Jim Henderson wrote:
> On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:25:46 -0500, nemesis wrote:
>> Someone, somewhere, would make a
>> big noise out of it, make such horrid news spread.  Unless there are no
>> survivors to tell the tale...
> 
> The reach was not as great in the past as it is now.

yes, I was ready to consider that argument:  the much wider news reach 
thanks to faster technology.  I think it's a valid one.

Just consider this, though:  if a well-known serial killer like Jack the 
Ripper, who slaughtered prostitutes, was so well known, wouldn't the 
slaughter of school students make for a much wider shock?  My point is 
that criminals shooting each other or serial killers reports are 
well-documented in news and fiction even in old times, while the 
possibly much more shocking news of students being shot were not.

But I agree with you in that news were a lot less widespread then.  It 
may also be that only a few reports are memorable enough to make it 
through the ages, like Jack the Ripper or the Columbine massacre...

My gut feeling, though, is that we live in a far more cynical society 
and life is worth almost nothing.

Post a reply to this message