I’m listening to the NBC News live coverage of the FBI #BostonMarathon bombing press conference. They’ve released video footage as well as video, and since Monday, have been asking the public to send in any images or video of the bombings. I was surprised to hear both the FBI and Brian Williams of NBC Nightly News mention that the focus is on the two men in baseball caps, and not everyone else in both the video and the pictures.
This is a good thing. As a story from ABC News floating around about a teenager investigated as a potential suspect demonstrates, inaccurate (and accurate) information flows freely and quickly over social media networks. One share, like “suspects arrested,” and it spreads like wildfire. Watching the #BostonMarathon tag, you get a really good sense of how quickly bad, or misinformation spreads, and then the challenge of not only correcting that, but also overriding and disseminating accurate information.
Another thing that struck me, now that I’m in Canada, is a difference in action and reaction to events.
A couple years ago, Vancouver had a “riot.” I say “riot” because, well, I’m from Chicago. We have a very different idea of what constitutes a riot. It usually involves thousands of people and millions in property damage, among other things. I agree with Wikipedia in calling the Vancouver Stanely Cup riot a “public disturbance,” but anyway. During the riot, people were taking and posting pictures to social media, not only of the destruction (which there was a decent amount), but of the people causing the destruction. The posts often requested sharing and identification of the suspects.
This was all done without being asked by authorities. The people of Vancouver were pretty pissed at those who vandalized businesses and caused general mayhem. At the time, I found it amusing. One car fire does not make a “public disturbance” a riot, nor does most people taking pictures of suspects causing mayhem. The fact that the public was already taking action, and not waiting for the authorities, was more newsworthy than the “public disturbance.” I found that curious.
Since Monday, I’ve been following the #BostonMarathon bombing news, and find myself drawing comparisons. Authorities were quick to ask the public for assistance, requesting images, video, anything from that day. The public has responded, and also taken some matters into their own hands. The image of a guy on a roof of a building just above an explosion quickly made the rounds, and there were many jumping to conclusions.
None of us seemed to have learned anything from the Atlanta Olympic bombing. Pity.
It occurs to me that comparing a bombing to a “public disturbance” is unfair. The two events are near opposites on the spectrum, and who is to say people in Vancouver wouldn’t react the same as the people in Boston?
I also find it interesting, following from way up here, how acts of kindness are so newsworthy. We’ve come to expect the worst of everyone, even in times of tragedy, that we’re shocked at kindness. We’re shocked people not only want to help, but do.
I’ve found this pattern in my own life, but that’s for later blog post.
All the best to all those impacted, from one runner and human being to another. #BostonMarathon #PrayForBoston #BostonStrong