Reader: Aurora shooting coverage preventing us from hearing about other important stories

By Michael Roberts Fri., Jul. 27 2012 at 10:27 AM

Yesterday, we highlighted a conservative activist's view that the Aurora theater shooting isn't a national story.

And according to one of our readers, it's not the only story, either -- but blanket coverage of it is preventing us from learning about potentially more important ones.

brianafrederick writes:

Wasn't it just a few days later that 14 people were killed in Texas from one single road accident? Believe me, I had to dig pretty deep to find much coverage about it. It shouldn't be necessary to point out the fact that it was illegal immigrants shoved into a van illegally trying to cross the border, because let's face it, Americans want to hear more about white people dying on the news than they do the "less than important" brownies from the south. Whether or not it's for profit, all this coverage, it is a little much. We forget, we create these monsters as a society.
The deadliest day ever in Syria happened not long after the shootings as well. Genocide is still, after decades, happening in parts of Africa. America decimates Eastern Africa for resources to put in their smart phones or xBoxes. (xBoxi?) Right, so it's in our neighborhood, but hasn't Aurora been the butt end of jokes in most dialogue? Now we care? I was actually pretty shocked to see the photos of those killed because I was expecting more 'hood people to be in the theater. But then I realized, because of the way we treat our poor - they probably didn't have the money to pay for a $15 movie ticket.I'm also pretty tired of hearing about stories of bravery, solidarity or "community." This happened a little more than a decade ago, only 20 miles away and still Colorado learned NOTHING. A ban on assault rifles expires in 2004 and nobody cares, why? Because people stopped giving a shit. We as a "community" learned nothing, and in the next few years it will be the same thing. This was a sick man who asked for help and didn't receive it. Good job America -- welcome to the rest of the world.

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Tags:

Aurora, coverage, media, theater shooting

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Matt Leising

Most definitely. Playing the same story over and over again doesn't do anything but make people sick of it. There's plenty of things going on in this country. Talk about it

Naomi Wolinsky

yes

Gene Cox

How are the waldo cannon fire victim's doing? That's an important story.

Ken Leonard

i think the media is giving this guy just what he wants "attention" I'm tired of hearing it, all this press is demeaning to the victims, he needs to be put i.e. prison for the rest of his life so he can sufferer

Paul Vincent Saurini

A SUPERB DISTRACTION! Was just saying last night how any day Iran could be bombed. That mass murder should be taking giant precedent.

Mitch Siff

That's all you focused on as well.

Justine Lund

Pretty much.

brianafrederick

As I appreciate the response from you Michael I wouldn't go as far as saying it's "preventing us from hearing about other important stories," it's simply just overshadowing them in an unfair ratio to those out there who also have a story just as, or more than, tragic than the shooting. Now before anyone decides for me whether or not I have a heart about what's happened, I do, but I am also realistic in thinking that the onslaught of the "good story" that media runs only twists ideas in heads of those who haven't yet found out a way to search, think and process for themselves. It's not their fault - it's societies. All I was saying was that every minute of every day something tragic is happening and to put more of an importance on the Aurora victims than say...the almost 300 who have died in Chicago this year due to homicide, both intentional and not, (on track for being the deadliest year in Chicago's history ((and just THINK about the history Chicago had in the mob years))), this may be one of the problems that exist that create these people that feel the need to take on senseless violence.

We have a crisis here in Denver dealing with hit and runs. Sure, they'll pop up on the news for a few seconds but is the public coming to their family's aid creating online petitions or kickstarters? It's an interesting human condition why some jump to help on a few occasions that are sensationalized, but not towards others that seem to be a bigger issue. Random acts of violence are just that, random - they can't be stopped, but things like street violence and hit and run accidents can, or at least be minimized.

I'll be impressed when people like Neil Diamond donate their merch funds to youth centers in violent urban areas, or when kickstarter campaigns show up that want to build safer streets. The results of the violence at Century 16? Out of proportion.