Death, destruction, disease, disasters!

Deus Ex Machina

When you read the paper or watch/listen to the news, do the constant reports on all the horrible things which happen in the world have an effect on you? I have to say that personally they have no effect whatsoever. I even try to imagine the intimate details of the family life of the victims of an earthquake in some far flung country, but even so it is nothing more than information to me.

It even extends to events in Ireland, I don't feel any connection to the victims of murders/accidents etc., nor do I feel any sadness for their plight. I have watched plenty of these reports and I can say that not once has one made any emotional impact.

Abrasax

http://www.mojvideo.com/video-george-carlin-natural-disasters-stand-up-comedy-champion/2b13730090b8ca05ef00

KittyeeTrix

I would find myself affected particularly when I see pictures of young children involved......most likely as a result of myself having young children.
The tsunami really was terrible as it was very easy to imagine myself on the beach with my own kids when this happened and the Beslan massacre was another one which I found very hard to watch as it was very easy imagining my kids being caught up in such an awful situation and how useless and powerless those kids parents must've felt:(

Scuid Mhór

i am rarely effected by the news. only times i can remember where i actually felt a pang of sadness was 9/11 and the virginia tech murders. also recently with the escaped gunman in england. that's just crazy.

lalee17

I try to avoid the news as much as possible. TBH the only place that I ever hear news from is boards.ie, and usually it's just funny stuff, so I'm not complaining.

Dudess

Yeah it can make me emotional all right - although I hate how e.g. Sky News really milks tragic stories. Its coverage of the horrific Baby P case was just disgustingly salacious.
And I love Reeling In The Years but there are certain events that have me bolting out the door, ditto documentaries.

fluffyorganic1 wrote: »

I would find myself affected particularly when I see pictures of young children involved......most likely as a result of myself having young children.

I know having children yourself brings a new dimension that a non parent cannot comprehend, but I'm not a parent and it's stuff involving children that affects me most too.

sentient_6

Mostly it doesnt really bother me, which makes me wonder about getting desensitized over time. The only thing i'm slightly curious about at the moment is all the people getting steadly shot dead in dublin.....i'm just wondering how far its going to go. Do we not care as a nation because its drugs related & there's a kind of 'f**k it they deserved it anyway mentality?' He who plays with fire etc.

Takk

Nope. We are the safest, healthiest humans who have ever lived.

wylo

Dudess wrote: »

I know having children yourself brings a new dimension that a non parent cannot comprehend, but I'm not a parent and it's stuff involving children that affects me most too.

I dont think you need kids to have compassion tbh.

KittyeeTrix

wylo wrote: »

I dont think you need kids to have compassion tbh.

Okay, let me clarify my point....I don't think I was being clear in my original post.
I get affected when seeing kids in news stories as I find it very easy to picture my own kids caught up in these terrible stories. I'm not suggesting that people without kids would be less able to sympathise or be without compassion......I hope that wasn't how my post was interpreted as that's not what I intended:)

Edit: I don't think Dudess was suggesting that either but rather suggesting it gives a different perspective to the person watching as they could imagine their own kids in the situation.....well, that's what I took from her post.

Dudess

wylo wrote: »

I dont think you need kids to have compassion tbh.

Well that's what I was saying with the rest of my post.

fluffyorganic1 wrote: »

Okay, let me clarify my point....I don't think I was being clear in my original post.
I get affected when seeing kids in news stories as I find it very easy to picture my own kids caught up in these terrible stories. I'm not suggesting that people without kids would be less able to sympathise or be without compassion......I hope that wasn't how my post was interpreted as that's not what I intended:)

No I know what you mean - as I said, having children of your own will of course bring another layer of emotion to it.

wylo

Dudess wrote: »

Well that's what I was saying with the rest of my post.

Ah ya I know what you mean, I was kind of agreeing with you, probably worded it badly, I just get tired of this whole "I have kids so I know more what it must feel like" thing

wylo

fluffyorganic1 wrote: »

Okay, let me clarify my point....I don't think I was being clear in my original post.
I get affected when seeing kids in news stories as I find it very easy to picture my own kids caught up in these terrible stories. I'm not suggesting that people without kids would be less able to sympathise or be without compassion......I hope that wasn't how my post was interpreted as that's not what I intended:)

Ok sorry , probably picked it up wrong.

wylo

This is why real life conversation is alot better:pac:

KittyeeTrix

wylo wrote: »

Ah ya I know what you mean, I was kind of agreeing with you, probably worded it badly, I just get tired of this whole "I have kids so I know more what it must feel like" thing

Not more just different!!:)

Edit: Sorry wylo, just saw your reply after posting.......Seriously tho', wasn't meaning to come across holier than thou attitude at all

KittyeeTrix

wylo wrote: »

This is why real life conversation is alot better:pac:

Definitely;)