Monday, December 10, 2012

Put the Stones Down

I know that I said that the last post would be it for a while, but I was reading my news apps this morning and the big story that is getting overplayed right now is the story of the radio hosts that prank called the hospital that the Duchess was getting treated at.

Being the obscure blogger that I am, this post will more than likely serve no purpose but to let me feel at peace about sharing my thoughts.  For those who may not know the story:  Austrailian Radio DJs Michael Christian and Mel Greig prank called the hospital that Kate Middleton (Duchess of Cambridge) was being treated at.  They posed as the Queen and Prince Charles and inquired after Middleton's medical condition.  The prank call was successful and thus begins the drama.   Maybe its the future nurse in me, but I believe that the privacy of medical information should be respected.  I think that when doing things for entertainment value, this should be considered heavily.

Unfortunately, this privacy wasn't respected by Michael Christian and Mel Greig, however, that was their only crime.  Jacintha Saldanha, the nurse who took her life after what some believe was a result of humiliation from the prank call, was a tragic loss, but her loss cannot be blamed on Michael and Mel. I can't say for certain, as I have no ties to this story personally, but it is a high probability that this nurse was suffering long before these DJs ever prank called that hospital.  This incident may very well have been the breaking point for her.  We likely will never know, because now everyone wants to politicize this, but this nurse probably suffered from depression or some sort of personality disorder.  It is likely her issues were running deep and long before that fateful phone call.

Bottom line.  Many people are bullying these DJs right now.  They are throwing proverbial stones and failing to see the times in life when they hurt someone's feelings.  You know we all have.  We all have said things that hurt.  Just because that hurt didn't happen to effect someone who was suicidal doesn't mean that you aren't just as wrong.  This world would be a much better place if before placing harsh judgements, death threats, and accusations, people would stop to examine themselves.  If after examination you can without a doubt claim that you have never played a joke, pulled a prank, or laughed at someone's expense, then by all means carry on.  Throw your stones... however, if I am right, you aren't in the clear.  You were just lucky that your actions didn't trigger an emotionally unstable person to do the unthinkable.  Put your stones down and walk away.  This was a tragedy.  Let the DJs work through this and let the family of this precious nurse mourn. 

Michael and Mel:  If they were to, by some magical miracle, read this, then I would let them know that not everyone blames them.  I don't.  They had no way to know this would be the outcome of something meant for silliness.  I would tell them that I hope that someday they will be able to reconcile this horrible tragedy and not let it damage them.  I would say that I am sorry they are going through this.  Then I would give them both a big virtual hug.  Not a real one because hugging a stranger is just awkward and weird, but seriously... they are going through a lot of emotional turmoil right now.  You can debate whether it is deserved or not, but I believe that since there was no malicious intent behind the initial act, then they don't deserve to be treated so harshly by the raging masses.  I dare say, they deserve a little sympathy from all of us who have at one point or another hurt someone's feelings.  Oh wait... that's all of us.

NOW, I'm signing off for a bit.  For real this time.  Blogging has, in a fashion, been put in drawer for safe-keeping until I once again feel the desire to dump my personal thoughts and feelings on poor unsuspecting blog reader! ha.  Find me on instagram.  @amyschmamey  I tweet... very rarely, but I do have a twitter @amschmamey

Let's all love.  I was told recently that we all have a white wolf and a black wolf in us.  One capable of great evil, one of great good.  The one that wins is the one you feed.  Think about that.  Feed the white wolf ;)...

8 comments:

  1. Love this,,,love you on ig...and love that my name is on your blog friends list! YOu are sweet:)

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    1. Thanks! <3 I love following you on IG too! AND Speaking of your blog! I haven't been doing much blog reading lately and for some reason I missed an invite to read your blog! I clicked your blog link and it says my invite has expired, can you you send me a new invite... martin.amyrenee@gmail.com :)

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  2. You are so right Amy! While I am not a fan of practical jokes and I think radio DJ's tend to go too far with their phone pranks, I think the "outrage" over this is manufactured to make the outraged feel good about themselves. Plus the Internet allows for anonymity, even when someone's profile is public. There is a sense that because it isn't in person it's OK to be rude.

    I don't know how patient privacy is handled in the UK but in the U.S. you have to practically swear on your mother that you are who you say you are when calling about a patient. Even if you are a family member, many hospitals will not release information about a patient other than a room number and whether they are still in the hospital. I don't believe this nurse did anything wrong, but I also don't think the DJ's did anything worse than has ever been done. I can almost guarantee that journalists were trying the same thing, they just weren't airing it as a prank.

    My prayers go out to the nurses family, there was clearly more going on in her life than a phone call, if indeed she committed suicide, the call may have been the final straw but it wasn't the real cause. I am also praying for the DJ's, they were interviewed today, they are upset, especially Mel.

    Lily-thinking thoughts

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  3. Agreeing wholeheartedly with you here, Amy.

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  4. I agree that being cruel and hateful to these guys is wrong, but I don't agree we should all just start telling them how sorry we are for them either.
    They deserve the indifference I will give them, and certainly no "oh how tragic for YOU that you prank called someone and they killed themselves". I do not feel sorry for that in the least, and how strangers react is not my concern.

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  5. I couldn't agree with you more. It's easy to get angry at the "bully" and start bullying them back, but its hypocritical and fixes nothing. It doesn't matter whether or not they deserve it. It's not our job to dish out their punishment. God asks us to love even those who don't deserve it. Because at the end of the day, none of us deserve grace and we all do things we regret.

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  6. Hm. I really love reading your blog because of your unapologetic outlook on life and current events.
    I think that the thing everyone has to remember here, is that "publicity" in ENGLAND is a hellova lot worse than it is over here. We have no idea the kind of harassment that nurse faced and therefore can't chalk her suicide up to having nothing to do with the DJ's.
    In the same note, we can't pretend to know what the DJ's are going through either as I'm sure the British media has turned the wolves on new victims. I don't really feel sorry for them... I mean, what did they think was going to happen? But I do continue to be disgusted with paparazzi and tabloids in all countries.

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  7. Her death is tragic. However, I agree- they only meant to prank her, not 'bully' her into taking her own life. I don't mean to sound mean or anything, but why do SO MANY people think that taking their own life is the only answer? The only way out of their situation? I just can't wrap that around my brain that people TRULY get to the point where that's the only option... I've been praying for her family and the DJ's to not feel so much responsibility in this tragic loss.

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I appreciate you taking the time to add your thoughts to this post!