Holy Depleted Uranium, Batman: Another war thread?

[nath]

This one is about the media's representation of the war.

Absolutley disgusting, is my opinion.

They've been showing nonstop footage/pictures of war. In particular, guns firing, explosions, people on fire etc. Total glorification of the whole horrific process. They've had people right in there with a squad as they run through a town which could still be hot with enemy activity.. exciting isnt it!! They've had reports on how both sides are in breach of the Geneva convention by displaying pictures/footage of POW's while, closely followed by "and here's that footage now!". There is a distinct lack of appreciation for the severity of war, and imo leans on you to think it's all a bit exciting, but not really take in just how awful it all is.

It's quite obvious from all my other posts that I'm very anti-war, but I fully accept that it is sometimes a neccesity (not in this case.. but that's another issue completely). I just think the media is trying to present a diluted view of the war. Something to which people can say "war isn't nice, but damn it looks cool!". I honestly think something should be done about the way the media portrays this, but of course how do you get it to display more respect for war without getting in to the whole censorship area.

Dunno, just my 2 cents.

 

[mr.Blacky]

Didn't both sides do it during the first war? Showing POW. Personaly I don't think the caught US troops mind being on the telly I think the torture is worse for them.

 

[bodhi]

Shut it nath you leftie liberalist faggot. Wars make good TV. CNN know this. The BBC know this.

 

[nath]

I see they've worked their magic on you then. Dear oh dear.

edit: and how is having respect for the atrocities of war being a liberalist faggot? Unless you're yanking my chain. In which case, well done. You cunt

 

[bodhi]

Yes. Apparently I'm in the wrong cos I listen to CNN above Saddam Hussein.

 

[nath]

This thread has nothing to do with pro/anti-war stuff. So can it, you gypo

 

[bodhi]

Do my essay for me, bitch.

 

[nath]

I'm in full time employment. I don't do no faggot student essays

 

[hoggsboss]

watching the various news channels on satellite i have found some of the american news a tad glorified, to the point where its almost like a trailer for some new war flick.

and then after watching this for half an hour only to see the female presenter turn to camera and announce "and now for the big news of the day..............the oscars" just left me sitting there shaking my head trying not to laugh.

a lot of the coverage brings back memories of The Day Today

 

[bigfoot]

I'm sure for the soldiers storming through a town dodging enemy fire there is some excitement, all be it due to a massive adrenalin rush. I think the more war coverage the better, at least it will educate people to some extent (as Natrat's quit message suggests), the footage also hasn't been shy or overly one-sided considering they have shown soldiers being airlifted home, Baghdad being heavily bombed and civillian buildings being destroyed. I'm sure if Iraq allowed it they would have more people in place showing more of their side of the story, so I don't think you can blame the media too much.

 

[Embattle]

Fear the cow killer.....moooohahaha

 

[dysfunction]

After all that bombing in Baghdad there were not that many casualties...around 300 odd at last count....mainly due to the precision of the bombing.

It could easily have been a lot worse.


PERHAPS WE SHOULD HAVE A TEMP IRAQ WAR FORUM!!!

The Gen Forum is getting rather full up with war threads

 

[Perplex]

Originally posted by bodhi
Yes. Apparently I'm in the wrong cos I listen to CNN above Saddam Hussein.

CNN - soon to be renamed ZNN (Zionist News Network)

 

[nath]

Bif, I'm not going on about which side the media portrays.. but the fact that it appears to have no respect for the horror of it. They have shown the odd nasty thing, but on the whole it's exciting war fun!

And as you say, I'm sure the average grunt gets an adrenaline rush out of it, but war is still a terrible thing, something which I fear maybe lost on some people: and also maybe reason people side so easily for war.. because it doesn't seem like a big deal.

.. so I suppose I am going on about which side the media portrays

 

[Durzel]

nath, get a grip mate.

What do you expect the news channels to do exactly? Pause for reflection every 5 minutes on the horrors of war and hold debates on "whether war is the answer" ?

Whilst the media have undoubtedly gone into overdrive with the war, it is hardly unexpected in this day and age. Look at the General Election for instance, hours of rhetoric and re-reporting the same information, and Peter Snow standing in front of a CGI "vote-a-thon" showing how things are going.

For what its worth, I believe the media (the UK media at least - cant speak for US) has been largely impartial, thorough and not sensationalist at all. It has been quite sobering (and somewhat surreal) to see pictures actually from the front line as firefights are taking place but that, I'm afraid, is war. I'd rather be subjected to the true harrowing reality (and brutality) of it than be shielded from it.

At the end of the day, the Armed Forces are paid to do the job they're doing right now. They're not under any illusions that this is what their job involves, but it seems you are.

War, incidentally, is both "hell" and often a necessary evil. Do you even have a solid opinion about why this war shouldn't be taking place? Or are you just one of the typical "war is always bad mm'kay" people?

Listen to that MP3 of a war protestor attempting (and failing) to argue with an actual Iraqi person living in the States, and get some perspective please.

 

[nath]

Actually I'm not one of those "war is bad mmkay" types. I also did listen to the little girl mp3, and she obviously had no idea what she was talking about. As I said in the other thread, that doesn't mean she reflects the entire anti war side. I honestly feel that the war on British tv has been very much glorified. I think the media has shown at every opportunity, clips of big guns being fired, and news correspondants crouched down with a squad of troops in the middle of a battle. I think it's pretty obscene, and I've seen no sign of respect for the seriousness of the situation. Sure, they've not got Peter Snow with a boom-ometer but I think it amounts to the same, albeit done in a much more subtle way.

 

[GDW]

Havent you got either an OFF button on your TV or one of those buttons to change channel, if so I would advise using it, then said coverage will not offend you.

 

[Durzel]

I can sorta see where nath is coming from, but on the other hand I have the mental faculties to understand that despite how glorified the media may or may not appear to make the War, it still ultimately involves big guns firing, and people being shot/blown to bits.

I think the biggest mistake the news tends to make is in impartiality. Because the War is viewed as "liberation of an oppressive regime" you tend to see things (on Sky News anyway) like "Mission Accomplished" flash up on the screen every so often. Kinda leaves a funny taste in the mouth.

I totally agree with the front line reporting though. It's both harrowing and gritty, but gripping nonetheless.

 

[bids]

Originally posted by nath
I think it's pretty obscene, and I've seen no sign of respect for the seriousness of the situation.

In a pragmatic sense, how would the media do this ?

 

[nath]

It's not offensive, in a mary whitehouse kind of way: I just think it's morally devoid.. tbh I find the whole thing amusingly absurd. Honestly though, don't you think it's a little silly going on about going against the Geneva convention, while displaying the very images that it said they shouldn't be showing?

"look at this obvious breach of human rights!! and there's some more right there! oo look, this one's REALLY bad *nnnghh*"

 

[Durzel]

Originally posted by bids
In a pragmatic sense, how would the media do this ?

This is the point I was trying to make.

I'm glad I'm not the only one curious about this.

 

[nath]

I was actually thinking about this.

For a start, how about taking off the news "dun dun dun dah dun dun" music off the top of it. It's not been on everything, but i've seen it on a fair few news bits. Surely that does nothing *but* make it cool and exciting, much like some action blockbuster.

It's easy to miss because it's been on the news for so long, but think about it: what else does music do other than add a bit of drama? That's something I find disrespectful.

Also, what I mentioned in my previous post, reporting all this breach of geneva convention, but displaying the very thing they're not supposed to anyway? Sure it's actually up to the government on either side to make sure that stuff isn't released, but couldn't the media realise that the Geneva convention rule was there for a reason and respect that?

Guess not.

 

[Durzel]

Actually, the Geneva Convention dictates that its illegal to film POWs in a situation where they are being humiliated. Ultimately its open to intepretation whether one considers a captured Iraqi reaching out for food and water as "humiliation".

To be honest, all of the above is moot anyway since Iraq never signed the Geneva Convention.

 

[Perplex]

Again I'm forced to say: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 1000 Afghanistani PoWs, people, glass houses, stones

 

[nath]

Either way, the UK/US media could show a little restraint. I've seen a number of shots of iraqi people being pushed down on their knees and searched. I'd say it's pretty humiliating. The media could show a little restraint: but that's obviously not something they're known for.

edit: well yeah of course iz, wasn't really coming from that angle but you're right, the US has 0 right to critisize anyone else on how they treat pow's.

 

[hoggsboss]

due to working shifts and being at home all day i do find its the 24 hour news stations that seem to go over the top seeing as they probably only have so much footage to show and to try and keep the viewer watching they will show the big explosions/gunfights.

watch a proper news programme such as channel 4 7pm/bbc 6pm and you tend to get a more restrained version of whats going on.

 

[bids]

Sorry nath, I really don't get your point (not being deliberately antagonistic here). The music for the news is the same it's always been on the channels I've been watching - and I don't think the majority of people would find it disrespectful in the least.

With regard to the POW's, apart from Durzel's point, it's news - do you *really* expect any news channel to *not* show it ?

 

[hoggsboss]

Originally posted by bids


With regard to the POW's, apart from Durzel's point, it's news - do you *really* expect any news channel to *not* show it ?

i agree they will show it regardless but of all the news channels i watched only the BBC said they wouldnt be showing the footage until all the POW's families had been informed of their capture, every other news agency/channel including the US channels ran with the pictures as soon as they could.

 

[nath]

No, I totally expect it, in the same way I expect a murderer to murder people. I don't have to like it though :|

As for the music, you're right :- it's always over the news. I was just sitting watching, and wondered what use is it. Strikes me that it's there for dramatic effect. I don't think people think about it, but I reckon it subtly detracts from the severity of the situation. Making it seem movie like.

 

[bids]

I don't think I've ever thought about it like that, but I certainly don't feel it makes the news more dramatic for me.