On fearmongering

[Stephanos132]

The headline of my local paper for this week went thusly: WILL NURSERY ATTRACT PAEDOS? (emphasis similar to the paper, only they just enlarged the word 'paedos' instead)

I'm getting pretty fucking sick of all this culture of fear I find myself immersed in. How can these people believe that a nursery to a paedo is like a flower to a bee? Do they not know that most child abuse occurs at home? Do they honestly believe that the only reason to ever work with children is sexual gratification, other than, say, genuine desire to help out beleagured parents? Gah!

Link to picture of headline: http://twitpic.com/33x85u

Anyway, what are your takes on all this? Is this an overreaction or do you feel it justified? General comments on culture of fear welcome.

 

[Lilani]

It's all for the sake of the media. What better way to sell newspapers and magazines than by making people feel like they'll be in danger if they don't check them out?

 

[Ham_authority95]

Ignore it. The more you make a big deal out of it(like they want you to), the more they'll make stuff like this.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

The media is rubbish.

To quote Russell Howard.

 

[Shivarage]

Stupid people believe stupid stories

thus, those people are fail

 

[Verlander]

Where do you live? Fiver says Britain somewhere...

It's ridiculous, but let's see what Charlie Brooker has to say on the subject:

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Fun fact. A child is more likely to be molested by a family member than some stranger on the street.

 

[Stephanos132]

I know fear sells (probably better than sex), doesn't mean I enjoy it. However, I sincerely doubt anything I do or don't do will change what they put, as far too many others simply lap it up.

 

[rokkolpo]

Paedos...>_>

Being concerned is never an over-reaction, bad stuff happens, so people are afraid of it.
What if parents weren't concerned at all?

 

[Stephanos132]

Where do you live? Fiver says Britain somewhere...

A quick look at my profile would confirm your suspicions.

 

[Stephanos132]

Paedos...>_>

Being concerned is never an over-reaction, bad stuff happens, so people are afraid of it.
What if parents weren't concerned at all?

Feral chav children, naturally. There's a difference between concern and irrational fear though and this is almost certainly the latter.

This is all ignoring the faint whiff of NIMBYism present too.

 

[Lilani]

snip

Your video is blocked.

 

[Bloodstain]

Fun fact. A child is more likely to be molested by a family member than some stranger on the street.

Something a lot of people seem to forget.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Your video is blocked.

Hmm your country isn't on your profile.

Are you from America or anywhere outside England? As it may be unavailable outside of here.

 

[Space Spoons]

Logic and reason have nothing to do with it. To the newspaper industry, as well as most TV news programs, it's all about the money, and nothing's guaranteed to sell like a SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE REPORT on what could be happening IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD.

It's less actual news and some kind of bizarre "1984" infotainment hybrid.

 

[thiosk]

They are right to be concerned.

Pedobear stalks.

Spoiler

In all seriousness, this is how papers sell papers. Its only effective if you buy the paper. Hate it all you want, but I don't want to read "79 million people got up and went to work yesterday without incident. Scholars estimate as many as 81 million people will do so today."

 

[Lilani]

Your video is blocked.

Hmm your country isn't on your profile.

Are you from America or anywhere outside England? As it may be unavailable outside of here.

Ah yes, that would do it. It said it was blocked by BBC, but not why. I'll look for it later :3

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Ah yes, that would do it. It said it was blocked by BBC, but not why. I'll look for it later :3

Ah that sucks... I hope you manage to find it as it is one of Russell Howards many funny moments.

But the BBC are fairly protective of their popular shows...

 

[Stephanos132]

Logic and reason have nothing to do with it. To the newspaper industry, as well as most TV news programs, it's all about the money, and nothing's guaranteed to sell like a SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE REPORT on what could be happening IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD.

It's less actual news and some kind of bizarre "1984" infotainment hybrid.

Too true. Why let little things like facts get in the way of things? That is not the way of British Journalism!

 

[Woodsey]

What the fuck is "News Shopper"?

Anyway, it's a story about parents are paedos; the former goes insane trying to "protect" their children from the latter and the press feed it.

Just a quick question: was that thing where you can check for paedophiles in your local area ever released? I know it was talked about but I can't remember anything more - I'm really hoping the answer is no for the sake of all that is sane.