Approaching Storm: How well does Buffalo radio cover it?

[CTListener]

Basically, you're saying "Thinning the herd of its weaker members" is good and beneficial.

Well, it is good and beneficial for species that don't have the capability of thinking about and moralizing over the concept. Survival of the fittest reinforces the hardiness of the species, thus enhancing its prospects for continuation. But when human beings even suggest that it could benefit their own species, they are condemned as evil eugenicists.

 

[davideduardo]

Basically, you're saying "Thinning the herd of its weaker members" is good and beneficial.

As usual, you are looking for an argument and not a solution.

I am saying that there is no need to sensationalize something that has always been usual in the event of breaking news. There are even slang terms for such bystanders who often put themselves at risk to see the scene of a flood, fire, shooting, arrest or whatever.

There is no need to make such a normal, albeit stupid and irresponsible, behaviour seem unusual.

They were breathing air that more worthy folks need anyway. I don't believe that trying to prevent needless deaths is "Negative". You may be right that it's futile to try...

I don't think that protecting people against their own irresponsible behaviour is futile. I just think that exaggerating the extent of what is, indeed, quite normal, is helpful.

 

[Prescott Joe]

The Buffalo TV stations absolutely had extra crews out and on the road. Of course, not being in the market, you wouldn't know that. When you get 7 feet of snow, even a news crew (or backpack journalist) can't get to some stories, so viewer video gives people a glimpse of what's going on out there. There was plenty of extra coverage during the broadcast day.

Not all stations need to go wall-to-wall with coverage. The news stations should. Music stations provide a break from what sometimes becomes an on-air bludgeoning with storm information, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't offer timely, relevant, concise information on an ongoing basis. Most stations have the means. They just need the will - and a likely a few hours of overtime pay.

During the storm, I was streaming WGRZ, WIVB and WKBW for hours at a time. Each station did INCREDIBLE
reporting, covering power and gas outages, road closures, closings of schools and businesses, etc, etc. In most cases,
there were reporters in the thick of things and in harm's way to bring up to the minute breaking news. I seriously doubt
any major market stations could do any better. When not streaming the Buffalo Tv stations, I was streaming Buffalo's
radio stations. There too, there were frequent updates, if not continuous or continuing storm related coverage.
Even out of market stations in Rochester, NY and elsewhere were keeping listeners updated on conditions in W.N.Y.......

 

[SirRoxalot]

TV stations have taken the lead since two out of three major groups don't really have a news department. WBEN was the unquestioned leader on the radio side when they were actually serving the public and not pumping out wingnut propaganda.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

At least 31 deaths reported in Buffalo due to the weekend storm. That number expected to rise. Some of the people that post here say "Buffalo knows how to deal with snow" or "This is media hype". Warnings were given once again well in advance and still people died in their vehicles or on foot in a Blizzard. Local officials have brought in Military Police because locals STILL won't obey travel bans in the city.

These catastrophic "Once in a 1000 year events" are becoming the norm. There's nothing funny or snarky about Climate Change. Plenty of Grim Death however...

I had the misfortune of checking out WBEN a few days ago. After a mountain of commercials I got about a minute of information, followed by a host blaming the government for not doing something. Nothing useful there. Just more negativity.

 

[tbolt909]

I had the misfortune of checking out WBEN a few days ago. After a mountain of commercials I got about a minute of information, followed by a host blaming the government for not doing something. Nothing useful there. Just more negativity.

WBEN hasn't been a credible news source in decades. It's just Right Wing Nut propaganda. They want government dissolved and generally hate public services, but they'll still have to blame the storm response on someone. They don't want travel bans (My Free Dumb) or road closures (Commie Lib policy).

Buffalo like some other cities has layers of bureaucracy and dysfunction. The problem this time was a crippling storm that made it impossible for trained professionals to travel. NOBODY should have been out in those conditions. A few deaths would be unpreventable if someone had a medical emergency at home. Most of the deaths were people who got caught outside. Unfortunately, some folks won't err on the side of caution or take storm warnings seriously. They think it's all hype, but then they still want to blame or sue. It's an ugly side of human nature...

 

[davideduardo]

Buffalo like some other cities has layers of bureaucracy and dysfunction. The problem this time was a crippling storm that made it impossible for trained professionals to travel. NOBODY should have been out in those conditions. A few deaths would be unpreventable if someone had a medical emergency at home. Many of the deaths were people who got caught outside. Unfortunately, some folks won't err on the side of caution or take storm warnings seriously. They think it's all hype, but then they still want to blame or sue. It's an ugly side of human nature...

I'll bet that there were people in Pompeii who stood in their doorways admiring the fire in the sky and telling their family to "get up and come see this!" Right up till when the heat and poisonous gasses killed them.

I'll betcha' that even the most responsible and competent folks in government worry about that sort of citizens and try to weigh their leadership responsibilities against the need to help those that will heed sound advice.

Is there anyplace on this planet where you'd find the people to be reasonable and responsible, their leaders to be fair and just and where there was a chicken in every pot?

 

[gr8oldies]

I had the misfortune of checking out WBEN a few days ago. After a mountain of commercials I got about a minute of information, followed by a host blaming the government for not doing something. Nothing useful there. Just more negativity.

I thought the philosophy was "government should do absolutely nothing, get out your bootstraps, peasants!"

 

[SirRoxalot]

I had the misfortune of checking out WBEN a few days ago. After a mountain of commercials I got about a minute of information, followed by a host blaming the government for not doing something. Nothing useful there. Just more negativity.

Mike, you must have been listening after later on Sunday. By then they were back to their regularly scheduled diatribes.

I'd like to thank "tbolt" for explaining the ugly side of human nature to us. You know, those people who just whine and complain without offering any viable solutions.