It Never Ceases to Amaze Me ...

Every so often - okay, every day - I read the news and shake my head. What exactly is going on in this world? Hmmmm? The commonality between news stories is a bit unnerving on any given day. For example:

• Bridges and overpasses:
  • How many stories have been published recently about people throwing animals and children off bridges and overpasses?
• Suicides:
  • How many stories have been published recently about people attempting / committing suicide?

Now I know that these things have been happening for generations; there's nothing new. But, do we need to read about it in the news, see it on television? When I was younger, out of respect for the families - and the sensibilities of the readers - those types of stories weren't published as front-page news, if they were published at all.

Not to mention, studies have been done, for years, investigating whether there is a direct correlation between media reports and dramatizations of successful suicides / violent actions and an increase in such behaviors. (The first recorded incident of copycat suicides, for example, dates back to 1774 in Germany and creates the basis for the Werther Effect.) Recently, guidelines were published for journalists in Hong Kong, which has seen an increase in copycat suicides that they believe are directly related to reporting practices:

1. Coverage of recent suicides has caused serious concern among some circles in Hong Kong. Media studies in overseas countries have pointed out that coverage of such cases creates a so-called "copy-cat" effect, prompting more people to choose suicide as a way to solve their problems. However, academics are not unanimous on this point. Some studies argue that there has been no significant correlation between the reporting of individual cases and the actual number of suicides over a given period.


2. The Hong Kong Journalists Association has compared the way overseas news organizations cover suicides. In the United States and Canada, journalists have agreed generally among themselves not to report individual cases. Instead, they focus on general suicide trends and the reasons for such trends. However, they have agreed to report suicides which involve a celebrity or which have a significant impact on the public. In many other countries, such as the United Kingdom and Australia, there are no specific rules on the reporting of individual cases, except that news organizations normally exercise a certain degree of self-restraint and try to avoid creating any "copy-cat" effect.


3. The HKJA believes that a total ban on the coverage of individual suicides is not appropriate in Hong Kong. However, journalists should seek to strike a balance between the need to report news and the danger of creating a "copy-cat" effect.


4. Editors and reporters should in particular be aware of the impact that stories about suicides might have on the vulnerable. They should be aware of the following:
   • Certain sensationalists ways of describing suicide in the news contribute to copy-cat cases;
   • Inadvertent romanticization of suicides may encourage others to identify with a victim; and
   • Reporting of detailed suicide methods can encourage vulnerable individuals to imitate these methods.


5. In dealing with suicides, the HKJA recommends that the press should follow the principles stated below, unless overriding public interest is involved:
   • Journalists should adopt a low-key approach in handling suicide news. They should consider placing such stories on the inside pages of newspapers, and in less prominent positions in radio and television news bulletins, if such stories are used at all, given the significant influence the electronic media have on public attitudes.
   • They should avoid a detailed description of the suicide method.
   • The media should avoid giving a false impression, in particular to youngsters, that suicide is away(sic) to become famous. The use of a victim's full name and photograph is therefore discouraged.
   • The media should respect the privacy of family members and avoid imposing on the grief of those affected.
   • Since there are many complicated reasons for suicides, journalists should avoid simplicity and blaming any party for a particular case. Of greater importance, the media should devote more space to coverage of suicide trends and ways to remedy problems related to such trends.
   • When reporting individual cases, newspapers should consider publishing information about organizations and counseling services, which may prevent suicides. These include the Samaritans and other voluntary agencies.


6. In covering suicide stories, journalists should be aware that the media can play a powerful role in educating the public about suicide prevention. Stories about suicide can inform readers and viewers about the likely causes of suicide, warning signs, trends in suicide rates, recent treatment advances, and cases where individuals have overcome despair without resorting to suicide.

"Guidelines on Coverage of Suicides" Suicide and the Media: Recommendations on Suicide Reporting for Media Professionals Pg. 33
The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Center for Suicide Research and Prevention, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong
http://csrp.hku.hk/files/70_1894_345.pdf

Not long ago, a troubled young man took his own life. We all heard about it on the news. In the note which he left behind, he stated that at least he would now be famous. And that, in my mind, is exactly what is wrong with the way these stories, and stories like the Columbine shootings, are being handled. By publishing the names of these troubled kids and the details of their actions, other troubled youth may come to see the reported behaviors as an option for them, as well.

While the death of a celebrity may be newsworthy, I strongly believe that the death of an individual, outside the spotlight of the entertainment industry, should be virtually ignored. It should never be front-page news. And violent behavior, by individuals of any age, should never be glorified with prurient details of the crimes committed.

Life is not a video game - don't reward violence!






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God Bless!

Jules

The Dumbing Down of America

I received a call tonight - actually several calls - from a very young woman looking for "Christopher Robin". It wasn't just that she didn't recognize the name - the real kicker was that the number she was trying to dial wasn't even in the same state as my number. After I explained that she wasn't even close on the number - just to add to the insanity - she called back three times!

So, when someone gives you a name that is the same as a character in a children's story, do you actually try to call? And how is it you didn't recognize the name? When you know that you've called the wrong number - a totally different area code - do you continue to use the autodial on your phone, or do you actually redial the number manually?

Sadly, this generation - who can't figure out what number to dial - is the one that will be taking over the country in a few short years. Be afraid - be very afraid!






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God Bless!

Jules

Anonymous Comments

I very recently published a post about highly supervised schooling for troubled teens. The reason I mention this post is because of a comment I received, very shortly, after it was published. Someone decided to - anonymously - question my parenting skills, based on information I had posted about educational options that many parents find extremely helpful in dealing with defiant, at-risk adolescents.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love to hear from anyone and everyone who reads my blog - it makes me feel that I'm not just talking to myself. And discussing topics about which I have posted is great fun. But I truly don't understand anonymous postings. If one isn't willing to stand behind their statement, why post it at all? It certainly is not the way to open a dialogue or encourage discussion.

Color me confused.






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God Bless!

Jules

Ivy Ridge Academy

No one ever said raising kids was easy. First there's the terrible-twos and then, just when you start to like them again, they become teenagers. Rebellion is a natural part of these years. But, there are different levels of acting out and some teens are determined to ignore the rules to the point where they put their futures at risk.

We are at that point with our teen; trying to determine if we need to place him in a more structured, tightly supervised school program. The Ivy Ridge Academy in New York, for example, offers such an environment. A specialty school that helps adolescents develop insight into their own behaviors, it provides a controlled environment that requires students to maintain high standards, including a strong code of conduct.

Tight supervision, a vigorous daily schedule, and firm rules help the staff address inappropriate attitudes and behaviors. The merit-based system requires that each student earn their status and privileges through personal performance, and change past negative behaviors. Adolescents begin to understand the need for rules, limits, and boundaries, and to appreciate parents and other authority figures.

If you have a teen whose behavior is putting their future at risk, Ivy Ridge Academy may be just what you both need.




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God Bless!

Jules

Heaven and Hell

I received this in an email today and thought I'd share. It's been around the Internet for quite some time, so you may well have seen it, too. The basic idea is very simple and quite logical. What do you think? Which room would you be in?

A Holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like."

The Lord led the holy man to two doors.

He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, "You have seen Hell."

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, "I don't understand."

"It is simple," said the Lord. "It requires but one skill. You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."

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We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

06-06-06

Given the headlines that I have been reading lately, it doesn't surprise me that people believe the world is about to come to an end. Sanity has certainly lost it's grip on the world.

Paparazzi who assault, not only celebrities, but the families of celebrities, are suing because when they jump on / at a vehicle, they get knocked down or run over. When I was growing up, that was called "If you jump in front of a moving vehicle, you're probably gonna get hit." AKA - common sense!

Parents, getting divorced (nothing new), each insist that the other must be evaluated by a psychiatrist, because one (or the other) might have something bad to say about the non-custodial parent. When I was growing up - you let the kids decide for themselves about the 'goodness' or 'badness' of either parent, based on that parent's behavior., and you shut up about Mom/Dad. AKA - kids are not stupid!

It is my understanding that if one country/ faction / sect isn't officially at war with another country/ faction / sect, neither country/ faction / sect can simply hunt down people and kill them. (Geneva Convention and all that.) Yet, that is what most of the people in the world are currently doing/ advocating for any country/ faction / sect who has different religious, political, or general philosophies. I grew up during the Vietnam 'Police Action'. AKA - if you're not willing to declare war so that you can call it a war - you have no business being there; and you had certainly better not decide that you are allowed to determine who is allowed to live or die.

The world seems insane. What should happen, isn't. What shouldn't happen, is.

I'm not sure that I'm in a position to say what's right or wrong. I just know that things don't feel right; and haven't for a good long time.

What do you think?