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Original poster

To wish they'd not go into such graphic detail?

83 replies

Igglybuff · 20/04/2010 18:51

I was reading yet another sad story about a poor kid beaten to death here

I felt sick as it outlined the injuries suffered by the little boy. I thought is it really necessary to describe his injuries? Surely reporting that he was beaten is enough?

I know I could decide not to read the story but I want to know that justice is being done.

AIBU to think that journalists writing these pieces should not be so graphic?

OP posts:
Ladyanonymous · 20/04/2010 18:53

I think its really important that we know exactly what has happened so as to envoke outrage in society that this has happened to a child.

If we are complacent than surely that is as bad as being complicit?

AnyFucker · 20/04/2010 18:54

I just can't read them, tbh

It is the same with the recent spate of babies being killed by dogs

I just don't need to know exactly what injuries were inflicted

It is like fucking misery porn...and I do not agree with reporting all the horrible details

AnyFucker · 20/04/2010 18:57

Not wanting the precise details is not the same as complacency

In fact...I think that being constantly bombarded with all the graphic details will have a tendency to numb people's shock and hurt, tbh

EveWasFramed · 20/04/2010 18:57

It's a trial report, so those are direct quotes from a witness...abridging that kind of thing can present some issues of misquoting. Plus, by not giving the details, it's too easy for a story to be missed or ignored, I guess...it deserves some attention...child services are obviously not doing their jobs...don't you think if enough people know this stuff happens, and start speaking up and out about it, maybe someone, somewhere will make some changes and improve things?

Original poster
Igglybuff · 20/04/2010 18:58

I'm with you AnyFucker. It's disgusting.

It's enough to know that someone has beaten a child to death - knowing the ins and outs does not change the nature of the crime or make me complacent. Surely Lady it's pretty sad not to be outraged if you weren't told exactly what they suffered?

OP posts:
JustAnotherManicMummy · 20/04/2010 18:59

Agree with AF. The more you read of this sort of thing the more numb you get and the less impact it has. So more and more detail is added.

There have also been several quite graphic pictures of dead bodies in the newpaper and on TV recently. I think that's another symptom of the same thing.

Alouiseg · 20/04/2010 19:00

I can't read them either and I am concerned that putting all that detail out there can:

a. Stimulate the type of sick bastards who enjoy this.

b. Desensitise us because the more we are exposed to something, gradually it becomes more "normal" for want of a better word.

c. Allow the people who maltreat or neglect children to excuse themselves because they haven't necessarily gone to the extremes that these bastards have.

However then we are into the realms of censorship which I disagree with.

It's a very contentious issue.

EveWasFramed · 20/04/2010 19:00

Don't read the papers, then, FFS...it's a TRIAL report...those things have to be reported a certain way, or it brings up a mess of legal issues.

Should we only have happy, sunshine-y stuff in the news????

It's not fucking nice to read, so when you see the headline, skip over to the most recent Katie Price sighting.

Ladyanonymous · 20/04/2010 19:01

If you don't want to know then don't read it end of.

Where would this type of censorship end?

A very dangerous road to take IMO.

I speak as someone who works in CP though, so maybe my outlook on it is slightly different from those who do not.

AnyFucker · 20/04/2010 19:01

The danger is, it all escalates doesn't it ?

As a society, we will need more and more graphic details and published pictures of smashed up bodies to get a reaction...

SICKENING

Original poster
Igglybuff · 20/04/2010 19:03

Eve but I read it because of the headline - then reading the details put me off. I think getting too graphic will put people off, so they'll see the headline and not want to read if they know it's going to be grim.

OP posts:
GetOrfMoiLand · 20/04/2010 19:03

Totally agree Iggly and AF.

It is a kind of violence porn. Like a couple of months ago re James Bulger killers - some MNers were linking to and C&Ping the most graphic descriptions of what had been done to James Bulger. We all knew. We didn't need to read it in such detail again. Ditto what happened to Baby P.

I think some people get a vicarious thrill from reading about all this suffering. Hence the rise of the deeply unpleasant misery lit genre. I always think people who read those kind of books are a bit odd, and probably would have enjoyed watching the birnuing of the martyrs back in the olden days.

It is unecessary.

AgentZigzag · 20/04/2010 19:04

I agree with you Lady.

Nobody in their right mind would want to know the details, but the children have to go through them so I think it's our responsibility as adults to know what happened to them to shock us into stopping it from happening again.

If there was no reporting of the details, we'd go along with our normal lives thinking everythings right with the world, and for some children this just isn't the case.

How would you feel if your child went through an awful experience and nobody wanted to know exactly what happened to them just because the details were 'not very nice'?

HellBent · 20/04/2010 19:05

I don't think it is necessary to know every detail, as others have said knowing the child was beaten to death is awful enough.

EveWasFramed · 20/04/2010 19:05

To not report it is CENSORSHIP...telling people not to report the facts of a case is CENSORSHIP, and if THAT kind of stuff escalates, where does that lead us?

I assume you are smart enough to figure out the ending to a headline like that? DON'T CONTINUE READING when you KNOW how it's going to turn out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AgentZigzag · 20/04/2010 19:07

I agree with that as well Eve (although my ears are ringing now )

Original poster
Igglybuff · 20/04/2010 19:08

So should we have pics of dead babies? Is that ok??

OP posts:
WorzselMummage · 20/04/2010 19:10

I have had to stop reading the papers because I just cannot bare to see pictures of or read descriptions or beaten babies.

It is like torture porn

AgentZigzag · 20/04/2010 19:11

No, pictures of dead babies not OK.

Ladyanonymous · 20/04/2010 19:11

Pictures are very different to words and accurate journalism.

EveWasFramed · 20/04/2010 19:11

Don't be so extreme, Iggly...of course not. But if I allow you to start dictating what is accaeptable and unacceptable to put in the news, then you are taking away my right to read an accurate record of an important trial, which is CENSORSHIP. You have a CHOICE to not read the news.

Original poster
Igglybuff · 20/04/2010 19:11

Eve the facts are that a child died at the hands of his parents. I don't need to know all the facts.

It's like child sex abuse stories - the graphic details are not (usually) described. So why is it ok in this and similar cases?

OP posts:
EveWasFramed · 20/04/2010 19:13

If you don't need to know, then don't read it. Some people want to know...not because they are sick, but because they will then call up some MP's or people who may have the influence to try and stop these maniacs who reproduce and then kill their children.

EveWasFramed · 20/04/2010 19:14

Also, let me say again that this was partially transcripted from a trial...this wasn't just a journalist's view...

AliGrylls · 20/04/2010 19:16

I don't want to read about it. I am emotional and prone to outbursts.

The title and the fact that they are in prison is enough for me.