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[time4me]

So I'm not exactly known to be the most compassion person around and I'm not about to bring the tissue box each time I watch the news. HOWEVER, I understand that as members of society there is a certain amount of sympathy, or at least reverence that is required in the wake of terrible events. Therefore, I would like to pose that satirical comments

Comments

[time4me]

A) Nothing is required of us? Perhaps there is nothing that we specifically need to ‘do’ but there are things that we shouldn’t do. Particularly we should respect those lost and not subject them to our attempts at hilarity. Those lost in Iraq are equally valuable even if there is no media hype. I don’t believe that those lost, regardless of the situation, deserve sarcastic remarks. I only really saw those sort of comments in response to Virginia Tech and not to Iraq, so maybe the funny ones should check which is more important?
B) I would say that social norms are an essential factor of society; it is what our laws are based on and is the keystone to human interaction. Without social norms, we would cease to be civilized and that is really my problem with inappropriate remarks. They aren’t civil. And gut reactions can hardly be said to be normative. Social norms are not necessarily an example of groupthink due to the fact that groupthink is often an example of anomie.
C) Perhaps it is naïve to think that we deserve a complete life, but it is an absolutely essential idea. Without a desire to live we would likely see many more devastating events like we saw at Virginia Tech. And I don’t think that government form directly relates as every government would see that Cho Seung Hui's behaviour was wrong and would see that as punishable. And someone like Cho Seung Hui likely exists in all societies regardless of form.
D) Perhaps the humour is lost on me, but if someone is making fun of the media circus then the sarcastic/witty comments should perhaps be referencing that. Not the murderer and certainly not the victims. Taking lightly such events in my mind is a form of disrespect and therefore I think that the extreme gravity that the media has portrayed these events is easily more forgivable. I agree we should question the media but there is a certain right and wrong that I believe is somewhat innate and that is the criteria we should use. If everyone was doing things right it would be utopia and personally I might take that over democracy if given the choice.
F)I can’t imagine being human without trying to be humane. Yes, we need to challenge norms but that doesn’t mean we have to be rude/inappropriate/disrespectful. Our norms are just that, they aren’t law, but they are standards of behaviour that are used as a guideline in society that generally makes people’s existence on this earth a little more pleasant. And who wouldn’t want that?