🚀 go-pugleaf

---- Begin Original Message ----
I do think that too many PJs and other
journalists get a bit too much of a thrill
out of observing the misery and suffering
of others -- the job needs to be done,
but perhaps not with quite so much obvious
pleasure.
<SNIP>
I work as an EMT-D on a volunteer ambulance
(and I am currently the Chief of that service).
I can truly appreciate what the victims and
the rescuers might be going through in many of
the disasters and tradgedies I see on the
national news, because I have been a rescuer
for 15 years.
---- End Original Message ----

Ken:

I do not think it is obvious pleasure you see
while observing journalists at these scenes,
I think it is gallows humour. I think the
"pleasure" and "humour" you observe in many of
the PJs is to compensate for the pain, it
keeps the journalists sane.  As an EMT-D I am
sure you know a number of Techs & Medics who
thrive on disaster, your heart beats a little
faster when the dispatcher says "Pin-Job" or
"MCI."

Just like EMS Tech's & Medics, journalists and
photoJs either thrive in these situations or
they get timid in these situations,and often
there is very little middle ground between the
two.  I know I have made some jokes about some
very terrible situations, as have friends of
mine, I know I have made comments like "damn
why can't that happen here, it's been a slow
week," I am sure many others have made these
comments, I know a few who have, and I know
some have and will never admit it. I have
friends of mine who are fire-medics who jump
everytime there is a major job anywhere in
the local battalion area, whether their FD
was called or not, I know my ex-medic
partner was a trauma junkie, he'd take our
unit to "buff" any job we could get to (made
the dispatcher a little upset, except my
partner was the shift commander).

I understand where you are coming from, but
sometimes it is just blowing off steam, or
hiding ones fears when they get flippant
about disaster situations. I know I have
made a number of bad jokes about TWA 800,
but I also know that I never want to see
my negatives again from the night the 747
crashed. Making jokes, seeming all confident
and strong is what kept me and keeps me from
falling down in a ball of tears. Some folks
have said I seem to revel in the fact that I
get in and out of tough situations, I often
joke that "I want more action" but having
seen and photographed and heard the screams
of somethings like five teens stomping
another teen to death, the jokes, the straight
face, etc are how I cope with it, and don't
just curl up in a ball, turn the lights out
and never get out of my bed.

Just my $0.02, I am sure some will differ with
my comments.

Happy Hunting Y'all





Steven E. Frischling
Photojournalist
1(516)791-6114 - Voice
1(630)982-5179 - Fax
steven@frischling.com
http://www.frischling.com/steven
                  -
Basic Elemental, Instinct To Survive,
Stirs The Higher Passions, Thrill To Be Alive
                  -

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