Actually, you took my thought and ran with it farther than I had. I never really thought that far out. I'm sure Lara wouldn't have quite viewed it like that.... except for the one part about calculating the risk. Her quotes from 2001 tell me that her calculation, and her trust in herself as an experienced journalist, simply wasn't enough.
Of course, your ran-with point is actually interesting. How much more savage are we becoming? Will we reach the debasement of the Roman Coleseum, only with HDTV and news events being the bloodsoaked theater?
One only has to look at the Totally Shocking Video shows to answer that question.
I have seen and lived through some dangerous personal behavior in my lifetime. Employers should be responsible for workplace exposure to risk, but individuals need to see their safety begins and ends with their willingness to utilize and insist upon proper training, equipment and support. The same holds true for personal conduct outside of work — we make our own outcomes.
The nervous humor in tragedy, the laugh at the injury, is a part of understanding performance art and theater. Electronic media makes it all that more reproducible and marketable.
A life more centered in prayerful tasks is my goal — I find it hard to watch the adult channels on cable when occupied in that manner — its a fact.