Does The Media Exaggerate Local Reaction To Events Such As In Plymouth?

[dave50]

Like when they say the 'community is in shock' and are 'trying to come to terms with what has happened' and 'councilling is available for those struggling to come to terms with it'. I can understand relatives and close friends of the victims being in shock but for the rest of the community, it's just a topic of gossip.

[naomi24]

Yes I think it does - but I also think locals exaggerate their own reaction. A bit of me, me, me - an opportunity for their 15 minutes of fame.

[davebro]

Hard to say unless it happens in your street. It probably wouldn't bother me but then I'm not the most sensitive person in the world.

Such events seem to have become more common & yes, I do think the media tend to make a meal of it.

[Untitled]

I don't think it is oversensitive to be affected or disturbed by something that happened locally... i can definitely understand why people in Plymouth might be seriously distressed by this.

[Theland]

Its a cultural thing to a certain extent.
My family and community many years ago kept their grief and feelings under wraps. The famous British stiff upper lip.
Nowadays it seems to me that too many people, no matter how far removed from the event in question, literally queue up to give their opinion and visually demonstrate their pseudo shock and grief.

[THECORBYLOON]

"too many people, no matter how far removed from the event in question, literally queue up to give their opinion"

Where have you seen these queues?

[curlygirlies]

Its a case of
"ooo Chantal! the TV are down the road! get some flowers from the garage ! grab yah phone!"

[Mamyalynne]

The whole point of the media is to exaggerate - you'll never see a headline that states ' Neighbourhood slightly upset by multiple shootings'.

When an ordinary day in your location suddenly becomes a scene like the one yesterday of course people are stunned and shocked - they look at their own children and family and shudder at the thought.

99% of them do that behind closed doors, only a small few speak to the press.

[novalis]

I often think that the overwhelming feeling of most people who live close to where these terrible tragedies unfold is one of immense relief that they too were not in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is a case of 'There but for fortune go you or go I'.

[ichkeria]

If 6 people died like that in our area I think there’d be quite a bit of shock
As well as gossip

[Toorak]

Does the community experience shock?: of course it does

1 even if you are not family or close friend you are likely to know someone who has been more directly affected

2 if you live locally you will have been affected by the uncertainty and resulting fear when an incident has been declared but details are still sketchy

3 your sense of safety and certainty where you live will have been seriously undermined

[tonyav]

B A TO Toorak. An incident happened at Easter that happened in my neck of the woods affected us all.

[Toorak]

I have first hand experience too :-(

[tonyav]

Not good is it, Toorak.

[Toorak]

It’s not - I still find it overwhelming

[tonyav]

So do I, awaiting first trial appearance of the accused here.

[jno]

Pastafreak posted of her alarm at the shootings

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1761894.html

do you think she was exaggerating? Making it me me me?

[tonyav]

do you think she was exaggerating? Making it me me me?

No no no.

[jno]

I didn't think so either, tonyav

[tonyav]

Good good good.

[pastafreak]

I've been in tears over it several times today...and have wondered if my reaction would be so strong if the same had happened in London or up north somewhere. I somehow suspect not. The closer an event is, the greater our feeling of vulnerability I think. There's also the knowledge that we may have seen these people in city centre shops...the ones many of us travel to from our outlying communities. The bus line I'm on goes to the area of the shootings.
I even cried when my brother sent me a link of the coverage by CNN