Sick of the tragedy porn?

If you are sick of the tragedy porn that we have been subjected to in relation to the Christchurch earthquake for the past week - you can read something a bit more respectful and positive on Keeping Stock. 

I got a bit angry this morning when i saw a One News link that encouraged me to go to the TVNZ website in order to listen to the 111 calls from February 22nd last year. It was the straw that broke my tragedy porn tolerating back.

No i do not want to listen to the 111 calls. No i do not want to watch the same footage that i have seen over and over for the past year - that does nothing but dredge up awful memories for the victims. No i do not want to ogle and be entertained by other people's misery and heartbreak. No i do not want to see an excited John Campbell trying to contain his smile while he talks about death and destruction. I mean c'mon John - at least stop smiling while you are waving your hands around and talking about how awful the situation of the person you are interviewing is!

It is a sad reflection on our society that the media are competing with each other to see who can come up with the most heartbreaking and tragic story - for ratings.

As someone commented on my Facebook page;

At the conclusion of WWII the population of earth were not subjected to a first anniversary reflection on the tragic destruction and loss of life, but the joy of a new start and optimism for the future. I know of so many people who are getting on with normal life in Christchurch, and they never receive any media coverage, only those who complain and whinge about hardships ... well it's time to move on and rebuild, not continue to tear down ... the past is gone, lost, we live in the present, and our hope is in the future ...In all this I've not seen a single article in the media about the plans for the Chch CBD ... when there has been plenty of work happening ... the media are like filthy flies congregating on a rotting corpse ... and it's time to apply some fly spray.

I have fly spray. It's a big fat can of NOT TUNING IN until i hear some stories of  hope, rebuilding, respect for the victims, and a positive future.

Here is a tribute by the New Zealand Fire Service to all emergency services that responded on the day. The final image in this video is heartwarming - it just simply says "Thanks for helping our city". That hand written sign made the whole video worth watching. It showed gratitude - even during such hard times.

Isn't that amazing?