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Swine flu. Maybe you’ve heard about it.
We are all going to die! Epidemic! Pandemic! Earthquake! Oh, that’s a different story, sorry.
The
press is just out of their minds with panic and conjecture and rumor
and excitement. Some of them are seriously in need of a slap across the
face. Calm down, for the love of PETE!

When did we
decide that decisions had to be made and information disseminated all
within 24 hours of becoming aware of a situation? Yes, I am aware of
the 24 hour news cycle, but sometimes decisions shouldn’t be made right
away. Time should be taken to gather all the evidence before
coming to a conclusion. Or, as my favorite new President has said, when
asked why it took him two days to express his outrage over AIG to the
press, responded ” …because I like to know what I am talking about
before I speak.” What a brilliant thought. If only journalists would
remember they are supposed to gather all the facts and verify them with
multiple, legitimate sources before coming to a conclusion and
reporting it.

Shocking. Imagine the idea that we shouldn’t
speculate or report upon rumor until such time as a legitimate
conclusion is reached. Imagine the idea that waiting 24 hours or 48
hours or even a week before getting the full story is ok instead of
hammering to death the speculation and rumor so that when the truth
does arrive…we are all so saturated with what we have heard already
we hardly believe what might be the truth.

Ugh…when did the public’s right to know become our right to know, right fucking now?

1. 

   constancehaight

   May 15, 2009 at 6:25 pm

   I agree so much. I am sick of the damn swine flu freak out. Its not a pandemic get over it. sheesh.