MURPHY-SPICE
12.11.2008
What is wrong in this world?
Just read a very small piece in the local paper about the American, a terminally ill 59 year old former computer scientist from Chicago, who recently committed suicide on British TV with his wife by his side. He wanted to lessen the pain and suffering of himself and his family since he was going to die at some point anyway. Apparently he made this decision in 2006 and created a documentary concerning his decision. I don't judge the family decision to end his life, who can say how one would react in the same circumstances. However, why is everyone jumping on the band wagon to put this stuff on TV and/or the internet? Why do people need or even want to watch this sad event? Does everyone need and want 5 minutes of fame? I guess this is just another sign that I am getting older and the generation gap is getting bigger. I really question what direction our world is going in; it seems like it is backwards. Backwards to medieval times and before when it was sport to watch hangings, killings, etc.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
You are getting older, but people have always enjoyed grotesque and bizarre spectacles: Lynchings, court cases, reality TV, documentaries like this, even the News. It's all about sensationalism. Just the fact that there was a video of Saddam Hussein's assassination circulating on the internet proves this to be true. I don't think it's a case of "the world moving backwards" but rather a case of the internet/TV allowing for increased visibility. Philosophically - there was never a forward or backwards motion. The same "masses" that flocked to town squares now just flock to YouTube, the internet, and televisions instead.
I agree that all eras have voyeurs, however, the advent of TV, internet and the fact that almost every household has one or both, makes it more readily accessible to all ages. That accessibility has desensitized people to these type of bizarre events, and I do believe from my own personal experience that young people are exposed much more so than in previous generations to the detriment of society.
Post a Comment