bird flu from asia?

[Sean]

Originally Posted by Strangelet

Hmmm.. this might be one of those rare times I disagree with you, Sean. I mean I'm right with you criticizing the media's exploitation, but for this particular example what supports the argument that the media functioned as the tipping point and not a catalyst, or in other words, the excuse?

especially when you've got stories coming out like this....




http://observers.france24.com/en/con...ish-collectors

It could very well have been used simply as an excuse. If so, wouldn't it still stand to reason that providing that excuse through irresponsible, opportunistic "reporting" is pretty messed up? It is to me, but I totally see the point that there was a lot already going on in this particular instance outside of the swine flu factor.

And that aside, there have been other ways that the horrific reporting has hurt people. The pork industry took a major hit, Mexican and American travelers are being unnecessarily quarantined, conservatives are using it as an excuse to crack down on the Mexican border, etc.