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Is The Phillip Garrido Story "Tragedy Porn"?
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thatgirlinnewyork
09/08/09

In reply to Is The Phillip Garrido Story "Tragedy Porn"?
perhaps dumenco meant by "no object lessons here" refers to the umpteenth re-telling of the story by every outlet wherein there is nothing more to say than there was, say, on day three of the story. yet every outlet takes a small snag from the original story and blows it into yet another "angle" that doesn't provide new information inasmuch as bigger hit volume for any story with the key words "garrido", "jaycee dugard"--and therefore, reduces its "value" with each re-tread.

the "tragedy porn" moniker is apt--people cannot take their eyes away from something that horrible, but it is often at the expense of other news of substance. people will vote with their dollars the way they vote with their clicks; those who want to know about Montag will covet people, and pay whatever's asked--but they can't keep bloggers from reporting the story first, or reporting it simultaneously via "fee free" outlets.

must admit that i like the current nyt model: i pay for the daily paper, and get full access to additional online content, plus the archives (their first stab at it left something to be desired). others can access the NYT daily content online for free, but not archives.
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ozu
09/08/09

In reply to Is The Phillip Garrido Story "Tragedy Porn"?
"news networks are sometimes guilty of exploiting tragedy to boost their bottom line."

Not just sometimes. News networks, magazines, Gawker Media blogs, etc... their primary purpose as for-profit media corporations is to act a vehicle through which they can sell advertising. Exploitation of car crashes and sex scandals happens to be the easiest way to attract the largest captive audience.

I'm stating the obvious though.
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Casquivana
09/08/09

In reply to Is The Phillip Garrido Story "Tragedy Porn"?
I agree that this story has more value than simple schadenfreude or sick curiosity. I mean, the man literally thrived on the apathy, indifference and mistakes of the law enforcement authorities, so there are lessons to be learned. That said, I do understand the porn argument. I work in media and there is a point where the handling of news, and why some stories get priority while others don't, can get pretty sick, commercial and well, at some point, I'd say even immoral if you look at it from within and know how it works (and because of where I live, there are other things in the mix, like killing stories out of fear of reprisals from crime organizations, corruption, or the bizarre complicity/competition among different media groups.) Someone I know once compared it to the stock market, in the sense that news media feed on speculation to gain value. But I also see it in terms that information has to be made available so people can choose. Many will choose to be informed about the most banal things and ignore anything of substance, but others won't, and you can't decide for either group.
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DangerMouse
09/08/09

In reply to Is The Phillip Garrido Story "Tragedy Porn"?
There are so many news options that I'm not sure how many people would pay for internet news coverage instead of just watching CNN or the News at 11 and possibly supplementing that with blogs. Why pay extra if they don't really give you anything special that you can't find elsewhere?
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shananigans aka angerball
09/08/09

In reply to Is The Phillip Garrido Story "Tragedy Porn"?
Tbh, I think that they should charge blogs (like Jezebel, sorry) a flat fee for the articles and maybe a percentage for every time a linked article is clicked back tot he original site. I think if you start to charge people online for newspapers, the general public will be even more uninformed.

My only fear is that if you have more people clicking back to read about Spiedi than healthcare reform there will be more of a shift in the news coverage.
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DexterHaven
09/08/09

@shananigans aka angerball: My problem with that is that it sets up an opposition between 'proper' news sites and 'blogs' whereas a lot of us like to get most of our news from blogs/sites we trust eg Jez/HuffP etc. I do read the BBC site or the Guardian's and watch news, but I prefer to get in-depth reporting/news think-pieces from other sources.
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HereComesMyBaby
06/03/09

In reply to Adam Lambert Steps Out With Boyfriend; D-List Siblings Replace Spencer And Heidi In Jungle
Okay, I need to find an alternate way home from work on September 1, because the Madonna show will be going on. Duly noted.
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Flackette Goes Retro
06/03/09

In reply to Adam Lambert Steps Out With Boyfriend; D-List Siblings Replace Spencer And Heidi In Jungle
Beth Ditto is completely right about that song.
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sciencerules
06/03/09

In reply to Adam Lambert Steps Out With Boyfriend; D-List Siblings Replace Spencer And Heidi In Jungle
Isn't this the same dang statement Katy Perry makes every week? "I swear, I'm totally not a slut, don't let the pantsless bananasuit fool you, I am totally not having the sexy sexual sex, certainly don't THINK ABOUT HAVING SEX WITH ME." Katy. No one cares if you have sex. No one cares if you're not having sex. I would say "stop this transparent bid for attention" but that's kind of your whole deal, isn't it?

And yet your music is so catchy and I cannot quit you. Sigh.
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Mafalda para Presidente
06/03/09

In reply to Adam Lambert Steps Out With Boyfriend; D-List Siblings Replace Spencer And Heidi In Jungle
OH NO RASHIDA JONES. You do NOT get to win the genetic lottery and then take Jon Favreau away from me.

(Just kidding!) (Kind of.)
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Triphena
06/02/09

In reply to Adam Lambert Steps Out With Boyfriend; D-List Siblings Replace Spencer And Heidi In Jungle
I do not understand why it is so important to people that the two kids from Twilight are dating each other in real life. Can someone explain this to me?
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kaiwhakamarie
06/02/09

In reply to Adam Lambert Steps Out With Boyfriend; D-List Siblings Replace Spencer And Heidi In Jungle
I totally agree with Molly Ringwald, and I'm not even having twins. I love being pregnant for the most part, but I hate feeling so weak and helpless. Nobody will let me carry anything or DO anything, seems like. People look at my belly sympathetically and ask me if I need anything. I know folks are trying to be nice, but it makes me feel guilty, like I'm somehow milking my 'condition' when in fact I do little to draw attention to it.

That, and the constant heartburn and having to waddle like a duck really sucks. Oh, and I can't get out of bed by myself anymore.
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BytheSea
06/02/09

In reply to Adam Lambert Steps Out With Boyfriend; D-List Siblings Replace Spencer And Heidi In Jungle
It's really insulting that 7 out of 10 people who don't know what the fuck they're talking about think that mentally interesting people shouldn't be allowed to do things. Yeah, we get sick. We need more support and we need to be hospitalized. Same with people with physical illnesses. But when some cancer kid gets to star in a play, people applaud. When it's someone with anxiety and whatever the fuck Susan Boyle has, people want to stick her in an asylum and keep her away from the norms.
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Ting-a-ling
06/02/09

@BytheSea: I don't think that's what the survey is saying. It's not that mentally ill or disabled ("interesting?" I'm unfamiliar with that term) people shouldn't be allowed to do things; it's that we should make sure people with mental health issues aren't harmed or exploited in situations like these. To go on a show like Britain's Got Talent and to garner so much attention as Susan Boyle has would be difficult for even a very stable, healthy person. From what I've read it seems that the show has exploited and perhaps exacerbated Boyle's mental health issues, and that's not okay. There needs to be better screening in place-- and better handling of contestants overall-- to ensure that everyone is fit to handle all the pressure and stress of the competition.
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BytheSea
06/02/09

@Ting-a-ling: Yeah and adults need protection from other adults.

I know you're unfamliar with the lingo because you have no idea what you're talking about.
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Sputnik_Sweetheart
06/02/09

@BytheSea: And I'm guessing that the 7 out of 10 don't seem to have a problem with reading all the tabloid gossip about her. In my opinion, being hounded by paparazzi and "journalists" is way more damaging than being on the show (regardless of your mental health). Also, hearted because I suffer from anxiety too.
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BAngieB
06/03/09

@BytheSea: Wow. I'm familiar with the lingo and I agree that you may be putting more into that survey than necessary.

Maybe you have no idea what YOU are talking about.
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Schm
06/03/09

@BytheSea: Wow, that was unnecessary.
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counterclockwise's using her promoting-power for good
06/02/09

In reply to Adam Lambert Steps Out With Boyfriend; D-List Siblings Replace Spencer And Heidi In Jungle
I'm so a part of TEAM GOSSIP/DITTO!

When my little sister, who is 14 years old, explained to her friends that her older sister is bisexual, the first reaction was: "Oh, like in that Katy Perry song?"

No. Not like the Katy Perry song.
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Laulau
06/02/09

@counterclockwise would vote for Jed Bartlet: Should I count this as an itty-bitty step forward from the whole "I don't believe in bisexuality" stance? I continue to be completely at a loss to explain why people are so invested in who other people are attracted to or sleeping with. If it's not with me, and it's not with someone I'm dating, I have zero investment. Moving on.
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inabook
06/02/09

@counterclockwise would vote for Jed Bartlet: Well, at least the song itself sounds a lot like the first experimentations of a bi girl who had previously identified as straight.
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lisas
06/02/09

In reply to Adam Lambert Steps Out With Boyfriend; D-List Siblings Replace Spencer And Heidi In Jungle
I have a raging crush on 50 Cent, and not just because he is so often topless (although that helps). Rowr.

Also, if it's really that important, buy the ring and propose yourselves, ladies. These "hints" are just embarrassing to everyone, including those of us who read about them.
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YourScreenplaySucks
06/02/09

In reply to Adam Lambert Steps Out With Boyfriend; D-List Siblings Replace Spencer And Heidi In Jungle
Besides, it's sexier to be mysterious and not give it away.

That's excellent advice, Katy. If only you would apply it to all aspects of your life and be as reticent about releasing your music as you are about releasing your ladyflower.

And Reznor - Marilyn Manson was always a dopey clown fucked up on drugs. You were just too high yourself to notice. And you foisted him on the world. Don't whine about it now.
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YourScreenplaySucks
06/02/09

@Your Screenplay Sucks: Am I crazy, or did the spacing in comments on this website double in size overnight?
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HarpMadness
06/02/09

@Your Screenplay Sucks: I was just going to post that about Trent & Marilyn. Manson has always been/will always be a dopey clown. He scared a few parents years ago thanks to you, but that's it.
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BellaTricks
06/02/09

@Your Screenplay Sucks: You're not crazy. And I had the same thought about Katy Perry, but you said it snarkier. Well played.
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