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Topic: Media's Use of the term ''Looters''
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| Author | Message |
| nekalit | Posted – 8/30/2005 3:16:40 PM | show profile I'm a little bit confused about this term being used for what is happening currently New Orleans. It's seems like too simple of word to use for a catastrophic situation. The individuals are essentially stealing, but shouldn't the media look at the full picture? Their is water up to rooftops and homes are destroyed, that means that the people ''pillaging'' stores more than likely have no food and/or clothes. Where and how are they suppose to be buying replacements based on the current conditions of the state? I don't really like pictures of a 10 year olds in waist deep water carrying food, and underneath reading ''a young looter''. I just don't know how I feel about the term being used in this situation. |
| worm | Posted – 8/30/2005 3:42:06 PM | show profile What about the reports of the adults carrying jewelry out of other people's homes? ''Looters'' seems pretty fair there. |
| can't say | Posted – 8/30/2005 3:53:59 PM | show profile Neka, I agree with you. But the carton of Pepsi that that kid was carrying doesn't seem like a pillar of one of the four food groups. |
| nekalit | Posted – 8/30/2005 4:10:14 PM | show profile Making off with jewelry is looting.. However, I'm not so sure about the term used in certain captions and etc.. Like, ''Looters make their way into and out of a grocery store in New Orleans on Tuesday''. I think the term is very appropriate in this story: http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050824033709990005&ncid=NWS00010000000001 On New Orleans' Canal Street, the main thoroughfare in the central business district, looters sloshed through hip-deep water and ripped open the steel gates on the front of several clothing and jewelry stores. |
| keltoi | Posted – 8/30/2005 4:12:21 PM | show profile Sorry, neka, but if they are entering someone's unattended shop after tearing off the steel gates and walking out with stuff that they didn't buy, they are looters and thieves. A bad situation is no excuse for stealing from someone else; that way leads to chaos. Especially when most of what they're carrying off has little to do with immediate survival needs. |
| nekalit | Posted – 8/30/2005 4:13:03 PM | show profile Hey, did the caption for the young kid exiting with pepsi change? Can't say, this is true but it's ''diet pepsi''. What looting kid is going for diet soft drinks? I say his choice was only as good as his options. |
| JimmyG | Posted – 8/30/2005 4:48:16 PM | show profile So what would you call them? Burdened merchandise liberators? I guess it's true, one person's terrorist is another's freedom fighter. |
| starrevartan | Posted – 8/30/2005 6:00:03 PM | show profile Um, Diet Pepsi might be some of the only safe liquid to drink- the water coming out of the faucet sure isn't. And if they're treating water that can be tough to drink after awhile- it tastes pretty vile. I think nekalit makes a good point- people stealing jewlery because they can is looting- people taking low-value items to stay alive (or at least bring a modicum of comfort) when they have few other choices doesn't seem worthy of the word looting to me. Though technically, I guess it's right.... loot Audio pronunciation of ''looting'' ( P ) Pronunciation Key (lt) n. 1. Valuables pillaged in time of war; spoils. 2. Stolen goods. 3. Informal. Goods illicitly obtained, as by bribery. 4. Informal. Things of value, such as gifts, received on one occasion. 5. Slang. Money. (from Dictionary.com) |
| barriticus | Posted – 8/30/2005 8:55:57 PM | show profile | email poster We should call them insurgents. |
| UGoGirl | Posted – 8/30/2005 11:49:16 PM | show profile I think a person going into a store to get alcohol, jewelry, or furniture, is different from someone going into a store to get bread, food, etc. I could see a person easily justifying to herself that the food was going to rot there anyway, since it's clear it's not going to be cleaned up anytime soon. So someone who needs it might as well eat it. Maybe they'd even say that they'd have been happy to pay for the food if someone was there to take the money. So I guess I'd say there are the more criminal type of looters, but I'm sure some people are just getting some basic necessities, recognizing that they'd probably just sit there and get destroyed anyway. |
| mkelly | Posted – 8/31/2005 8:18:08 AM | show profile Let's remember the context-- newspapers have space constraints, and 'looters' is a nice narrow word. Plus, stealing others' goods left temporarily abandoned is looting, period. So it's a good word to use. |
| nekalit | Posted – 8/31/2005 9:43:22 AM | show profile Kelto, your example of tearing off sheet metal makes sense. However, is this just one instance is my question. Based on the photos, it looks as if almost the whole city is submerged. Is it just jewelry stores that survived Katrina with their metal intact and all? I vote no to insurgents and freedom fighters as well. At the moment, I can't think of better word, which is why I asked the question, Jimmy. What's the difference between stealing and looting? Personally, I think looting just draws more attention to a story. It catches the eye. Has more than one jewelry store been looted or is each publication talking about the same individual place? Is what is happening in regards to valuables city wide? I don't know, I'm just reminded of of the stories about widespread looting after the NYC black out that turned out to be limited. Anywho, instead of a photo of a little boy taking soda, I'd like to see a photo of an adult running off with jewelry with the looter caption. Perhaps taking items like diapers and food should be just described as thievery. I'm just a little hestitant to call these things looting. If your house has water levels up to the attic, and you forgot to grab diapers before jumping on a tree, then do you wait for the Coast Guard to come around to get to your house to give you something to change your baby? I'm just wondering. I believe this banker may have taken food because swimming to the ATM and making a purchased of spoiled merchandise was not an option. ''At a drug store in the French Quarter, people were running out with grocery baskets and coolers full of soft drinks, chips and diapers.'' ''The 37-year-old banker — who admitted to looting some food from a nearby supermarket — said the hotel guests were told they were being taken to a convention center, but from there, they didn't know.'' http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050831/ap_on_re_us/katrina_new_orleans |
| UGoGirl | Posted – 8/31/2005 10:15:38 AM | show profile Looting or surviving? If I was there and needed something for my family and me to eat and drink, and had no other way to get it then I'd be among the looters. Especially since waters continue rising and that store is going to be completely underwater soon with everything within it destroyed anyway. I guess I'd just say I was trying to survive, and I'll leave the store an IOU. |
| nekalit | Posted – 8/31/2005 10:56:05 AM | show profile My question has been looted! Anywho, here are is an interesting story which talks about managers allowing individuals to remove items from stores. It also addresses a store allowing the Ritz-Carlton to take necessities. So, perhaps some of the people in the pictures aren't even stealing and/or looting. http://crime.about.com/b/a/198295.htm |
| angelo | Posted – 8/31/2005 11:17:00 AM | show profile According to AP Style: Black people ''loot'' White people ''find'' http://www.flickr.com/photos/firewall/38725768/ |
| iambush | Posted – 8/31/2005 11:23:57 AM | show profile Looters You are right Nekalit. Now, let's wait for the outpouring of giving. Giving - GOD's Love Giving - Criticism Giving - Forgiveness Giving - Blame Giving - Compassion I pray that it is the Love of GOD. |
| skurczysyn | Posted – 8/31/2005 2:06:37 PM | show profile They're breaking into jewelry stores. They cleared out a Wal Mart, including the entire gun section. They've cleaned out clothing stores and attempted to ransack the Children's Hospital. And they're picking through the casinos, trying to smash open slot machines. That sounds looting-ish, no? Or is there some kind of life-saving jewelry I'm unaware of? |
| worm | Posted – 8/31/2005 3:17:25 PM | show profile ''Terry Ebbert said looters have been breaking into stores all over town to steal guns. The Times-Picayune newspaper reported that the gun section at a new Wal-Mart has been cleaned out. And the thieves are apparently using their new guns, with shots heard through the night.'' (AP) yeah, I'd call it looting. |
| nekalit | Posted – 8/31/2005 3:48:34 PM | show profile Yes, but the original question was concerning necessities. Of course, as of today, newspapers appear to be finally focusing on actual looting. (I.E. Television, guns and jewelry.) Now, a quick question, how many Walmarts are located in New Orleans? Just curious because looters are apparently taking guns from Walmart, but a Walmart manager opened the store and allowed access to all the goods. You obviously don't need guns after a natural disaster, well unless there is extreme lawlessness and people are using them to protect themselves, but a question for me is whether or not the Walmart with missing artillery is the one offering the free for all. Are the shots being heard a distinct sound from guns at Walmart or are the individuals that already have weapons? I know Walmart is a super shopping center but even if there is more than one, I find it unlikely that each one escaped be submerged. Oh, and what the heck kind of bullets and guns does Walmart have? I've seen hunting rifles there before but never actually looked because I vote no to all guns. Just wondering. |
| The BPM | Posted – 8/31/2005 6:50:03 PM | show profile Looters come out during every disaster. We Americans are all about the goods, ya know. Makes a funny sidebar to the real tragic and sad events: http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/K/KATRINA_LOOTING_HK1?SITE=FLROC&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-08-31-18-29-14 ------ www.wordnbass.com book and music news |
| beenthere | Posted – 8/31/2005 7:56:00 PM | show profile After a disaster like this some may need guns to protect themselves. I live in FL and dealt with Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne and I cannot even imagine what NO is like. I had no electricty for 2 weeks, which meant living in 100 degree heat w/o AC. At night I had to lock my doors and windows because I live alone in a first-floor apartment in a 16-building complex. It was pitch black, unreal dark at night. And add another 10 -15 degrees to that temp and multiply by 2 weeks. In NO: There is no electricity.There are no phones and cell phones do not work -- towers are down. Imagine having no means of communication with anyone. At night it is COMPLETELY dark. Close your eyes and you get the picture. You have no access to transportation, no way to contact emergency services. At night you have NO protection. If I were in NO right now, as a single woman, I would've had no problem taking a gun. Period. The heat, lack of information, and the intense emotional stress of the situation makes people crazy. We, as outsiders, have information because we are seeing video and listening to governors make speeches. The people affected by the hurricane are not getting this information -- they have no way to receive it. They are hot, hungry and terrified. The world as they knew it does not exist any more. << You obviously don't need guns after a natural disaster, well unless there is extreme lawlessness and people are using them to protect themselves, but a question for me is whether or not the Walmart with missing artillery is the one offering the free for all. Are the shots being heard a distinct sound from guns at Walmart or are the individuals that already have weapons? I know Walmart is a super shopping center but even if there is more than one, I find it unlikely that each one escaped be submerged. Oh, and what the heck kind of bullets and guns does Walmart have? I've seen hunting rifles there before but never actually looked because I vote no to all guns. Just wondering.>> |
| skurczysyn | Posted – 8/31/2005 10:00:42 PM | show profile >>If I were in NO right now, as a single woman, I would've had no problem taking a gun. Period. The heat, lack of information, and the intense emotional stress of the situation makes people crazy.<< Although I hate to send a thread in a totally different direction, I'm curious... what was your attitude towards gun control before making this statement? |
| beenthere | Posted – 8/31/2005 10:06:57 PM | show profile I'm for gun control and I doubt I would ever own a gun. But what they are experiencing in New Orleans is unreal to most of U.S., which hasn't had to face such a catastrophe. And as I said, I went through two hurricanes -- we had nightly curfews (you would be arrested if caught and the cops arrested those who chose to ignore the curfews because it was dangerous for anyone to be moving about in these conditions), no traffic lights for weeks on four-lane road intersections, bans on the sale of alcohol, etc. Nightmarish situations, yet these are nothing compared to what the south is facing right now. I'm just trying to put what we are seeing on the news into perspective. You cannot judge it by placing it within the context of everyday normalcy. |
| Miniver Cheever | Posted – 8/31/2005 11:53:04 PM | show profile angelo wrote a joke about black and white...but i think there's something serious here -- i know there's got to be a lot of white looters. so why is it that on the news i only see black looters? |
| canasta | Posted – 9/1/2005 12:11:40 AM | show profile How does the media treat the term? Generally, Reuters and AP have very strict rules. Reuters will not use the term ''terrorist'' in any circumstance. |
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