As
with many tragedies, the explosions that occurred Monday at the Boston Marathon
left people in a state of shock. Innocent people were targeted during what
should have been a time of joy and achievement, and the reason behind the explosions
remains unknown.
Easy
access to internet and citizen journalists helped the news spread quickly,
including graphic videos and photos of victims. The news often emphasizes
misfortune during times like these because shock grabs people’s attention.
Do you ever just get an
uneasy feeling after watching bad news on television for a while? According to Medical News Today, a study
found that some people can be significantly affected by traumatic news they
didn’t actually experience but only watched on television, and may even display
characteristics of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). There is a high
correlation between the amount of television someone watches about a particular
event and the likelihood that they will be affected by it.
While death and
devastation should certainly not be downplayed or ignored, it is important to
focus on the positive that emerges during tragedies as well.
Social
Media’s Influence on News
Social
media has been helping people accomplish that. Twitter hashtags such #BostonHelp
and #BostonStrong have been trending to show support for those affected, and a
quote by Fred Rogers (you probably know him from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood) has been spreading around Facebook and
Twitter:
“When I was a boy and I
would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me ‘Look for the
helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”
–Fred Rogers
Focusing on the helpers
during unhappy times can prevent us from dwelling only on the negative and
feeling helpless. We need to remember that while there are people who do
terrible things, there are also many more people who have come together to
encourage and help those in need.
Stay
Informed and Supportive without Fixating on a Sad Event
Because
the study found a positive correlation between the amount of television viewed
about an event and the likelihood of a person being significantly affected, a
suggestion might be to read a summary of what took place and then move on
rather than continuing to read/watch every single update that is given. This
way you are staying informed of current events but you are trying not to let
them consume you.
Another
suggestion is to search for the positive stories in the news and read those as
well. While upsetting stories do come up frequently, there are also many
inspiring stories out there. The positive stories you read could be about
anything from good deeds to accomplishments, as long as you find them pleasant.
This
article about acts of kindness during the Boston Marathon
explosions is an excellent example of looking for helpers.
I think that stories
of people who act sincerely out of the goodness of their heart can leave us
with a sense of hope and happiness. They remind us that no matter how
much negativity we encounter in the world there will always be more people with good
intentions.
Do you think that there are too many traumatic news stories compared to uplifting ones, or are they necessary? Is there any way to stay informed of current events without being affected by them?
- http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/acts-of-kindness-in-the-wake-of-the-boston-marathon-bombings-155030075.html
- http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/144839.php
