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Disclaimer - Dumdad's comment made me realize that this post might come across as me not giving a damn at all. He's right, it is a tragedy to the families of these people, and I didn't mean to imply it wasn't.
Apparently the weekend here was tragic. Tragic no less.
Or so they were telling me on the radio this morning. Eleven deaths over the weekend. Eight in car accidents. Three by drowning.
Of the car accidents, most all were caused by excessive speed and alcohol (a motorcyclist's bike ended up 800 meters from where the accident happened - that, my friends, is speed).
Three men drowned when they decided to go swimming in a prohibited area that involves rapids and big rocks.
There are 7,000,000 people in Quebec. Eleven just died because of gross stupidity for the most part. It's unfortunate, but nowhere near tragic, despite what they might be saying in the news. This isn't anywhere near the scale of tragic.
Yeah, I know, the switch is stuck on bitch this morning.
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16 comments:
That's bad about the 11 deaths this weekend.
LOL@the switch is stuck on bitch...LOL...
It's tragic to each of those 11 people and their family and friends.
Sometimes I wonder if it's a language issue when it comes to word choices with the news medias. Despite the English media here in QC being so-called "English", I notice odd choices and phrasing at times that seem cockeyed (hence, using the word "tragedy" vs. a more appropriate term). Could it be someone who's first language is French is doing the writing? Dunno, but just something I've noticed from time to time.
Dumdad - Yes, it is, but still, it's not a tragedy on the provincial scale as they are "selling" it to be.
P - Actually it was in the French media. And yes, I think it's basically a bad use of the word. It's a shame and it's sad and it's all sorts of things, but it isn't a tragedy. You'd think journalists - whose trade is words - would use the right words. But then, journalism these days is all about sensationalism.
wow, 800 meters!!!
Ah the inalienable right to be stupid should never be challenged.
Cheers
Suzan - Yeah, I tend to bitchiness sometimes...
Fuball - that's a long ways away from the accident.
Maddy - Yeah, I guess there is that...
Journalistic hyperbole, how could that be? Of course you're right. Actually, with a population of 7 mil that's a pretty small toll considering the number of morons abroad in this great land of ours.
Not 'bitch', just honest, dear friend. I know you've got a ton of soul.
I actually agree with you. Its not a tragedy, except to the families involved. Im sick of the media blowing things out of proportion, suggesting things I should feel, and then having people running around telling me "oh how horrible!" and trying to make me feel guilty when I dont feel sad.
Yeah, my switch is stuck on bitch too. I start my period tomorrow, so get off my butt. :)
I think the word "tragedy" is grossly overused these days. People die all the time and it's sad for those they leave behind, but I've often wondered what makes some people's deaths newsworthy (aka tragic) and others not.
"Three men drowned when they decided to go swimming in a prohibited area that involves rapids and big rocks."
That's Darwin's theories in work right there.
It's the escalation of a personal tragedy to a national/regional media event that you object to (I think). The fact that my sainted dad's death got no media coverage, outside of the obituary we paid for, backs up your feelings here. The truly good get no public attention upon their deaths and all.
When a school bus wrecks and children are hurt and killed, that's tragic. When a drunk driver hits an innocent person and kills them, that's tragic.
When someone does something stupid and dies as a result, that's fatal stupidity.
Ian - Journalistic hyperbole. I like that.
Rachel - embrace your inner bitch dear.
XUP - As is awesome. No, the t-shirt isn't awesome. It looks good, it's beautiful, but in no way does it inspire awe. The overuse of awesome is one of my pet peeves. Tragic is getting to that point too.
Big Momma - They need to give these three an award.
Joce - Exactly right. Had these people died in less "tragic" circumstances, we would never have heard of it.
POP - Fatal stupidity. Oh, I like that one.
I've stopped reading the news. And watching tv. And going outside.
I don't want to hear any news. *sticking hands in the ears* La la la la la... I can't hear you.
I have some of those same feelings, and yet I've also been on the other side when my brother drowned out of his own foolishness. Didn't ease the pain at all to know it was preventable.
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