Tsunami Porn.

I've no doubt that we've all seen many videos, over the past few days, of the terrible events in Japan.

Whether we've viewed them via traditional media, such as the TV, or whether we've seen them via links on sites such as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, they have been compelling viewing.
As the days have past, more and more videos have appeared, or been discovered. And somewhat inevitably, those videos have been ever more amazing, frightening, awe inspiring... insert your own grizzly adjective here.

But, what draws us to these videos, to the many photos on the Internet, to read the newspapers, or to watch the rolling 24 hour news channels and their continuing coverage?

I have seen this phenomenon described as "Tsunami Porn", hence the title of this blog post.

But, does this term relate to what the viewer actually wants to see, or to what the 24 hour news channels think that we want to see?
I suspect that there may be a difference.

One of the consequences of rolling news is the need to fill that time with something, anything.
When there is a disaster of this kind, and we have had several examples over recent years, this can often lead to, what i would class as, intrusive, crass and over the top reporting.
There is almost a sense that some reporters are revelling in the situation because of the "great tv" that this must be making. I'm sure that this is not intended, at least most of the time. But, that is the way it often comes across to the viewer.
There is also an apparent need to find a new angle on the story. Something that another reporter hasn't thought of, or discovered.
A need to outdo the other side, if you will.

I would suspect that many viewers don't actually want to see the same news story dominating every minute of every news bulletin.
We don't always want the news bulletins to be extended, or news specials to replace our normal programmes, so that we can hear even more about what has happened.
We don't need to hear essentially the same thing from several "special news correspondents", who have flown into the area especially.

This may sound a little hard hearted, but i believe it to be true. Especially in these days when the news is available elsewhere at the touch of a button, or the click of a mouse.
And, maybe, that is at the heart of the "problem"? That need for the tv companies to keep you watching their own version of the events. Rather than you rushing off and watching it somewhere else.
Hence the need to show us more and more. They think that is what we want to see.

As with so many things these days. I'm not sure that we are treated as adults, or as people that are quite capable of making up our own minds about a particular topic.
That is one of the reasons that i now get so much of my news from sources other than tv. And i suspect that i am not alone.

I still watch the BBC news at 6 o clock. But, that doesn't mean that i don't get annoyed when some celebrity story appears, or an item that seems to be a blatant plug for another BBC programme.
(Other news programmes and channels are available, but are usually even worse)

But, i may well be in a minority in feeling this way?
I'm sure that many viewers are clued to their tv sets and can't get enough of what is being shown to them. Maybe they want to see ever more revealing footage, or intrusive interviews?

Maybe, i'm also just becoming so used to getting most of my news via the Internet, that the tv just can't provide what i want anymore?
After all, there is very little being shown on the tv that i can't access either on the BBC News website, which is my homepage, or in some other corner of the Internet.

I can get all the Tsunami Porn that i want via links on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube etc. And, to be honest, that's exactly what i've done.

I have watched, re-tweeted, shared and linked several videos over the past few days.
Many of these videos have been from Japan, but some have been of the after effects in places as far from Japan as Hawaii and California.

But, i think the differnce is that i've tailored my viewing to my own personal tastes. Something that the Internet allows me to do.
Whether it be Internet porn, or Tsunami Porn, we can choose what we see and when we see it.

My own desire to see the after effects of the Japanese earthquake and the subsequent tsunami (ironically a Japanese word), comes from a lifelong interest in earth sciences.
The study of volcanoes, earthquakes, plate tectonics and Earth Sciences in general, are one of those subjects that i've often wished i'd studied when younger.
I've long thought of doing courses, or even an Open University degree, or diploma based around these topics. Throughout my adult years i have read many books and watched many tv documentaries around these very topics.

The forces of nature fascinate me, hence my interest in recent events in both New Zealand and Japan.
And why do these subjects interest and fascinate me so much?
I'm not sure that i could ever fully explain that, but i do think the answer lies in a sense of wonder of what the forces of nature can do, despite all our best efforts to stop them.

Just look at Japan. A nation that was better prepared, because of its history, than any other to survive those natural forces. But, as we've seen so tragically over the past few days, when mother nature does its worst, there is nothing we can do to stop it.

In the end, we are all at the mercy of the forces of nature. We will all have to just accept that, no matter how unpalatable that truth may be.
Any event, such as the Japanese earthquake, that can shift the entire country 8 feet and also move the Earth on its axis, deserves much respect.

So, it may be Tsunami Porn for some, but for me it's just a sense of wonder over what the forces of nature can unleash amongst us.
And it's legal too.