Sensationalizationism

I have HAD it with the media. Those who know me, know that there is a fair amount of critique available on this topic. The headlines (Paris, Brittany, Lindsay, rehab, sex tape, prison) are NOT headline news. They should be in the National Enquirer if they see print at all, and what should be headlines (Russia arming themselves and declaring the U.S. an enemy) might see page 7 if it sees print at all...

But with all of that, this one is just beyond rediculous.

"STUDENT PLANNING A MASSIVE COLUMBINE STYLE ATTACK". This the catchphrase as FOX news pans footage of more than a dozen guns, as well as knives and swords laid out on a table. Had I not already seen this covered I would have thought it scary. It looks scary. That is why they were able to cleverly craft the sensationalizing phrase "Shocking Cache of Weapons". The truth is though, that having already seen this (on Anderson "Do I look good" Cooper), I knew that "These are all BB guns with the exception of one" - which FOX news failed to mention EVEN ONCE!

So they say that the teen was hoarding the weapons and planning a Columbine style massacre, and I’m just wondering how that would go when one is shooting 300 FPS (feet per second) "Airsoft" guns … 'cause that's what these are. To put this in perspective, the ASSAULT RIFLE (read: BB gun) that my dad bought for me when I was a teen shot at about 600 FPS, and a couple friends and I used to have BB gun fights in our woods. It hurt like heck, but only broke the skin a couple times.

These (Airsoft guns) are MADE TO BE SHOT AT PEOPLE WITHOUT HARMING THEM (hence the PLASTIC pellets), but are made to LOOK like real weapons (with the exception of that cute orange tip that comes on the end of the barrel). Airsoft is a sport that started in Japan, and has caught on here. It is so popular (and safe) that when I typed "Airsoft" in on ebay, I got 850 results. Yes. You can buy these toys on ebay. Even though they look like guns.

It wouldn't have been as sensational to have a dozen "Nerf" guns lying on that table - but he would be just as likely to commit a MASSACRE with them.

So I’m just saying...If it were me...and he were massacring me with a plastic pellet – I would probably walk up and slap his cute little 14 year old face.

What I'd really like to see would be the headline if he HAD "done it" (which if you don't get my point by now - wasn't going to happen - let's deal with a real threat, shall we). I suggest something along this line: "14 Year Old Boy Mildly Annoys Classmates by Stinging Them in the Tummy with Little Yellow Plastic Pellets".