EARTHQUAKE AND TIDAL WAVES IN S.E.ASIA WHERE IS LOU33??

[KangaSantaMummy]

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE LOU33 IS?

IS SHE BY THE COAST?

THIALAND,

MALDIVES under water we loved them when we were there 3 years ago.

EARTHQUAKE AND VERY FAST TIDAL WAVES REALLY AWFUL

Roisin re the article. Think it shows that Parris has lost touch with reality and has been submerged for too long in the world of journalism. Reckon he has lost all human emotions - except the thirst for a good story.
Feel quite sorry for him - he obviously feels quite divorced from the world - maybe he just doesn't have any love in his life.
Would we prefer this had never happened? How could he even pose that question!!

Just a reminder the disaster emergency appeal number is 0870 60 60 900.

Did we read the same article? I found it refreshingly honest and thought-provoking.

Strange man. I am in awe of the power nature can unleash on us but to get a thrill from it? I agree with Cab - maybe he doesn't have anyone special in his lfe and thus can't relate to it in the way most of us do.

An utterly tasteless piece IMO. Only skim read page 1 but I got the idea.

I thought it was weak journalism to be honest

ie how will I manage to get a shock out of people, what can I say that is contentious but can be clouded in pseudo-psychology ..

He does make some valid points. When an accident occurs on the motorway - do people just drive past - or do they slow down and have a good look? Do people (men in particularly) enjoy films where accidents (both natural and madmade) occur - yes they do - because of the 'thrill' they get from it.

How many of us have watched the same news clips shown over and over again? Why do we do it - surely we saw the first time what had happened and what the destruction looks like.......yet tonight I'm sure many of us will switch on the TV and see it all over again.

I don't agree with a lot of it - mainly because I'm a Christian - and he's an atheist LOL - but I think he does make some valid points if you read the whole article properly - rather than just skimming it.

I think he was trying to make a clever point but it ended being crass, tasteless and badly timed. Perhaps he could ask that question to a person who just lost their life partner, or child or even their entire family - then he might think harder about the reality.

Well I'm also an aetheist, but I think that man is an a**hole.

Just read this article - sorry don't know how to link properly - and it in there's one quote that is kind of similar to what that journalist is saying.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4138913.stm

He starts by saying

" When the first wave came in, we were happy that we were seeing something that was really strange, but it was a very mild wave. "

"I still kept watching. I don't know why - I think that my mind was so completely numbed by the phenomenon of this, and the power of what was happening. "

Here's your link Gwenick.

(Instructions are at the bottom of the yellow box.)

thanks Kate - I read those instructions and tried them the other day but I must have done it wrong as it didn't work.

I think the article is awful. What nature has unleashed is awsome but he is confusing that with it somehow being entertaining. What sort of person could possible suggest that we would still want it to happen, just so we can watch and say "wow"? Complete loss of touch with reality and a sad example of a journalist who wants to say something "different" and completely misses the point. Reminds me of some of the crass comments we saw around 9/11. Shame on him.

Thankfully brusselbeansprouts I didn't come across any such comments after 9/11, but reading this article did make me wonder if some people felt the same way after 9/11.

It seemed to be similar journo thing - there is an outpouring of grief and support, and so someone wants to break rank and say something "different". What for?

Look at this this way - if that massive Tsunami had been filmed crashing into the Antartic killing only penguins would we - or would we not - be standing there saying WOW!

brussels: because it sells papers. That sort of journalism some editors love because it gets people fired up enough to write to the publication's letter pages.

Gwenick - I'm sure we would, but this isn't penguins, it is whole communities and families and as such, any decent person would prefer it not to have happened. Mr. Parris might still want it to happen so he could stand and say "wow" but I for one, wouldn't.

Georg. - sadly, you are right.
While we are on the subject, the front cover of the Mail is disgusting today. "Mail readers have given hope to this little Indian girl" or somesuch, with their donations. Well,
a) I thought India was relying on its own resources, so not the poxy Daily Mail then and
b) Lets see how generous these same readers are if anyone needs to come over to this country to seek refuge. Will see what they are made of then!

CHANNEL 4 NOW TONY BLAIR IS GOING TO BE ON IN MOMENT

It is a horrible article and he should be ashamed of himself for writing it. It had 'look at me, I'm so 'clever' 'written right through it. You see this so often with the press, everyone follows a particular tack and then someone changes direction in case we have all got 'bored'

But that's what he's on about if you read properly. The "WOW" factor (which if you read the link I posted above even someone who witnessed it first hand felt"). Nature is an amazing thing - as he points out Tsunami's, Volcanoes, Earthquakes etc etc - they are all things which fascinate people (only need to watch the National Geographic Channel and others similar to see what a fascination people have with such great powers of nature.

He clearly says (near the start of the article)

"For we do not welcome this awful week in and around the Indian Ocean; of course not. We mourn with those who have lost family and friends; of course we do. If it were our choice to trigger this seizure, our hand upon the lever of human fortune, would we have pulled the lever? Of course not."

His comments about how high the numbers were going, how high it ranked in terms of world 'records' - are only things which the media has JUMPED on. the day it happened it was the '5th strongest in history', then as the numbers of dead rose you can't deny that we started to see lists of the worlds worst disasters and the numbers killed. Why? Because people want to know how it ranks!

Don't get me wrong - I've been in tears reading stuff about it this week - BUT if you take a step back READ his article properly - for goodness sake he says he 'hesitates' before using the word 'thrill' you'll see that he explains what he means.

Skim reading an article like this does no-one any good!

I can read thanks.

Gwenick - I did read it, but I still don't think it is a useful contribution to a dreadful situation.

Gwenick .. he also says "Well would you? I think you hesitated"

and at that point I skim read

its crass journalism looking for a different hook and isn't in my view worthy of any attention or further discussion

Radio 5 have said Japan's the biggest donor now. Can anyone confirm this?

They (govenment I think) have pledged $500 million