Just Stop Already!

I don't have pictures yet.  I had really hoped to follow up the last post with the corresponding pictures, but my goal has been to blog every Sunday.  (I know I've already screwed that one up--no judging!)  So I'm going to vent instead.

The media is OUT OF CONTROL!!!  According to them, the world was supposed to end this weekend when Irene hit.  Well guess what?  Not only is the earth still spinning, but the hurricane was downgraded to a tropical storm.  We are PRAYING for a tropical storm to hit Texas and end this drought!

All the morning news did was talk about Irene.  All the evening news did was talk about Irene.  Even my pundits were taken over by Irene psychosis--there was coverage of the storm on Bill O'Reilly for at least 30 minutes that I pathetically watched thinking, "After this break, SURELY they'll talk about something interesting."  Nope.  I gave up and changed the channel.  And it's not just Irene.  Any time ANYTHING happens, it is plastered everywhere.  It was so bad that, at one point, a news anchor literally announced that she had "Breaking News!!!!"  What was the information that my life depended on?  Irene was following the predicted path and was right on schedule.  While this is pretty unusual for a hurricane, it's hardly "Breaking News!!!!"

Here's the deal:  This kind of coverage is extremely counter-productive.  I grew up in hurricane country.  We go through this every season.  And it always causes one of two things to happen, neither of which is helpful in any way.
1)  People stop listening.  Hurricanes are destructive and can be deadly.  You should take precautions if one is headed your way.  You need food and water storage.  You need a full tank of gas.  If you can afford one, a generator is a good idea.  Board and tape your windows.  And evacuate if authorities tell you to do so.  The problem is, if the sky is falling with each and every hurricane that is possibly headed your way, you stop taking them seriously.  You don't take precautions anymore.  Seriously, every single year the news people begin hurricane season by announcing that this is going to the THE.  WORST.  SEASON.  EVER!!!!!  And it never, ever is.  And when you hear that kind of hyperbole constantly, you lose the motivation to prepare just in case it's true.  
2)  People hyperventilate and pass out in fear.  For the few who are actually still listening, they start to consider the news reports as prophecies of doom and go absolutely insane.  There is a difference between being prepared and filling up the spare bedroom from floor to ceiling and wall to wall with wheat and dehydrated potatoes.  And telling everyone they know that they MUST do the same or they face inevitable doom.  The freaking out I saw on Facebook was unbelievable.  Just take a deep breathe and approach things with logic and calmness.  And know that the media is in it for the ratings (they are a business after all) and over sensationalize EVERYTHING.  And you buying into hook, line, and sinker isn't going to help anyone at all.