most of us say we don't want it, but clearly enough people do - otherwise they wouldn't watch, read, etc.
To clarify, I freely and readily concede that most people are interested in reading or viewing about the character and motivation of "the villain" in the wake of a major news story of a violent event. [And what makes a major news story of a violent event? (1) mass killing and (2) killing of famous people; I can't think of anything else.] BUT, I think most people really aren't interested in increasing the likelihood of a mass killing or a killing of a famous person.
"my third thought regarding a kind of tragedy of the commons"
Yea, I know and I agree.
For instance, let's say there is a general informal media standard for not doing X (whether that be covering specific tabloid-y stories or showing super awful stuff like you'd see on rotten.com, e.g. charred corpses paraded around, beheading, etc.), but Media Outlet Y goes ahead and shows it anyway and increases their ratings in the process. If the ratings of Media Outlet A, B, and C go down or stay the same, you know they're going to eventually give in and do it.
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Date: 11/1/11 04:52 (UTC)To clarify, I freely and readily concede that most people are interested in reading or viewing about the character and motivation of "the villain" in the wake of a major news story of a violent event. [And what makes a major news story of a violent event? (1) mass killing and (2) killing of famous people; I can't think of anything else.] BUT, I think most people really aren't interested in increasing the likelihood of a mass killing or a killing of a famous person.
"my third thought regarding a kind of tragedy of the commons"
Yea, I know and I agree.
For instance, let's say there is a general informal media standard for not doing X (whether that be covering specific tabloid-y stories or showing super awful stuff like you'd see on rotten.com, e.g. charred corpses paraded around, beheading, etc.), but Media Outlet Y goes ahead and shows it anyway and increases their ratings in the process. If the ratings of Media Outlet A, B, and C go down or stay the same, you know they're going to eventually give in and do it.