Post by Deleted on May 29, 2013 19:56:27 GMT -5
Here is a story about the death of a human at the mouth of a beaver.
Notice the title? BEAVER KILLS MAN IN BELARUS.
The first sentence?
This is clearly meant to capture the reader's attention. But did the beaver actually ATTACK?
Let's read on.
Oh my gawd. Roving packs of beavers are attacking schools, shops and homes with razor sharp teeth.
Really??
A "rash of reports of aggression".
Sounds horrific right? Zombie beavers seeking flesh. Almost makes it seem as though beavers are becoming carnivorous. Next comes the real kicker.
Ohh... so the 'victim' fisherman was trying to grab the beaver. The beaver acted in self defense. It seems the beaver made a lucky bite and got the dude's femoral artery. He bled out.
Our victim started all of this. The beaver did not attack. It defended itself.
Dictionary.com definition of attack
The beaver did not begin nor set upon in an aggressive way nor was it offensive It was defensive all the way.
The rest of the piece is just filler to make the word count. I feel sad for the loss of the fisherman's life. My heart and condolences go out to his family and friends.
The press should not have sensationalized his death for their own purposes. This is just an example that personal knowledge allows me to parse the words of the writer. There are far more articles that I/we cannot parse so we take it at face value. For me, that is bad reporting and not the way the job should be done. But it seems to be the way of modern "journalism".
Notice the title? BEAVER KILLS MAN IN BELARUS.
The first sentence?
A beaver has attacked a 60-year-old fisherman in Belarus, slicing an artery and causing him to bleed to death.
This is clearly meant to capture the reader's attention. But did the beaver actually ATTACK?
Let's read on.
It was the latest in a series of beaver attacks on humans in the country, as the rodents, who have razor-sharp teeth, have turned increasingly aggressive after wandering near homes, shops and schools.
Oh my gawd. Roving packs of beavers are attacking schools, shops and homes with razor sharp teeth.
Really??
The Belarusian emergency services said they have received a rash of reports of aggression by beavers, which can weigh up to 30kg (65lbs) and stand about a metre (3ft) high.
A "rash of reports of aggression".
Sounds horrific right? Zombie beavers seeking flesh. Almost makes it seem as though beavers are becoming carnivorous. Next comes the real kicker.
The fisherman, who has not been named at the request of his family, was driving with friends toward the Shestakovskoye lake, west of the capital, Minsk, when he spotted the beaver along the side of the road and stopped the car. As he tried to grab the animal to have his picture taken, it bit him several times. One of the bites cut a major artery in his leg, according to Sulim.
Ohh... so the 'victim' fisherman was trying to grab the beaver. The beaver acted in self defense. It seems the beaver made a lucky bite and got the dude's femoral artery. He bled out.
Our victim started all of this. The beaver did not attack. It defended itself.
Dictionary.com definition of attack
attack
1. to set upon in a forceful, violent, hostile, or aggressive way, with or without a weapon; begin fighting with: He attacked him with his bare hands.
2. to begin hostilities against; start an offensive against: to attack the enemy.
The beaver did not begin nor set upon in an aggressive way nor was it offensive It was defensive all the way.
The rest of the piece is just filler to make the word count. I feel sad for the loss of the fisherman's life. My heart and condolences go out to his family and friends.
The press should not have sensationalized his death for their own purposes. This is just an example that personal knowledge allows me to parse the words of the writer. There are far more articles that I/we cannot parse so we take it at face value. For me, that is bad reporting and not the way the job should be done. But it seems to be the way of modern "journalism".