What Do You Do with a BA in ENGLISH?*

Write a blog post while sick. I stayed home from work today because I'm in the midst of a nasty little cold. The sadest part about staying home from work during this particular week, is that I have been inundated with news coverage of the Virgiina Tech massacure. I say sadest for two reasons, one: it is very much a tragedy and two: the news coverage sickens me just as much as my physical symptons of a cold. Cassi and I watched a small amount of the coverage on Monday night while a student was interviewed who said something like: he knew what he was doing when he reloaded the gun, like he was trained. And the reporter asked do you think t.v violence and video games played a part? As if this shooters knowledge of how to use guns could be so easily blamed on video games. It was like the reporter was trying to lead and steer the questions into the direction he wanted for his report.
And now, the backlash, people are starting to criticize the media for getting too involved and too personal too quickly with the victims and survivors. Well, I do wonder what a happy balance would be, between intrusive reporting and making sure the news was gathered and information shared. Obviously the shooter knew that NBC would air his manifesto as he apparently wanted. But, really, should they? Why not just turn it over to the FBI and leave it at that? Well, they showed it to the world because it's a news story, and, of course, for the ratings. It's like having an exclusive interview from beyond. People were grasping for the "why" of his design. They thought the video would provide it.
In a class I took in highschool we were posed a scenario in which we were to be a war correspondant. We were granted access to interview the leader of an enemy camp who tells us that they will be attacking American forces at dawn. What do you do? Tell the American forces so they can get out of the area? Or keep it quiet and report on the battle as it unfolds.
The MTV production company had the same moral problem with allowing one of their castmembers to get behind the wheel of a car when they were obviously too drunk to drive and could potentially kill someone. But, their contracts stipulate they are not to be involved with the cast members in anyway.
I don't know what grey line morality exists on, but certainly it is not an easy decision in any situation.
I will say, I am looking forward to getting over this cold, not only so I'm healthy for my conference next week, but also because it will help me escape the reporting of tragedy and all of the fall-out from it.




*I realize, having just found out that the shooter was majoring in English and wrote disturbing plays that this title might seem in poor taste, however I'm referencing Avenue Q's lyrics, so I don't mean to offend anyone.