Every time we approach a potential tragedy it goes the same way: all TV channels and media vehicles are exploring it the most. Its necessary to keep a permanent alert feeling so people are hung up digging more news on the upcoming potential disaster. I'm impressed by the amount of different info graphics, interactive maps and other animations made to illustrate Irene's path.
Some friends of mine started complaining in Facebook, saying that media is exaggerating the event, creating a circus and terrifying people with the specific purpose of money making.
But I wonder: are they really wrong or just giving us what we need? Isn't the information actually helpful to tranquilize the people? Isn't it actually good that we can visualize all the aspects of this storm instead of just wondering how is it going?
We are all part of the press nowadays. For example, New York times put up a sort of fotolog page where you can contribute with pictures of Irene's impressions. You can also do it in Fox News, and maybe your picture gets shown in television.
I believe we are all getting feeling-less: we are so exposed to terrible images of tragedies on the movies and television every day, that maybe we are hardly shocked by violence or human suffering as we were in the past.
We like the thrill of a disaster coming. Of course we don't wanna face it, but we want to be as close as possible, experience it, and get out without any harm to us, others or our possessions. And if its possible, with some videos and quality pictures that prove that "we were there".
I know how stupid this may sound, but I will be a little frustrated if nothing happens. I'm staying in Lower East Side, in the border of one area that could flood in case Irene comes in NYC really furious. I don't want a flood, but I would like to see the biggest storm of my life, at least - without losing internet signal, power cuts or breaking any windows, please.
In my mind I don't even consider something really bad happening. I'm not considering lack of water, power or food. Now I understand all this people that choose to stay in their houses even with all the alerts. We never think something is gonna happen with us. Its just on TV!
I've bought food and stocked water together with the friend I'm staying with, but we probably don't have supplies for more then 4 days. Silly enough, this danger thrills me and all I can think about is I would like to go around right now in the rain to get some crazy images with my waterproof HD camera.
Maybe 2012 will be tonight, in New York. And I want it to be in real life exactly like it is in the movies: unbelievably big, with all kinds of crazy things happening. I wanna be very close to it and watch it in HD. And then I want to sleep warm and calm in my cozy bed.
Maybe television is indeed better then real life.
No comments:
Post a Comment