Prince Harry Media Blackout

[macavity]

or practice censorship as a premise

Sounds to me like we disagree over whether or not self-censorship can ever represent good judgment, in other words can there ever be a good reason for a journalist not reporting what they know (at least not at a particular point in time). I think the answer is yes, and most obviously when disclosure would endanger someone's life or safety. Needless to say, each case has to be judged individually and there are no easy answers. To say that journalists have an obligation to disclose information immediately without due thought or concern for those involved is patently ridiculous.

 

[Tommy Allison]

Obviously many of you have emotional ties to this issue and cannot realize the implications of your words. You are to emotionally charged. This really isn’t about our young prince but I’ll indulge the Harry bit, though it is off base. Censorship should be the main concern here.

HARRY VOLUNTEERED PEOPLE! There are risks to being a military man. His family and nation supported his decision. Let him fight alongside commoners if that is his dream. Would you suggest we rescue Brittany Spears or Polly Shore in an identical situation? Wouldn’t they be responsible for their own decisions?

It gives you relief that he is home safe because of the guilt one feels with letting him go to begin with.

Imagine what were to happen had a news outlet spill the beans, and Prince Harry gets wacked?

Think on that for a moment. Then think about all the guys who'd also be targets in the same vicinity as Prince Harry. Do you think it would be a good thing for the media to start telling the enemy where they are?

This whole topic about Harry is horseshit because if everyone is so friggin concerned for his safety you should have prevented him from joining in the first place. Only when someone is on the front line do you care? It was his choice!

Imagine he was killed anyway and the media had kept the secret. You would not be sitting on my side of the fence saying, “If we would have known we could have done something!”

It makes no difference whether we know where he is because he volunteered to do a job as a public figure. The job he chose has serious ramifications. If he wants to fight in a war as a public figure then he must live (or not) with the consequences. You see, it is not for the news or you to decide this matter. That time has already come and gone. Because he is famous is no reason to withdrawal him. If he is serious about his duties as a soldier he would stay regardless.

The argument that the Taliban will in someway target him is speculation and conjecture. You are basing an argument on speculation and conjecture. Pretty precarious don’t you think?

Free Speech stops at the end of another person's nose. In this case, at the beginning of endangering someone's life. Shouting Fire in a movie theater is illegal for a reason, and so is giving away troop positions, no matter who they are.

Make no mistake it would not have been free-speech that would have “killed Harry” it would have been the consequence of joining the armed forces and fighting a war as a public person.

When people complain about media black outs, and all that other nonsense, they don't think about the reasons. If Harry had been killed in Afghanistan because of some careless journalist spilling the beans, what do you think the backlash from the royal family would be?

IMO, any backlash would be unjustified because they promoted his enlistment along with the rest of the country.

I agree we are told what we need to know for the most part, but when you're talking about someone's life you don't have carte blanche to scream to the high heavens where they're at. Especially when they're at war with an enemy who would love nothing better than to take out a high profile target.

Again, why allow him into harm’s way to begin with? Why allow such a high-profile person to engage is such acts knowing the serious potentials. The potential existed from the beginning that he could be killed or captured. Consequences for actions account for something.

Protection of his fellow solders, indeed. Removing his princedom from danger has only been an option for him, what about the other fellas fighting next to him that aren’t at home sleeping in a canopy bed? You couldn't give a shit about them, now that Harry is safe.

Do not pretend to know what I think, because you don't. That empty toilet you call a skull is completely incapable of rational thought.

As a guy who has been in the military, I know that when someone gives away your position in a time of war, it's called giving the enemy aid and comfort and if there's a massive loss of life, treason punishable by death.

I really do not give a shit about the royal family. If he got wacked, I'd probably laugh my ass off. Harry's in the military because... DUH DUH DUH@!!!!! It's kind of a requirement to rule in England. You have to have the respect of your soldiers. Kind of like how their dad and their uncles were in the military too. If he didn't serve, or was given a desk job, people just like you would be saying that he was a puss, or was given preferential treatment. He volunteered yes indeed which is probably more than can be said of you, and others.

You need to sit and think a minute before you go typing a bunch of crap on the internet that you know nothing about. The only thing you're concerned about is free speech. Your rights are only yours because of people who defend those freedoms pal.

All of the military serves anonymously. Do you know why? Because if the Enemy kills someone important, powerful, or influential, it gives them a morale boost, and is that what you want?

If you want free speech, then move your sorry ass to Iran. Let's see how much freedom you have then. Fucking whiners.

 

[Seth]

Do not pretend to know what I think, because you don't. That empty toilet you call a skull is completely incapable of rational thought.

As a guy who has been in the military, I know that when someone gives away your position in a time of war, it's called giving the enemy aid and comfort and if there's a massive loss of life, treason punishable by death.

I really do not give a shit about the royal family. If he got wacked, I'd probably laugh my ass off. Harry's in the military because... DUH DUH DUH@!!!!! It's kind of a requirement to rule in England. You have to have the respect of your soldiers. Kind of like how their dad and their uncles were in the military too. If he didn't serve, or was given a desk job, people just like you would be saying that he was a puss, or was given preferential treatment. He volunteered yes indeed which is probably more than can be said of you, and others.

You need to sit and think a minute before you go typing a bunch of crap on the internet that you know nothing about. The only thing you're concerned about is free speech. Your rights are only yours because of people who defend those freedoms pal.

All of the military serves anonymously. Do you know why? Because if the Enemy kills someone important, powerful, or influential, it gives them a morale boost, and is that what you want?

If you want free speech, then move your sorry ass to Iran. Let's see how much freedom you have then. Fucking whiners.

I’ll tell you one thing: I must have some pretty substantial points that hit pretty close to the mark to get you to attack so personally.

Your shift into a combative and intimidative approach only indicates you are willing to defend your point when no other form of evidence lends itself to your argument. You can’t get more irrational than that.

I would argue preferential treatment is exactly what Harry got.

Free speech does nothing but create a fair and balanced playing field for the populace of the world. Only when it is limited do we face the larger problems. Loud boisterous individuals take the front seat because others are afraid to confront them. Free speech is the check and balance in a democratic world.

I can sense that would like to silence me at this moment because you do not like my point of view. However, my point mirrors this conversation directly. Though you take a limiting stance on press/expression I am still free to voice my opinion regardless of your idealisms. In by making my stance known we have broadened our scope. How wonderful is that? It is a great thing indeed.

I digress, we would not be in a war had the lines of communication been clearer with the populace of the world. Only because of a narrow world-view and the interpretations of a few were countries doped into combat to begin with. Remedy? Promote more and clearer lines of communication and dissemination. Had that been the case we would not have been there then and not still be there now.

I am proud of my freedoms and glad I can express them on this forum. If you served, I appreciate that as well. And you are correct on this point, the military only exists to protect those freedoms.

 

[macavity]

Your shift into a combative and intimidative approach only indicates you are willing to defend your point when no other form of evidence lends itself to your argument. You can’t get more irrational than that.

Somewhat similar to your own (earlier) post in reply to Tommy, in other words? Seems to me it's you who raised the stakes.

Anyway, I think everyone's viewpoint has been made crystal clear by this stage. I'm going to join ArizonaWill and shuffle nervously towards the exit...g'night all!

 

[macavity]

anti-gay prejudice is rampant in this society. His very life could be at risk, since gay bashing is also rampant.

Wow, I know this is a bit off-topic, but that's just sad...

 

[Seth]

Anyway, I think everyone's viewpoint has been made crystal clear by this stage. I'm going to join ArizonaWill and shuffle nervously towards the exit...g'night all!

Yup. I will concede that the case is becoming circular and it appears as though we have reached a stagnation, unable to glean much more positive insight. I did enjoy the “food-for-thought” and can see many of your viewpoints, though I do not necessarily agree. Stimulating none-the-less!

BTW, I am not touching the homosexual issue and I am in my twenties.

 

[digigeek]

We should all realize that secrets struggle to be revealed. It has always pissed me off completely when someone asks me to keep something secret. By the time I was 13 or so I took to telling people to go to hell when they asked me to keep something secret or not tell a specific person. That is YOUR problem, don't push your crap on me. Grrrr. Makes me mad.

So, how does this translate to the topic? Simple. You either put Prince Harry in the uniform and let him fight and be proud of his service or you keep him at home and don't worry about it. Don't drag the media into it and think you can somehow make the promise to not look. How totally childish. If you don't want the media there, then don't let them or make them be totally on their own. The whole situation is so painfully juvenile that it makes me want to puke.

 

[mike]

i think the media will be free in its reporting as the royals know full well

personally i dont think harry should have deployed, because logically he creates a larger target for the men hes with.
BUT, i can see why he did, the brothers in arms bond he has with his unit would leave him or them little choice in the matter, at the end of the day they all risk that fatal bullet just by being there

i suppose it depends on what level the "decision" is made. if its up to the guys risking their necks to decide then i can see why he went

im disapointed with new idea for doing the story because they essentially put profit before the safety of the soldiers concerned.

but thats the nature of the beast, and you either understand it and factor for it or wear the consequences

 

[Rick Deckard]

personally i dont think harry should have deployed, because logically he creates a larger target for the men hes with.

I agree and the fact that he had his own personal squad of SAS troops to protect him, makes me wonder what the rest of his fellow soldiers thought. Those extra troops could have been deployed elsewhere.