You’ve probably heard the phrase “Any publicity is good publicity” before. The saying stems from the idea that any publicity gets companies’ names out to a larger audience, but for individual persons, it has a slightly different meaning. Every year, people do or say things that the public-at-large sees, leaving audiences to collectively wonder what was going through that person’s head when they did whatever it is — interruptions at awards shows, foolish tweets, and, far more tragically, shootings.
You might think it is somewhat extreme to lump in the scum behind the huge strings of school and public shootings that have taken place in recent years with T.V. personalities that like to think that “people on pot stab, shoot, and strangle each other,” but at the very core of these actions, these individuals are seeking the same thing: prominence and a feeling of importance.
Businesspeople and entrepreneurs everywhere have read “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie, which has become a networking Bible of sorts. One of the main points Carnegie makes in his book is that all people crave a feeling of importance on some level and go about different ways to attain that feeling. A common way children and weaker people seek importance is by acting out. They do/say stupid or offensive things so that people will pay attention to them and so that the limelight will be on them, for however brief a time.
Then there are those that walk into a school with a gun so that their face and name will be plastered across every newspaper and newsbroadcast in America. They do it so that all these media agencies talk about for the following weeks is the details of their actions, lives and families. They do it for the attention and feeling of importance that is a result of having the world’s eyes on you.
I wholeheartedly believe that a core reason America had so many shootings in 2012 was because of how news agencies handled them. When they happened you could be sure that nothing else would be talked about. Every iota of the shooter’s life was investigated and reported on. Others that had contemplated doing the same thing or were desperately looking for a way to feel important took notice and followed suit when they saw how shootings were endlessly discussed. It was tragedy after tragedy and we gave these fools exactly what they wanted.
You may have noticed that I have not called on any one specific example or named any names throughout this article. That is because I refuse to give any of the people behind any of these stupid actions any recognition. While it may be enough for them for me to merely mention their act, you can believe they are not a topic I talk about at any significant length, save for this instance. The opposite of praise is not villification. In the end, both provide the receiver with what they desire. The opposite of praise is indifference — a refusal to mention, pay attention to, or even think of the person.
When some guy who is incapable of creating something positive and praiseworthy decides to have a temper tantrum equipped with a deadly weapon, we should not make him a celebrity for a few weeks’ time. We should, instead, ignore the culprit and focus our attention and resources on the victims and their families. The media should report only the facts of the incident and the perpetrator’s name should be mentioned simply for the sake of accurate journalism. The report doesn’t need to go on for weeks.
However, the news only broadcasts what gets them an audience. The reason they turn these shooters’ lives into reality shows is because that’s what some people tune in for, and it gets ratings. The History Channel and The Learning Channel did the same thing when they realized more people watch “Pawn Stars” and “Sister Wives” than Civil War documentaries and “Great Books.”
This is a simple situation of supply and demand, which in the end, (rightfully) lays blame on audiences.
Don’t give these atrocious people the attention they crave. It is, of course, understandable to grieve when tragedy occurs, but don’t give into the media hype. If you give the media the audience they want, they will continue to put out this sensationalist garbage. Being part of the audience makes you a part of the cycle that results in attention-hungry people following shooters’ leads and fueling twisted individuals into going on more murder sprees.
Henry Adams said it best: “The effect of power and publicity on all men is the aggravation of self, a sort of tumor that ends by killing the victim’s sympathies,” and in our society, killing victims as well.
Photo courtesy of: TheAtlantic
