Laci Peterson, Why the Hype??

2/11/03 | myself - el_texicano

[goldstategop]

I guess not. I think what makes the case unique though is for the moment no one really knows what happened to her. Her family must be living with a knife's edge of perpetual anxiety, wondering from one day to the next if she's alive or dead. Its sheer torture and it takes a huge mental and physical toll on you. I never want to see anyone go through that type of experience.

[John H K]

It's like she was the daughter of the President or something. But she's not. Wife in a middle class family. There's nothing that makes this special other than the fact that she was pregnant. (Is that it??)

You left out white, very attractive, and at least "middle" middle class or "upper middle" middle class, it seems. (No, I haven't read any of the stories but you can't escape her picture or the first few sentences of the 80 billion stories.) Believe me, that helps sell the story, though people may not like that pointed out around here. But you're correct in that the MAIN thing is that she's pregnant.

As outhers have mentioned, it's the "soap opera" aspect, and also the fact it's a personalized, individualized story, which makes it very compelling for women, especially. It's a contrast to a big, complicated story like Iraq and the news channels know it sells to women sick of Iraq.

[kidd]

I'm in agreement.

Add Jon Bennett Ramsey to the list.

I think its due to lazy news coverage. I also tend to think that there's subtle racism by the medisa...do you think if a pregnant black woman was missing that there would be this kind of coverage? Or if a cute black six year old was found murdered, do you think Larry King would have a panel on at least once a week to cover the issue? I don't think so.

[el_texicano]

"I never want to see anyone go through that type of experience."

I purely agree with you here...I don't either.

[kjam22]

I agree with you. It's just slow news right now. A person can only say so many times that Germany and France won't vote our way. (and Fox has already surpassed that number) There are hundreds of missing persons. I think the media could pick most any one of them and make it into a story that the "whole nation" was watching.

That's my only complaint about Fox News. Whatever story they decide to run with.... they run it into the ground until it is dead, post mortem, burned out, old, tiresome, run down, ground in..... and then they talk about it more.

[OldBlondBabe]

"What I'm sick of is freaky Micheal Jackson that Fox keeps talking about......I just change the channel when I hear the name......ditto for their Hollywood news also.."

Me too. The frustrating part of the Michael Jackson story is that he is a sick perv and probably did diddle little boys, yet because of his "celebrity" status the authorities aren't even investigating. Heaven help his kids (if they are his).

[FITZ]

There was a pregnant woman here who was in the army and her husband hired his brother to kill her and it never made much news.

[RGSpincich]

Forgive me any and all, but I just don't get it. Maybe someone out there can enlighten me as to why this news story is as important as the pending war in Iraq where God knows how many of our brave military may have to lay down their lives to protect us.

Geez, do you love all your children or just the one that you think is the most important? Many of us live in the Modesto/Berkeley vicinity and have access to information related to the Laci Peterson case and we are able to add to the media coverage. The story has captivated some, so what? We, also, care about our military, don't you try to imply that we don't.

Hopefully, somebody can post a clue for you.

[kjam22]

You know... the old "turn the TV off, you don't have to watch it" answer is really lame. Anyone can turn the thing off. But it takes something special in a person to change what is shown. When people tell me to "just turn it off"... I generally view them as a go along get along, don't make any waves, fit in, I'm okay-you're okay type person. A typical B type of personality.

[leadpencil1]

Many of us live in the Modesto/Berkeley vicinity and have access to information related to the Laci Peterson case and we are able to add to the media coverage

Good for you if you can help. And I hope you feel the same way about all the other missing persons. But many uf us dont live in the Modesto/Berkley vicinity. it seems the story is rammed down our throats, radio, news, etc... I'm sick of it.

[kjam22]

Good for you if you can help. And I hope you feel the same way about all the other missing persons. But many uf us dont live in the Modesto/Berkley vicinity. it seems the story is rammed down our throats, radio, news, etc... I'm sick of it.

That's pretty much right on target.

[el_texicano]

"Taco Breath"???? (I didn't know you were that close?)

Hehehehehe...now I've been called a lot of things, but that I have to admit is original.

I would normally agree with your assessment of these "dastardly devices", but...

I do like to catch the news. With the war talk heating up and peoples lives at stake, I tend to want to hear what's going on there. So, I "remote" to another channel, MSNBC (gag) and there is more Laci. Switch to CNN (barf channel), and behold there's more on Laci.

But you are right, you are absolutely right. I have and will continue to use that "fail safe" device as you suggest.

Thank you, thank you...for your public service. Now, back to my siesta...

[RGSpincich]

Click.... Works every time.

[leadpencil1]

Click.... Works every time.

I prefer mute or picture in picture. Changing chanels is so old fashioned but you have a point, turning the tv off is the best solution. Thanks!

[spectre]

Is the terror alert "high"...yes.

Do we know there is a war coming? Yes.

Today, we are told to stock pile water, have duct tape, and have extra food and supplies in the house.

Yes, we are ALL keenly aware of the WAR, and possible attack on our country.

Does this mean we shouldn't look for a "killer" out there? We shouldn't discuss this, because we need to be focused on the war and nothing else?

Really, it only proves most of us can walk and chew gum at the same time.

sw

[exlibris]

Yes, I believe that what Edgar Allan Poe says about poetry in the "The Philosophy of Composition" explains why cases like Laci Peterson's and, say, JonBenet Ramsey's, so intensely capture the public's interest:

". . . Beauty is the sole legitimate province of the poem. A few words, however, in elucidation of my real meaning, which some of my friends have evinced a disposition to misrepresent. That pleasure which is at once the most intense, the most elevating, and the most pure, is, I believe, found in the contemplation of the beautiful. . . .

Regarding, then, Beauty as my province, my next question referred to the tone of its highest manifestation--and all experience has shown that this tone is one of sadness. Beauty of whatever kind, in its supreme development, invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears. Melancholy is
thus the most legitimate of all the poetical tones. . . .

Now, never losing sight of the object--supremeness, or perfection, at all points, I asked myself: 'Of all melancholy topics, what, according to the universal understanding of mankind, is the most melancholy?' Death--was the obvious reply. 'And when,' I said, 'is this most melancholy of topics most poetical?' From what I have already explained at some length, the answer, here also, is obvious-'When it most closely allies itself to Beauty: the death, then, of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world. . . .'"

[Jael]

It's the baby angle. Plus, it's a very sad story. But mostly what tugs at my heart strings is her lillte baby.

[tje]

Do you think it's really Laci that's the news? What if her husband was black or hispanic? Do you think it would get the same coverage? (OJ doesn't count, fame and all...)