Sensationalism

[Jeff Higgins]

I'm not sure what to think about this...

This tragic story popped up in our local news today. Some poor woman was stabbed to death by some deranged lunatic. A totally senseless act, one that has undoubtedly affected many lives.

So, why on earth would the prosecutor and then the press feel the need to describe the weapon, a knife, as a "military-blade knife"?

This strikes me as really bizarre. Just plain unwarranted sensationalism. Is this where we are at these days? First it was "military grade assault rifles" and now it's going to be "military grade knives"? Would she be less dead if it were a butcher knife, or a hunting knife, or a Swiss Army knife?

https://komonews.com/news/local/man-in-fatal-belltown-stabbing-held-on-1m-bond-after-being-charged-with-murder

Belltown stabbing suspect used military-blade knife to kill caseworker, documents say

SEATTLE — The man accused of fatally stabbing a caseworker earlier this week at a Belltown apartment building was formally charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in connection with the death of the woman who was stabbed 12 times by a military-grade knife.

Hans Dewey Van-Belkum, 58, was being held at the King County Jail in lieu of a $1 million bond in connection with the death of Kristin Benson, who worked at the Scargo-Lewiston apartment building. She was found dead shortly before 11 a.m. by police and medics who were called to the building, located near 1st Avenue and Blanchard Street, for a report of a stabbing...

...According to court documents, prosecutors said Van-Belkum allegedly used a "military-grade weapon of death apparently purchased specifically to kill Ms. Benson."

[masraum]

sensationalism, nothing new or surprising about it really. The press is the press, so nothing new or surprising there. I assume that in some ways, lawyers are smart, cunning and also show-men which helps them do their jobs.

And what exactly is a "military-grade weapon of death" or a "military-blade knife?" Did he get it at an honest to goodness surplus store? Or did they just mean that it met some minimum requirements and cost an arm and a leg?

[Alan A]

The flip comment would be it cost more than an arm and a leg, it cost someone the whole enchilada.

Prosecutor is getting ready to go after assault knives?

[crustychief]

She would be less dead if it was military grade. Non-military have no concept of how this works.

[fanaudical]

Sounds like some prosecutors interjecting hyperbole to help make a case later. Utter nonsense.

[DanielDudley]

First thing I thought was Ka-Bar when you said Military grade, so on some level it is an accurate description. Seems somewhat appropriate to the article since he went to an Army Navy store to buy it for the specific purpose of killing her. Military issue would have been more descriptive and accurate. Like calling a Chicago Cultlery knife steak grade instead of a steak knife, or a Bowie knife Crocodile Dundee grade instead of a hunting knife. A lot of people would not know what a KA-BAR looks like, but they could picture one with that description.

Sounds like a pretty horrific crime. FWIW, I can't get a flipper knife with a blade over 3 1/4 inches in my state and carry it concealed in my pocket, but I can get a KA-BAR fixed blade or a Bowie of any size, because it is worn on the belt. When you buy such knives, some are called flippers, and some are called tactical knives, with all that implies.

I think the point is that he bought a weapon as a weapon, to kill her and didn't just scoop up a kitchen knife and run out into the hallway. That sounds like accurate reporting. This was murder, cold and premeditated.

[Rusty Heap]

..............because being Spooned to death would only resonate with Pelican people.


or in the press it'd mean getting trapped under a fat chick in bed.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Yup, that’s where we are at. Also why I’ve ceased to watch any cable news network.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Yup, that’s where we are at. Also why I’ve ceased to watch any cable news network.

I haven't had cable/sat in years ... but I do watch the local weather ....

IT'S GOING TO RAIN! .... light showers ... 4 days from now... mebbe

Where's my lawn sign ?

[wdfifteen]

It's not like describing as a military grade provided no information. We know it wasn't a kitchen knife or a hunting knife.

[beepbeep]

The knife that killed most people in WWII is probably Finnish puukko knife. It looks really like a weird kitchen knife ...

[GH85Carrera]

Sensationalism has changed totally the way newspapers are written, and and the way the news is reported on TV.

Gone are the days when a story leads off with Who, What Where, and Why and instead the lead is the tears of the mother, wife or best yet a child. If it bleeds it leads. I worked as a new reporter and saw first hand a TV reporter shove a microphone in the face of a man watching he house burn down and his mother trapped inside, and ask him how does it make you feel. The guy punched the reporter, and the cops laughed at the reporter and asked how it feels to him now.

Most newspaper articles are unreadable, and start with some obscure point and don't get to what happened until the middle of the article after the reporter has their opinion about how they feel about whatever happened and the emotions they feel.

[rfuerst911sc]

I suppose it is possible that the knife was military grade . Maybe it was purchased from a Army/Navy or similar type store . I have no problem with facts being reported by the news .

However it is also possible that the addition of the term " military grade " spiced up the story . If that is the case that is wrong . Either way it is a trajjic way for an innocent person to lose their life

[MBAtarga]

Don Henley sang it best:

I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something-something I can use
People love it when you lose,
They love dirty laundry
Well, I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I dont have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear
Give us dirty laundry
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em all around
We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who
Comes on at five
She can tell you bout the plane crash with a gleam
In her eye
Its interesting when people die-
Give us dirty laundry
Can we film the operation?
Is the head dead yet?
You know, the boys in the newsroom got a
Running bet
Get the widow on the set!
We need dirty laundry
You dont really need to find out whats going on
You dont really want to know just how far its gone
Just leave well enough alone
Eat your dirty laundry
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre stiff
Kick em all around
Dirty little secrets
Dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybodys pie
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry
We can do the innuendo
We can dance and sing
When its said and done we havent told you a thing
We all know that crap is king
Give us dirty laundry!

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Henley Donald Hugh / Kortchmar Daniel
Dirty Laundry lyrics © Wb Music Corp., Warner-tamerlane Publishing Corp., Woody Creek Music, Mmm Music

[cmccuist]

Archie Bunker said it best. "Would you feel any better if she had been pushed out a window?"

The problem is the sicko, not the knife.

[Baz]

Why I don't watch the news any more:

1. Too much negativity
2. Too much crap I don't care about
3. Too much poor use of the English language and diction
4. Too much sensationalism....just for sensationalism's sake....

[GH85Carrera]

This is the level of writing of so many reporters. Yea, this was written by some gas station manager but the reporters are not much better.

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

This is the level of writing of so many reporters. Yea, this was written by some gas station manager but the reporters are not much better.

I think a lot of internet stuff is being written by AI and English as a second language sorts. Also, without even leaving this website we're all 2 clicks (max) away from a massive pile of sensationalistic e-excrement .

[island911]

Note to self... paint all weapons in Hello-Kitty Pink and beadazzle as needed.

[gwood]

It's legally relevant because it proves premeditation.