reality of war

[dannyday5821]

do you think more people would be concerned about the wars that go on in our world if the media (as in the media we all see, like 6 oclock news or in the paper) shows war how it "really" is? by that i mean by showing the pictures of those people who've died in suicide bombs? i dont mean it in a sick or twisted way. i just mean without it been sensored at all.

this is what i mean...(dont look if you get queasy) http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/foto/5aa66bf9_ ANP_6801755.jpg

now that picture is so awful...the human cost and tradgedy it shows...and its real...it really happened...regardless of all the politics and relgions involved, at the end of the day it shows were all flesh and blood, we all live and die just as easy regardless of what we think or how we act.

but seriously...do you think more people would take an active interest in war if the media showed us images like this totally uncensored? or would it be an eventual case of us only becoming desensatised to it?

[123everton]

We would become desensitised to it (some would enjoy it) there is no specific answer I can find to your question.
I think the balance the news here strikes (in its video footage) is about right.
But then of course I can remember as a small boy seeing mobs in Soweto puting burning tyre "necklaces" on men, I doubt they'd show that now.

[123everton]

Sorry, something else has just occurred to me think about al the video footage that goes around on mobile phones of people getting their heads sawn off, I work with several blokes (probably more that I don't know of) who love that kind of stuff

[Octavius]

Its a bit of both really. People are generally horrified by the harsh reality of war and the cost of human life, especially when visually represented in all its glory. A few might be outraged by your link fro exampl, some will look at it and it would just confirm what they thought they were going to see. Its not pleasant, but its what happens - people including civilians, rescue workers and soldiers have to see this everyday.

I do think there is a certain sense of desentisation though, as your link could be viewed as something from a film set, and the immediate reaction is cgi / special effects / makeup etc. The link you have given doesn't really capture it for me (I know that sounds a bit bizarre).

I do still however retain some haunting disquietude in the pictures of the Nguyen Van Lem execution Pan Thi Kim Phuc, and the self immolation of Quang Duc:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Nguyen.jpg

http://revista.escaner.cl/files/u52/thich_quan g_duc_-_self_immo.jpg

http://javimoya.com/blog/pics/200702/KimPhuc2. jpg

There is something that chills me in those images that I don't get with yours.

[Ethel]

If it were your family member, would you want the graphic images splashed all over the media

Years ago, any murder would have been front page news.

Now, it is common for murders to be reported in 3 paragraphs on page 8. We are no longer shocked and horrified.

Exactly the same would happen with graphic images.

I really think that the flood of news we get doesn't help - most people only read the newspaper once a day, and watched the evening news. Now it is non-stop relentless 24/7 and I think we just switch off.

[ruby27]

I think we would become temporarily desensitized.

I think people have a saturation point when it comes to tragedy, they reach it and then the focus switches to the minutia in own life. (I think this apply to situations other than war, other peoples bereavement, illness etc). I don't think this is because people are uncaring but, can only cope with so much. In order to get on with own life there is a 'switch off'.

[Octavius]

I think you have made a fair point Ethel.
In days gone by it really was "news" and people would sit up and pay attention. Because if it was on the news then it was worth hearing.

News now is generally a rolling commentary and any �shock� headlines are so saturated with �on the spot reports� and �news just in� that you invariably end up tuning out.

It really is a case of �what was that she said on the news dear?� �oh nothing much, just another murder/bombing etc etc�.

[Theland1]

Maybe the posts above are describing the dehumanising side effect of technonlogical progress?