Has widespread proliferation of extreme video desensitized the public?

[William Monfredo]

After reading the previous thread about warnings, sirens, & fatalities, as well as going over the NWS assessment for Joplin, I noticed that there weren't any questions (or answers) about the effects of widespread and close-up tornado video that's so readily available on television and you-tube. It might be that for some or many that the fear and respect for these potentially powerful storms has vanished. Think about it: you can catch a weekly show of it on TV.

 

[rdale]

No. If anything, it sensitizes them to the actual destruction. 99% of the people seeing them will never see EF5 destruction any other way.

 

[Karen St John]

You can watch the news, and the destruction is all too evident. If anything, people are desensitized because they keep seeing destruction, without remission. What we don't see is people six months after the storm* telling us how their lives have changed forever...that yes, it leaves something with you, that no, you don't go back to normal, that you don't live happily ever after, at least not the same way you did. You can go on, with a stronger steel forged in the fire you've just experienced.

People don't know what others go through, until they have had real trauma in their lives. When the sirens go off, what is there to draw upon?

* CNN has an article about Joplin and its people http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/09/24/gallery.joplin.tornado.rebuilding/

 

[Jason Foster]

It desensitized me....lol. But if you haven't seen any questions or answers about your curosity, you need to read though the tons and tons of older threads about it. Discussed a bit here already.

 

[William Monfredo]

It desensitized me....lol. But if you haven't seen any questions or answers about your curosity, you need to read though the tons and tons of older threads about it. Discussed a bit here already.

Thanks, Jason. Something's changed though over the years. I recall that during the Nickerson, KS storm from April 2007, families with children came out to their front porches like a Norman Rockwell painting during the warning. I can't forget that image, but perhaps more importantly, they simply didn't take shelter.

 

[Elaine Spencer]

I think it depends on what kind of "extreme" video is involved.

If "extreme close up video" means an endless parade of photogenic tornadoes that are seen only touching down in open fields, with no one getting hurt even when buildings are seen to be destroyed, and chasers whooping it up to their heart's content, perhaps that may "desensitize" people to a certain extent, to where they think ONLY of the exciting part of storm chasing to the exclusion of all else. Isn't that why some call it "torn porn"?

But if the "extreme video" in question shows what happens AFTER the tornado -- the flattened homes, crushed cars, stunned and weeping residents trying to find their way through a neighborhood they no longer recognize, etc. -- I would think it would have the opposite effect.

I would really like to see some talented screenwriter or producer tackle a movie or TV series (fictional or reality/documentary) that would deal with the aftermath of disaster and follow a community through the stages of recovery... I think there would be lots of potential there. Something that starts at the point where most disaster flicks end. (I know TWC just launched something like this). Done properly it could provide a needed balance or counterpart to the types of shows referenced earlier.

 

[Andy Jackson]

It seems your asking a similar question that's been asked concerning all forms of media. If you look at the general content of television throughout the days it's been a desensitizing tool from the start. But seriously, I doubt that you'll see too many more people outside when the sirens are blaring than you would have 5 years ago.

 

[rdale]

Thanks, Jason. Something's changed though over the years. I recall that during the Nickerson, KS storm from April 2007, families with children came out to their front porches like a Norman Rockwell painting during the warning. I can't forget that image, but perhaps more importantly, they simply didn't take shelter.

And I remember that growing up in the 80's -- long before extreme closeup video. I would see neighbors hit their porch or open up the garage doors and watch storms. Nothing has changed.

 

[Karen St John]

It seems your asking a similar question that's been asked concerning all forms of media. If you look at the general content of television throughout the days it's been a desensitizing tool from the start. But seriously, I doubt that you'll see too many more people outside when the sirens are blaring than you would have 5 years ago.

You don't have to be outside to be harmed. You just have to be inadequately protected. Being outside is definitely inadequate, of course.

 

[Wes Carter]

It desensitized me....lol. But if you haven't seen any questions or answers about your curosity, you need to read though the tons and tons of older threads about it. Discussed a bit here already.

It's been discussed in older threads, but I think the question she is asking is related to how things have changed in the past few years with the large number of destructive tornadoes in populated areas that have been filmed and have saturated the web and television. But your reply brings up a good point of interest. It will be interesting to read some of those older threads and see how things then compare to now.

My anecdotal observation has been that the people I know that don't chase almost always make statements about how they didn't realize how powerful tornadoes could be until they saw some of the recent footage. But it's still a mixed bag in many ways. Some people are more conscientious concerning severe weather while others are still as aloof as ever.

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Tapatalk

 

[Mark Blue]

I would really like to see some talented screenwriter or producer tackle a movie or TV series (fictional or reality/documentary) that would deal with the aftermath of disaster and follow a community through the stages of recovery... I think there would be lots of potential there. Something that starts at the point where most disaster flicks end. (I know TWC just launched something like this). Done properly it could provide a needed balance or counterpart to the types of shows referenced earlier.

There was a series along the lines of what you are describing on Planet Green after the Greensburg, KS, EF-5 that hit in May 2007. I cannot remember what it was called offhand, but it was interesting to see what folks had to go through to rebuild their lives and the town. One of the unfortunate things I recall were ne'er-do-wells showing up offering to rebuild someone's home and then hitting the bricks with all of the money half way through the job.

 

[Todd Renshaw]

After reading the previous thread about warnings, sirens, & fatalities, as well as going over the NWS assessment for Joplin, I noticed that there weren't any questions (or answers) about the effects of widespread and close-up tornado video that's so readily available on television and you-tube. It might be that for some or many that the fear and respect for these potentially powerful storms has vanished. Think about it: you can catch a weekly show of it on TV.

I have no real evidence, but my gut tells me that the public should have a pretty good respect for tornados due to all that's happened in Tuscaloosa, Joplin, N. Carolina, etc. (Of course, some people will never heed the warnings. After all we've seen this year, if they can't treat warnings seriously,* then I really don't see anything that would get through to them. For those people, I doubt desensitizing has anything to do with it.)

For sure there is disaster-aftermath fatigue out there, but not in the sense that anyone would become fearless about tornados.


*Of course, I myself would be one of those outside looking around, but I'd have one eye on the radar and (if I had a family) there'd be no way they'd be out too treating it as a spectator sport. But then I'm a trained "professional," right? Right??? So that makes it okay (I hope).

 

[William Monfredo]

I think it depends on what kind of "extreme" video is involved.

If "extreme close up video" means an endless parade of photogenic tornadoes that are seen only touching down in open fields, with no one getting hurt even when buildings are seen to be destroyed, and chasers whooping it up to their heart's content, perhaps that may "desensitize" people to a certain extent, to where they think ONLY of the exciting part of storm chasing to the exclusion of all else. Isn't that why some call it "torn porn"?

But if the "extreme video" in question shows what happens AFTER the tornado -- the flattened homes, crushed cars, stunned and weeping residents trying to find their way through a neighborhood they no longer recognize, etc. -- I would think it would have the opposite effect.

I would really like to see some talented screenwriter or producer tackle a movie or TV series (fictional or reality/documentary) that would deal with the aftermath of disaster and follow a community through the stages of recovery... I think there would be lots of potential there. Something that starts at the point where most disaster flicks end. (I know TWC just launched something like this). Done properly it could provide a needed balance or counterpart to the types of shows referenced earlier.

Elaine, you bring out some interesting points. I think that the "answers" that come out of various studies are clearly skewed by the actual questions asked (and those that are not, naturally).

But, if it takes more documentaries to help people become less careless or apathetic, then I'm all for it. I just get saddened on a day like May 24 of this year when 10 people die in OK. Many of us are out chasing these things, while a young couple gets on I-40 to save their horses, and they die.

Sometimes, I wish I could do more, countering apathy one day & one person at a time.