The price of a good laugh

Members of the media are incredibly dense and slow to learn.

I read this in The Guardian news:
"While the prank may have been stupid, Mel Greig and Michael Christian surely did not mean to hurt anyone," said the editorial in the Rupert Murdoch-owned Sunday Telegraph newspaper. " Prank calls are among the oldest tricks in radio. Occasionally funny, mostly cringeworthy, they usually result in mere pointless humiliation of a hapless victim."  

It seems that many Aussie editors share his view. No one amongst the group seems to have learnt compassion for the hapless victims of humiliating pranks from this tragic incident.

Times have changed. Pranks are being taken to a new level with new technology. The humiliation continued even after the victim died; there have been allegations that the audio clip was available on the radio station's website hours after her death. The pain continues for the victim's family, friends and co-workers.

According to kidshealth.org, "Cyberbullying is the use of technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person. By definition, it occurs among young people. When an adult is involved, it may meet the definition of cyber-harassment or cyber-stalking, a crime that can have legal consequences and involve jail time."

A good laugh at any price? There is a Chinese saying that unless we are cut, we will not understand the pain. Will the 2 DJs be wiser after winning the ultimate prize of notoriety? It remains to be seen as they have chosen to go into hiding rather than own up to what they have done. 

Est conscientia vestra mortuus?