on the news every night, but let's not sound callous for mocking the suffering and the dead anywhere.

This is what the media does. Blame the media, not the people who are desparately awaiting a miracle that their loved ones are most likely dead.
This is the hypocrisy of some people who call themselves liberals. Compassion is only for those who look like them or have the same views as them. Everyone outside of that, well forget them. You have just become as hypocritical as the republican Christians.

[Bridget Burke]

214. Hit & Run Flamebait....

Go ahead & complain about the media.

But don't blame your anger on the men who are probably dead by now.

[Bluebear]

216. Hit & run flamebait with 63 recs.

i just don't get it.