I read something in the broadsheets about Sadaam Hussein's rein of terror and a particular atrocity

[Twiglett]

committed on a pregnant woman

and it is totally haunting me I wish I hadn't read it

I can't seem to stop thinking of it though

do you think we've crossed the line in sensationalising stories even in our 'qualities' or was it justified to include horrific examples as a news story

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sunday times, ran this story in an article with this particular action (which i wont type as im sure it has no place on a parenting forum) enlarged and in bold, it truely upset me and it was something you couldnt miss on the page IYSWIM. I agree with pruni about my character softening since i had my dd, i couldnt watch 'The Hills Have Eyes' as it had a baby in and i found it too distressing for example.

There has been a particular picture of Saddam Hussein's gassing of the Kurds in N Iraq used in a few papers over the last week which I have found terribly upsetting (if you've seen it, I'm sure you will know the one). I haven't read any stories about pregnant women, but I know what you mean about being haunted by these things. It is so hard, when I relate everything to my dcs. But then better to be a compassionate person and feel this outrage, than ignore these awful things.

littleducks .. that's the one

I know exactly the one you mean. I'm 22 weeks pregnant and it's haunting me too.

I think some things hit harder than others. I read a detail (in a broadsheet newspaper - so not tabloid sensationalism) about the July 7th bombing and I really felt it was just too much information - it really upset me, and I still think of it from time to time. But at the same time I thought - well, it did happen and it certainly did convey the absolute horror and carnage of that day. And it gave me a small insight into the work of the police and rescue services - they had to go in and physically deal with the aftermath of the bombs.

I guess the answer is that I don't know - I don't know where a line should be drawn. I don't know what counts as newsworthy and what counts as shock journalism.

I do sometimes read details of crimes though - and think how can their family go on, knowing those details...knowing exactly how they suffered? I suppose these details come out at trial/in post mortems anyway...but I remember reading the front page of the Guardian in the queue in M&S once and bursting into tears (that little boy with Cystic Fibrosis who was murdered - Joe Geeling) at the description of exactly how he was killed. I felt that level of detail was unneccessary.

don't know which one to post on now?

I haven't seen the story (and don't want to thanks). I think it's one thing to hear about terrible things and quite another to see them, either via moving pictures or still photographs.

For instance 911 happened whilst we were away and although we saw a bit of the coverage that was all and of course there were no English newspapers readily available. When I got back my friend starting telling me about the jumpers of which I had no knowledge whatsoever. I had no interest in searching the pictures out either! Unfortunately having watched many 911 documentaries I was finally confronted with it - haunted me for days.

I suppose you can't pretend these things don't happen but for years I didn't watch the news or read the newspapers because it was all so bad. Now, I don't think there is much left to shock.

I thought I was immune to it too.. but the particular image this line evoked in my mind seems to whirl around there when I least expect it

I did not open any papers today, thank goodness. I have become hypersensitive to reports of atrocities and torture since having my los. They haunt me for days, to the point of being morbid. The unspeakable evil that exists in this world - there but for the grace of god ...

Its just awful. All of it is just awful.

Oh HOW CYNICAL!!

His hanging is fecked up.Badly. So in a sleazy attempt to reclaim the moral high ground they bombard us all with these obscenities to cover up for their own mistakes. FGS!!

I couldn't give a toss if he had to deal with a bit of heckling in the end. He didn't go through anything like what he put those people through.

true, but that isn't really the point here, merely in my opinion.

Never mind The Hills have Eyes; I can't watch Planet Earth anymore!

BTW, haven't read the media stories but have a bool called 'Humanity\ which brifely lists some of the stuff from Iraq and think I know the one being discussed - there are more however..since reading (a non sensationalised account too) I have changed my mind about his end. He met a dignified end and I think he knew it; he was no stranger to death..

sorry paula - that sounded a bit sharp!!

no he was brutal, but it is cynical that we are now having to be reminded of the detail in order to make up for the gross misconduct of the US and Shia-led governemnt in Iraq.