[duffysmom]

Originally Posted by billethkid

there have been many instances where it has been shown there are perceptions of increased crime, and all the other stuff listed by the OP and it has been time and again proven to be nothing more than increased coverage by many more reporters and the era of 24/7 instantaneous news reprting.

For example by watching the winter weather reports one could conclude the winters are getting worse. Not really.

Having been born and raised in Erie, PA and traveling between Erie, Buffalo, NY and Syracuse, NY while growing up....10 and 20 inch snow storms were just that. Yes we walked to and from school during 6 some falls.

In our modern reporting in the snow areas I was raised in a 6" snow fall is a reortable storm with all it's dangers. Cameras focused on a dusting showing "and if this continues.....and so on goes the drama factor put in by each and every reporter to make their 2-5 minutes of fame as meaningful as possible.

And to take the weather example a step further, it seems like in recent months the reporting of weather conditions has now graduated to be a part of the evenings national news. And even more inconseqential events are blown into huge report worthy stories.

There is the much larger population than when we were kids.....add to that the permissivenness of what is reported in this "modern" age (remaining polite!)....and 24/7 needing to fill it's time....more opportunities with significant coverage.

I don't think man has invented anything new or different in the being very, very bad category in the recent century.......until modern technology we just never heard about it.

Just remeber that every reporter whether a local area like RV or a national alphabet network are extremely adept at making a banquet out of a ham sandwich.

btk