tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23140411.post6708668375597338971..comments2024-03-28T02:23:44.367-05:00Comments on Pacifist Viking: Monday BlizzardPacifist Vikinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16630996018868040440noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23140411.post-56071516435155614222007-11-27T09:26:00.000-06:002007-11-27T09:26:00.000-06:00ESPN has a pretty good obituary for Taylor. It me...ESPN has a pretty good obituary for Taylor. It mentions his troubles, but shows a very respectable view of his improvements as a player and as a person.JDAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18404078122731805819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23140411.post-71665120311302056032007-11-27T08:10:00.000-06:002007-11-27T08:10:00.000-06:00I think that the details about the house and such ...I think that the details about the house and such are just due to not having a lot to write about. I imagine that there weren't a whole lot of details at the time and that stuff is public record. It's pretty standard to do a public record search on anyone in a news story just in case it turns up something interesting. <BR/>I agree that here it wasn't relevant to the story or good journalism, but it's likely not from some prurient interest in celebrity. Or anything like that. <BR/>So far as his personal history, it's tricky... I think there was probably a better way to convey the information (I do think that it's at least somewhat relevant to the story) without seeming to link it to the shooting itself. Later versions of the story should have cleaned that up some.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10873251475926052853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23140411.post-15553216446846770502007-11-26T14:54:00.000-06:002007-11-26T14:54:00.000-06:00jda, that's a fair point: a history of violence is...jda, that's a fair point: a history of violence is not entirely irrelevant when reporting on an incident of violence. <BR/><BR/>Perhaps it stuck out to me because I was looking for a story on the details of what happened, and found a story devoid of detail on the incident but including lengthy details about how Taylor is "extremely talented" but "has been in trouble." That aspect seemed irrelevant to me.Pacifist Vikinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16630996018868040440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23140411.post-23047537727946564922007-11-26T14:42:00.000-06:002007-11-26T14:42:00.000-06:00Some of the Taylor details are irrelevant. But in...Some of the Taylor details are irrelevant. But in my opinion, information about violence in his past (such as brandishing a gun or trying to go vigilante on guys who stole his SUV) is relevant to this story. It appears that he is an innocent victim here, and he deserves the benefit of the doubt until facts are known, but many times incidents like these are rooted in the past actions of the victim.<BR/><BR/>More than anything, I think the extraneous details in this article are a symptom of celebrity culture. The media seems to think (probably accurately) that most Americans are fascinated by details of the lives of people who are much wealthier and more famous than them. If I get robbed, the AP wouldn't put in details about my house, because a cheap apartment in Chicago isn't unusual or fascinating. But the lives of famous millionaires carry some fascination to many people.<BR/><BR/>Rather than a conscious demonization of wealthy black athletes, I think this is simply laziness combined with celebrity journalism. So I agree that it's shoddy journalism, but I don't think it's as malicious as you make it out to be.<BR/><BR/>Put it this way: do you think this kind of incident is more likely to happen to Taylor, or someone like Warrick Dunn? I don't know either personally, but I would venture a guess...JDAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18404078122731805819noreply@blogger.com