The front cover of the New York Times... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

analog · 09-01-2005, 02:36 PM

This picture...

Caption: "The body of a victim of Hurricane Katrina floats in floodwaters in New Orleans."

Was on the front page of the New York Times newspaper, as well as on the website. From the website:

www.nytimes.com

Quote:

Bodies floated in stagnant floodwaters, and food and water supplies dwindled for thousands of trapped, desperate residents who had not yet managed to find a way out.

Now here's my beef, and where the poll fits in. Some have said that this picture is "graphic", "awful", and "terrible" to put on the front page of a newspaper. It was also noted that putting it on the front page prevents the person from seeing this "graphic" image.

So I guess people are ok if it's on page 2? It's still gonna be looking you in the face when you turn the page. It's not like on the internet where you can put a link and a "this might disturb some people" next to it.

I say this is far from "graphic" or "terrible" or "awful". I think people don't want to see this because seeing something that disturbs or bothers them forces them to reconcile it in their mind- and oh my god! People might actually realize what's going on down there! People DIED. Wow, how horrible are those NYTimes people to make us have to face that people died. It's the way of life. Everyone and everything dies. Saying, "I just don't want to have to look at it" or soemthing similar, is exactly the attitude that makes so many people turn a blind eye to the problems of the world.

Thoughts?

Lasereth · 09-01-2005, 02:43 PM

This is fine. If you think this is graphic then you're too damned soft. People NEED to know what is going on down there. This isn't another boring news event...this is major and relates to the whole country. Bodies floating around and having extremely unsanitary conditions is exactly what is happening so it should be portrayed that way. Many people in my classes didn't even know New Orleans was flooded and that people had died. Someone has to relate what is going on.

-Lasereth

World's King · 09-01-2005, 02:43 PM

I didn't even notice the dead body. I was looking at the big lady about to eat that cat.

Jinn · 09-01-2005, 02:44 PM

As usual, I tend to agree with you. Is it wrong that I wanted a higher quality picture, so that it would actually "sink in" more? People DIED -- saying its inappropriate to show is niave at best. If you want to protect your children from "graphic violence," then you might have a foot to stand on. I don't think most people open NY Times expecting to see death.

So in the end -- I can see parents being upset -- but a grown adult saying "I don't want to see it?" Why not.. embrace it. Its a part of life and it reminds you to enjoy the time you HAVE, before some fluke hurricane ends it.

analog · 09-01-2005, 02:46 PM

I might also mention that the body is face-down, not torn apart, broken, bloody, or otherwise visually ravaged that would make it gruesome... it's just lying there. If the caption said, "person take a cool dip in the river while their mom watches", you'd never know the body was dead.

Cynthetiq · 09-01-2005, 02:48 PM

news is too sanitized for my tastes.

SiNai · 09-01-2005, 02:53 PM

The NY Times is just trying to sell its papers, and people want drama, so the picture is on the front page. Easy as that..

analog · 09-01-2005, 02:53 PM

I don't want to get off-topic, but this kinda reminds me of that commercial that was banned in the states due to tremendous parental outrage.. because it depicted a child being blown apart (didn't actually show the gore of it, just the boom) by a land mine in the middle of a soccer field- but not in some remote country, right here in America. It was a commercial about how living with land mines is a reality in many, many countries, and that we should stop using land mines, or make better ones, or something.

Some people just don't find reality palpable, and ignore it as much as possible.

(p.s. if anyone has this commercial, let me know... i'll get it from you and host/post it here for reference)

Fremen · 09-01-2005, 02:54 PM

It's not shocking 'til they turn cannibals.

Seer666 · 09-01-2005, 03:08 PM

That is not shocking or graffic. It shows thigns HOW THEY ARE. if people can't face that, then they need to shut the fuck up and get a good reality check before they open their mouths again.

Zephyr66 · 09-01-2005, 03:12 PM

This is certainly far from Rotten.com, People need to stop being pussies. thats the bottom line right there.

Grasshopper Green · 09-01-2005, 03:14 PM

It's not too graphic. It's a reality check.

StanT · 09-01-2005, 03:22 PM

The lady floating in the water is someone's grandmother, mother, or wife. The New York Times is trying to sell papers at her expense. I don't find it graphic or disturbing, I find it in poor taste.

World's King · 09-01-2005, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fremen

It's not shocking 'til they turn cannibals.

Yeah... I'm waiting for the Zombies to show up.

alansmithee · 09-01-2005, 04:24 PM

I really don't understand the "reality check" mentality. This isn't reality for many people. Actually, it's not reality for MOST people. Some might find it disturbing, and there's nothing wrong with that. People need to get off their high horses about how "real" and in touch they are because they don't mind seeing a dead body. People have no obligation to familiarize themselves with the world's problems, and if they don't want to be reminded of them, it's perfectly fine.

Date the Banana · 09-01-2005, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alansmithee

People have no obligation to familiarize themselves with the world's problems, and if they don't want to be reminded of them, it's perfectly fine.

Why exactly is that?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the NYT is a newspaper. Like it or not, people down south are dying; corpses are floating down the river like rubber duckies. Is this a good thing? Hell no! But people should read the newspaper to become better informed about the world, not for a quick pick-me-up in the morning. I for one would be pissed off if my newspaper showed a cute picture of a cat stuck in a tree during the flooding. Don't like to be reminded that the world can be a cold, mean place? fine, but don't read current events and expect them to be sanitized to reflect your world view.
If you want to only see good news, that's fine. Read a newspaper geared for children. I want to see the reality of the world, and while that picture was chilling it woke me up to the reality of the situation. That's what journalism is for.

Elphaba · 09-01-2005, 05:57 PM

I am not a fan of the "if it bleeds, it leads" mentality of many of our news sources. That being said, I think a more relevant picture would have had more bodies floating in what is soon to be a cesspool. I am stunned by the complacency that I am hearing both here at TFP and locally. "If it doesn't affect me directly, then you have no right to intrude on my happy day."

The NYT is a NEWS paper and this is arguably the worst natural disaster in a century. If you want to remove yourself from the world's problems, I recommend People Magazine. No, wait. There are all of those nasty celebrity divorces to deal with.

Cynthetiq · 09-01-2005, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by analog

I don't want to get off-topic, but this kinda reminds me of that commercial that was banned in the states due to tremendous parental outrage.. because it depicted a child being blown apart (didn't actually show the gore of it, just the boom) by a land mine in the middle of a soccer field- but not in some remote country, right here in America. It was a commercial about how living with land mines is a reality in many, many countries, and that we should stop using land mines, or make better ones, or something.

Some people just don't find reality palpable, and ignore it as much as possible.

(p.s. if anyone has this commercial, let me know... i'll get it from you and host/post it here for reference)

Americans live in constant denial. Denial of sex, death, money...par for the course.

Charlatan · 09-01-2005, 06:19 PM

Analog you can screen the clip here: http://www.stoplandmines.org/slm/index.html

It's looks pretty effective at getting its message across.

StanT · 09-01-2005, 06:35 PM

Oddly, I liked the landmine ad.

I'd be livid if it was my mom on the NY Times front page.

analog · 09-01-2005, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StanT

The lady floating in the water is someone's grandmother, mother, or wife. The New York Times is trying to sell papers at her expense. I don't find it graphic or disturbing, I find it in poor taste.

Right now, there are several hundred mothers, fathers, children, etc., lying and floating out in plain view of everyone down there. Rescue effort comes first, then body removal. That's the way it is.

The reason most people complain about sensationalizing things is because the media will take something and show the worst, show the most graphic, show the most heart-wrenching of a situation... but this is a small sample. This is ONE body. There are LOTS of bodies just sitting around down there. This is not "picking one outrageous element and making the whole thing seem bigger". This is what's littering the streets in many areas.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alansmithee

I really don't understand the "reality check" mentality. This isn't reality for many people. Actually, it's not reality for MOST people. Some might find it disturbing, and there's nothing wrong with that. People need to get off their high horses about how "real" and in touch they are because they don't mind seeing a dead body.

1. This is reality for about 15,000 to 20,000 people definitely still trapped within the city. That's a very large number of people to turn your back on and say, "this doesn't effect EVERYONE". Thousands more have nothing to come back to, have lost family, friends, everything.

2. I don't think anyone in here has had any kind of "I'm better than ______" attitude with regard to "being able to see dead bodies". Those who are calling this reality are simply saying that some people need thicker skin. I don't think anyone is using this disaster as an opportunity to brag. Many, however, are using it to affirm to everyone else in the world just how little a person can care about devastating loss of human life and the total destruction of a city.

If there's any bragging going on in here, it's that some of us give two shits about the world around us, and aren't so self-centered that they think of no one but themselves.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alansmithee

People have no obligation to familiarize themselves with the world's problems, and if they don't want to be reminded of them, it's perfectly fine.

That's the single-most insensitive comment i've read in a long time. Your tune would be the total opposite if you or your family lived in New Orleans right now, wondering where the red cross is... you know, with FOOD, or even WATER. This kind of attitude only carries a person until they're the one whose everyday life has been destroyed, and decended into hell.

Redlemon · 09-02-2005, 05:53 AM

Didn't there used to be rules about no images of dead bodies in the media? I could have sworn that was the case, maybe 20 years ago or something. Was it actually a rule, was it just generally agreed upon, or am I completely mistaken?

I know that people are dead. That's what the words say. If you really need a picture to understand that there are dead people in the water, go take a reading comprehension course.

alansmithee · 09-02-2005, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Date the Banana

Why exactly is that?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the NYT is a newspaper. Like it or not, people down south are dying; corpses are floating down the river like rubber duckies. Is this a good thing? Hell no! But people should read the newspaper to become better informed about the world, not for a quick pick-me-up in the morning. I for one would be pissed off if my newspaper showed a cute picture of a cat stuck in a tree during the flooding. Don't like to be reminded that the world can be a cold, mean place? fine, but don't read current events and expect them to be sanitized to reflect your world view.
If you want to only see good news, that's fine. Read a newspaper geared for children. I want to see the reality of the world, and while that picture was chilling it woke me up to the reality of the situation. That's what journalism is for.

It's people's choice to veiw what they want. The NYT is a newspaper, but it's a for profit enterprise. I long ago got past the notion of an independant, informative newspaper. To me, the only difference between the NYT and the Weekly World News is that I can get one at a checkout lane in a grocery store. With that in mind, if they want people to keep buying their product, they need to cater to what their customers want. If it's pictures of kittens while there's a hurricane, fine. It's noot about sanitizing things, it's about printing what your customers want to see. By your reasoning, every cancer story should also be printed with a picture of a cancer patient in their last days, correct? Or a car accident should have decapitation pics, since it will show the "reality of the situation" better?

Me personally, I understand what is happening without having to see a floating body. It doesn't make it more real, just more gratuitous and exploitive. If you are half as in touch with reality as you like to think (this is a general you, not pointing fingers), it shouldn't take a photo taken by someone gunning for a pulitzer to make you understand what is happening.

Quote:

Originally Posted by analog

Quote:

Originally Posted by alansmithee

I really don't understand the "reality check" mentality. This isn't reality for many people. Actually, it's not reality for MOST people. Some might find it disturbing, and there's nothing wrong with that. People need to get off their high horses about how "real" and in touch they are because they don't mind seeing a dead body.

1. This is reality for about 15,000 to 20,000 people definitely still trapped within the city. That's a very large number of people to turn your back on and say, "this doesn't effect EVERYONE". Thousands more have nothing to come back to, have lost family, friends, everything.

2. I don't think anyone in here has had any kind of "I'm better than ______" attitude with regard to "being able to see dead bodies". Those who are calling this reality are simply saying that some people need thicker skin. I don't think anyone is using this disaster as an opportunity to brag. Many, however, are using it to affirm to everyone else in the world just how little a person can care about devastating loss of human life and the total destruction of a city.

If there's any bragging going on in here, it's that some of us give two shits about the world around us, and aren't so self-centered that they think of no one but themselves.

And I say why do people need thicker skin? There's no obligation to care about anyone else. If it's so important, people can ride their high horses down to NO and start helping. And leave those who have no care or interest to their business. Not everyone can even afford to be so worried about everything else in the world, they have lives themselves that they worry about. And why is it you only hear about this indifference during some tragedy? Before the hurricane, how many people died from starvation around the world without any uprorar whatsoever? Where was all this caring and compassion then? It's not about being self-centered, it's about taking a long-term view of the world. You say 20,000 is alot of people, I say it's a drop in the bucket. And that's the reality of the situation, not some pic of a dead body.

Quote:

Originally Posted by analog

Quote:

Originally Posted by alansmithee

People have no obligation to familiarize themselves with the world's problems, and if they don't want to be reminded of them, it's perfectly fine.

That's the single-most insensitive comment i've read in a long time. Your tune would be the total opposite if you or your family lived in New Orleans right now, wondering where the red cross is... you know, with FOOD, or even WATER. This kind of attitude only carries a person until they're the one whose everyday life has been destroyed, and decended into hell.

Umm...wrong. Why would my tune change? Why should someone else care just because it's my family? For one, I hope I would have had the good sense to evacuate the area. And if I was stupid enough to stay, I wouldn't be bemoaning the failure of the world to shut down and save my dumb ass. Seriously, you make alot of baseless assumptions. I have had hardships, as have many of those in my family, and many of my friends. I didn't expect (and don't expect) any exceptional aid or compassion from the world. And again, why is it the person in NO who should get the sympathy for lacking food? What about the kid in LA who doesn't have a place to live because his mother chose crack over rent and food. Or someone in Pittsburg who is slowly being bankrupted paying medical bills for his wife because she got cancer? Or the 300,000,000 other tragedies that occur in the country yearly? Or for that matter, the 7,000,000,000 worldwide? Honestly, i'd take a million missing white woman of the week stories over this sanctimonious, gratutious, self-righteous crap any day. At least those didn't try to be anything but fluff. I'll maybe start worrying about people caring more when everyone can look beyond the current headline-grabbing situation toward the daily, hourly tragedies that happen constantly all over the world. Now excuse me, I have something far more important to do now, which is prepare for my fantasy football league draft.

Menoman · 09-02-2005, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by World's King

I didn't even notice the dead body. I was looking at the big lady about to eat that cat.

rofl, I laughed :P

ShaniFaye · 09-02-2005, 07:41 AM

I think its in very bad taste.....I dont need to see a dead body to believe the reports that there are people dead....just like I got sick of them showing that poor woman under the blanket at the convention center. It that were a family member of mine, the people responsbile for having that on the front page wouldnt be able to pour piss out of their boot when I got done with them

Suzz04 · 09-02-2005, 08:07 AM

The picture is a wake up to reality. There are so many pictures of diasters as well as other things that have never been shown.

I'm just saying that it's not something people should be surprised about. Nor shocked. The people of the police departments, fire departments and various others see these same things happen where ever they are.

Am I saying that it's okay to place these pictures in a newspaper? I'm not sure. For myself personally, I have no problem with it. It brings a strong sense of reality to the unfortunate people that are there or where ever they are.

When you stop to think about it, how many times have you watched a TV show that displays murder victims or other such? No, it doesn't compare. It's fake. But, millions of people watch it anyways.

How many people slow down when they pass a accident or other such things? It's like George Carlin said, "Officer can you bring the body over here? My wife has never seen a dead body before!" I may not be putting exactly what he said, but the idea remains the same. Alot of people are nosy and want to see the "horrors".

Am I really making any sense? To myself... yes. To others? I haven't a clue. I would rather see the realism of what is happening. If it were my family in the picture, it wouldn't matter. I would be grieving too much to care about a picture. I would be too worried about trying to survive to the next day and providing for my child.

Do I seem a bit crude? Or even cold hearted? I hope not. Reality checks are needed for some people. For others, I'm sorry that some poeple don't think those pictures are right.

I usually stay out of threads since I don't feel that I add anything to them. But, I hope that people don't take me wrong and I apologize if I'm offensive in any way.

Stompy · 09-02-2005, 10:07 AM

People are too isolated from truth and reality these days.

Sex, death... you name it.

Hm, recall how many times they LOOPED the planes slamming into the WTC on 9/11?

Somehow that's okay. The graphic violence in movies are okay, but... floating bodies in a river and a boob (w/ nipple jewelry, mind you) during a super bowl show isn't.

Eh, people in general just need somethin to complain about I guess.

splck · 09-02-2005, 10:12 AM

There is nothing wrong with the picture being run on the front page of a newspaper. No one here has convinced me otherwise.

meembo · 09-02-2005, 06:54 PM

God Bless the First Amendment, and newspapers exercising it. I think all Americans should experience in some way the trials of fellow Americans in harm's way. It's goddamn patriotic to see and react to this as a nation, and if this awfulness happens in in our country, it is our problem, not someone else's, and we should deal with it head on.
Again I say -- God Bless the First Amendment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiNai

The NY Times is just trying to sell its papers, and people want drama, so the picture is on the front page. Easy as that..

I think that if thousands of people died in this disaster, the newspaper is doing much more than just selling papers by publishing that photo. I feel sorry for anyone who feels nothing but cynicism seeing that picture. It means a lot to me that I know of these things happening in my country. It's amazing that hundreds of corpses are intermingled with the suffering masses in New Orleans. It's very easy to be casual and flip about it here on a message board. but I think my life would be changed being there in New Orleans this week.

Johnny Pyro · 09-03-2005, 03:38 AM

I like the front page and the landmine commercial. It was shocking and raw. I'm sick of everything in the media getting sugar coated. Show the unedited reality. I'm ready for it.

Willravel · 09-04-2005, 09:43 PM

Too often the masses are kept from seeing the whole graphic truth of tthe world that we start to lose grip on reality. The tragety of the hurricane is terrible, and will haunt me for a long time. AS WELL IT SHOULD. To sheild myself from the suffering of others is to shield myself from truth, which would be a mistake. 'Ignorance is bliss' is supposed to be an ironic turn of phrase. It is supposed to actually say that those who are ignorant only think they are blissful.

Now if only we could be exposed to the reality of war, famine, starvation, sickness, terrorism, etc. It's more difficult to ignore the whole truth of a situation than it is to ignore it's surface.

Suave · 09-05-2005, 12:21 AM

That picture is there to sell more newspapers. It is using death as a means of increasing profits, and I find it reprehensible. I hate news agencies, and if it weren't for the issues of censorship, would prefer that they be publicly funded rather than privately.

Cynthetiq · 09-05-2005, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suave

That picture is there to sell more newspapers. It is using death as a means of increasing profits, and I find it reprehensible. I hate news agencies, and if it weren't for the issues of censorship, would prefer that they be publicly funded rather than privately.

Coming from a family of newsprint publishers that is reprehensible.

My uncle was approached by Ferdinand Marcos and he demanded that my uncle and the paper write pro-Marcos articles. My uncle said the paper will not be forced and the printing presses will be turned off before that happens. He was arrrested and jailed for 9 years.

Suave · 09-05-2005, 01:49 PM

That's sad to hear, but I'm afraid it doesn't sway my opinion of the majority of news agencies. They, like everyone else, are trying to make money, and I fear it has affected the way news is reported in a very negative way.

Cynthetiq · 09-05-2005, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suave

That's sad to hear, but I'm afraid it doesn't sway my opinion of the majority of news agencies. They, like everyone else, are trying to make money, and I fear it has affected the way news is reported in a very negative way.

right and letting the "public" and government run it gives better, clearer, more direct information....

Sweetpea · 09-05-2005, 02:08 PM

it's sensational. that's it. Reality is very ugly sometimes.

Sweetpea

Charlatan · 09-05-2005, 02:20 PM

Interestingly on the very same day, the front page of the National Post... Canada's most conservative national daily newspaper used the same image... the only difference is the image was cropped. It was cropped so it was a close up of *just* the floating body and nothing else.

I tend to agree with those above who argue that we don't need to know what is happening elsewhere in the world. I much prefer local news that has some bearing on my life. This is not to say that a news paper or TV news shouldn't post images of this nature just that I like having the choice to *not* read it (if that makes sense).

As for graphic images... I would rather they were inside the paper than on the outside. This way, those who don't wish to see the graphic images, don't have to as they wander by a newstand or past the news box. Put them inside and in full colour.

cyrnel · 09-05-2005, 02:37 PM

If it makes you feel better informed, great. Have you done anything about it?

If this is reality then emergency work or even living through disasters must be a snap.

It holds some illusion of being real, something to make us feel as privileged participants while going about our day-to-day struggles. As such it's an easy sell to an armchair society of distraction addicts.

Reality? Not even close. No, it's media sensationalism. Find reality on the ground in southern Louisiana. Or just get outside and avoid these shallow electronic spheres of existence for a few hours. Do something useful.

/BS-detector

Krycheck · 09-05-2005, 05:22 PM

They keep talking about it and talking about it but no one shows it. I'm glad they did. It's one thing to hear about it, it's another to see it.

texxasco · 09-05-2005, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seer666

That is not shocking or graffic. It shows thigns HOW THEY ARE. if people can't face that, then they need to shut the fuck up and get a good reality check before they open their mouths again.

Say...what a vocabulary... Fuck... what an interesting work. I once listened to a guy tell a story, and in the space of say 10 minutes, I heard him say the word FUCK better than 25 times. Any chance you two are related?

Quote:

Originally Posted by StanT

The lady floating in the water is someone's grandmother, mother, or wife. The New York Times is trying to sell papers at her expense. I don't find it graphic or disturbing, I find it in poor taste.

I agree with StanT. That woman is somebody's relative. I think posting that photo before she is indentified, and her next of kin notified, it is in very poor taste and shows a lack of respect for the dead woman...and her familiy as well. Reality sells papers...and that's the bottom line. I know I would be highly pissed if that were my mother, and THAT was how I found out about her death.

For the record....it's not about being a "pussy" as others have posted, or afraid of facing reality, or anything like that. It's all about decency and dignity. I work in Corrections and have seen blood, stabbings, and death first hand. The news can be reported, and be done in a tasteful way. That picture should never have made print, or the internet....at LEAST until the family, if any was notified of her death.

View Poll Results: How do you feel about this picture on the front page of the paper and the website?
It's disgusting and graphic, or just very poor taste, I can't believe they did that.	5	3.70%
No good. It's sensationalizing death and crime for profit more than reconciling tragedy.	20	14.81%
I have no positive or negative feelings about it.	25	18.52%
I think it's good because it shows what really is going on. People need to face reality.	67	49.63%
I think it's great. It's a great point about how people ignore tragedy so they don't have to care.	18	13.33%
Voters: 135. You may not vote on this poll

09-01-2005, 02:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lasereth Knight of the Old Republic Location: Winston-Salem, NC	This is fine. If you think this is graphic then you're too damned soft. People NEED to know what is going on down there. This isn't another boring news event...this is major and relates to the whole country. Bodies floating around and having extremely unsanitary conditions is exactly what is happening so it should be portrayed that way. Many people in my classes didn't even know New Orleans was flooded and that people had died. Someone has to relate what is going on. -Lasereth __________________ "A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

09-01-2005, 02:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
World's King Here Location: Denver City Denver	I didn't even notice the dead body. I was looking at the big lady about to eat that cat. __________________ heavy is the head that wears the crown

09-01-2005, 02:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jinn Lover - Protector - Teacher Location: Seattle, WA	As usual, I tend to agree with you. Is it wrong that I wanted a higher quality picture, so that it would actually "sink in" more? People DIED -- saying its inappropriate to show is niave at best. If you want to protect your children from "graphic violence," then you might have a foot to stand on. I don't think most people open NY Times expecting to see death. So in the end -- I can see parents being upset -- but a grown adult saying "I don't want to see it?" Why not.. embrace it. Its a part of life and it reminds you to enjoy the time you HAVE, before some fluke hurricane ends it. __________________ "I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

09-01-2005, 02:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	news is too sanitized for my tastes. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

09-01-2005, 02:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
analog Banned	I might also mention that the body is face-down, not torn apart, broken, bloody, or otherwise visually ravaged that would make it gruesome... it's just lying there. If the caption said, "person take a cool dip in the river while their mom watches", you'd never know the body was dead.

09-01-2005, 02:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
SiNai Dreams In Digital Location: Iowa	The NY Times is just trying to sell its papers, and people want drama, so the picture is on the front page. Easy as that.. __________________ I can't seem to remember now What it was like- to live life, before you.. symbiont

09-01-2005, 02:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
analog Banned	I don't want to get off-topic, but this kinda reminds me of that commercial that was banned in the states due to tremendous parental outrage.. because it depicted a child being blown apart (didn't actually show the gore of it, just the boom) by a land mine in the middle of a soccer field- but not in some remote country, right here in America. It was a commercial about how living with land mines is a reality in many, many countries, and that we should stop using land mines, or make better ones, or something. Some people just don't find reality palpable, and ignore it as much as possible. (p.s. if anyone has this commercial, let me know... i'll get it from you and host/post it here for reference)

09-01-2005, 02:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
Fremen With a mustache, the cool factor would be too much Location: left side of my couch, East Texas	It's not shocking 'til they turn cannibals. __________________ Google

09-01-2005, 03:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
Seer666 Oh dear God he breeded Location: Arizona	That is not shocking or graffic. It shows thigns HOW THEY ARE. if people can't face that, then they need to shut the fuck up and get a good reality check before they open their mouths again. __________________ Bad spellers of the world untie!!! I am the one you warned me of I seem to have misplaced the bullet with your name on it, but I have a whole box addressed to occupant.

09-01-2005, 03:12 PM	#11 (permalink)
Zephyr66 My custom title's the shit! Location: Canada	This is certainly far from Rotten.com, People need to stop being pussies. thats the bottom line right there.

09-01-2005, 03:14 PM	#12 (permalink)
Grasshopper Green ...is a comical chap Location: Where morons reign supreme	It's not too graphic. It's a reality check. __________________ "They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king" Formerly Medusa

09-01-2005, 03:22 PM	#13 (permalink)
StanT © Location: Colorado	The lady floating in the water is someone's grandmother, mother, or wife. The New York Times is trying to sell papers at her expense. I don't find it graphic or disturbing, I find it in poor taste.

09-01-2005, 04:24 PM	#15 (permalink)
alansmithee Junkie	I really don't understand the "reality check" mentality. This isn't reality for many people. Actually, it's not reality for MOST people. Some might find it disturbing, and there's nothing wrong with that. People need to get off their high horses about how "real" and in touch they are because they don't mind seeing a dead body. People have no obligation to familiarize themselves with the world's problems, and if they don't want to be reminded of them, it's perfectly fine.

09-01-2005, 05:57 PM	#17 (permalink)
Elphaba Deja Moo Location: Olympic Peninsula, WA	I am not a fan of the "if it bleeds, it leads" mentality of many of our news sources. That being said, I think a more relevant picture would have had more bodies floating in what is soon to be a cesspool. I am stunned by the complacency that I am hearing both here at TFP and locally. "If it doesn't affect me directly, then you have no right to intrude on my happy day." The NYT is a NEWS paper and this is arguably the worst natural disaster in a century. If you want to remove yourself from the world's problems, I recommend People Magazine. No, wait. There are all of those nasty celebrity divorces to deal with.

09-01-2005, 06:19 PM	#19 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	Analog you can screen the clip here: http://www.stoplandmines.org/slm/index.html It's looks pretty effective at getting its message across. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

09-01-2005, 06:35 PM	#20 (permalink)
StanT © Location: Colorado	Oddly, I liked the landmine ad. I'd be livid if it was my mom on the NY Times front page.

09-02-2005, 05:53 AM	#22 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	Didn't there used to be rules about no images of dead bodies in the media? I could have sworn that was the case, maybe 20 years ago or something. Was it actually a rule, was it just generally agreed upon, or am I completely mistaken? I know that people are dead. That's what the words say. If you really need a picture to understand that there are dead people in the water, go take a reading comprehension course. __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

09-02-2005, 07:41 AM	#25 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	I think its in very bad taste.....I dont need to see a dead body to believe the reports that there are people dead....just like I got sick of them showing that poor woman under the blanket at the convention center. It that were a family member of mine, the people responsbile for having that on the front page wouldnt be able to pour piss out of their boot when I got done with them __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*

09-02-2005, 08:07 AM	#26 (permalink)
Suzz04 Crazy Location: Virginia	The picture is a wake up to reality. There are so many pictures of diasters as well as other things that have never been shown. I'm just saying that it's not something people should be surprised about. Nor shocked. The people of the police departments, fire departments and various others see these same things happen where ever they are. Am I saying that it's okay to place these pictures in a newspaper? I'm not sure. For myself personally, I have no problem with it. It brings a strong sense of reality to the unfortunate people that are there or where ever they are. When you stop to think about it, how many times have you watched a TV show that displays murder victims or other such? No, it doesn't compare. It's fake. But, millions of people watch it anyways. How many people slow down when they pass a accident or other such things? It's like George Carlin said, "Officer can you bring the body over here? My wife has never seen a dead body before!" I may not be putting exactly what he said, but the idea remains the same. Alot of people are nosy and want to see the "horrors". Am I really making any sense? To myself... yes. To others? I haven't a clue. I would rather see the realism of what is happening. If it were my family in the picture, it wouldn't matter. I would be grieving too much to care about a picture. I would be too worried about trying to survive to the next day and providing for my child. Do I seem a bit crude? Or even cold hearted? I hope not. Reality checks are needed for some people. For others, I'm sorry that some poeple don't think those pictures are right. I usually stay out of threads since I don't feel that I add anything to them. But, I hope that people don't take me wrong and I apologize if I'm offensive in any way.

09-02-2005, 10:07 AM	#27 (permalink)
Stompy Banned from being Banned Location: Donkey	People are too isolated from truth and reality these days. Sex, death... you name it. Hm, recall how many times they LOOPED the planes slamming into the WTC on 9/11? Somehow that's okay. The graphic violence in movies are okay, but... floating bodies in a river and a boob (w/ nipple jewelry, mind you) during a super bowl show isn't. Eh, people in general just need somethin to complain about I guess. __________________ I love lamp.

09-02-2005, 10:12 AM	#28 (permalink)
splck it's jam Location: Lowerainland BC	There is nothing wrong with the picture being run on the front page of a newspaper. No one here has convinced me otherwise. __________________ nice line eh?

09-03-2005, 03:38 AM	#30 (permalink)
Johnny Pyro Hey Now! Location: Massachusetts (Redneck, white boy town. I hate it here.)	I like the front page and the landmine commercial. It was shocking and raw. I'm sick of everything in the media getting sugar coated. Show the unedited reality. I'm ready for it. __________________ "From delusion lead me to truth, from darkness lead me to light, from death lead me to eternal life. - Sheriff John Wydell

09-04-2005, 09:43 PM	#31 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	Too often the masses are kept from seeing the whole graphic truth of tthe world that we start to lose grip on reality. The tragety of the hurricane is terrible, and will haunt me for a long time. AS WELL IT SHOULD. To sheild myself from the suffering of others is to shield myself from truth, which would be a mistake. 'Ignorance is bliss' is supposed to be an ironic turn of phrase. It is supposed to actually say that those who are ignorant only think they are blissful. Now if only we could be exposed to the reality of war, famine, starvation, sickness, terrorism, etc. It's more difficult to ignore the whole truth of a situation than it is to ignore it's surface.

09-05-2005, 12:21 AM	#32 (permalink)
Suave Twitterpated Location: My own little world (also Canada)	That picture is there to sell more newspapers. It is using death as a means of increasing profits, and I find it reprehensible. I hate news agencies, and if it weren't for the issues of censorship, would prefer that they be publicly funded rather than privately. __________________ "Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions." - Albert Einstein "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something." - Plato

09-05-2005, 01:49 PM	#34 (permalink)
Suave Twitterpated Location: My own little world (also Canada)	That's sad to hear, but I'm afraid it doesn't sway my opinion of the majority of news agencies. They, like everyone else, are trying to make money, and I fear it has affected the way news is reported in a very negative way. __________________ "Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions." - Albert Einstein "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something." - Plato

09-05-2005, 02:08 PM	#36 (permalink)
Sweetpea Fade out Location: in love	it's sensational. that's it. Reality is very ugly sometimes. Sweetpea __________________ Having a Pet Will Change Your Life! Looking for a great pet?! Click Here! "I am the Type of Person Who Can Get Away With A lot, Simply Because I Don't Ask Permission for the Privilege of Being Myself"

09-05-2005, 02:20 PM	#37 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	Interestingly on the very same day, the front page of the National Post... Canada's most conservative national daily newspaper used the same image... the only difference is the image was cropped. It was cropped so it was a close up of just the floating body and nothing else. I tend to agree with those above who argue that we don't need to know what is happening elsewhere in the world. I much prefer local news that has some bearing on my life. This is not to say that a news paper or TV news shouldn't post images of this nature just that I like having the choice to not read it (if that makes sense). As for graphic images... I would rather they were inside the paper than on the outside. This way, those who don't wish to see the graphic images, don't have to as they wander by a newstand or past the news box. Put them inside and in full colour. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

09-05-2005, 02:37 PM	#38 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	If it makes you feel better informed, great. Have you done anything about it? If this is reality then emergency work or even living through disasters must be a snap. It holds some illusion of being real, something to make us feel as privileged participants while going about our day-to-day struggles. As such it's an easy sell to an armchair society of distraction addicts. Reality? Not even close. No, it's media sensationalism. Find reality on the ground in southern Louisiana. Or just get outside and avoid these shallow electronic spheres of existence for a few hours. Do something useful. /BS-detector __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

09-05-2005, 05:22 PM	#39 (permalink)
Krycheck Sultana ruined my evil persona Location: Los Angeles	They keep talking about it and talking about it but no one shows it. I'm glad they did. It's one thing to hear about it, it's another to see it. __________________ His pants are tight...but his morals are loose!!