Watching statements go over the heads of the Media time after time after time; watching Media demonstration, time after time after time, its failure (or inability) to apply any thought to the questions it is posing; watching the increasing incidence of Media effectively standing in a crowded theatre screaming ‘Fire’, while Media at other times and significant events, fails to recognize the flames threatening to engulf our province and the services it provides; media’s failing (or being unable) to ask, time after time after time, the obvious questions or the questions that beg for answers; has me wondering if it is not time to demand or impose at least minimal standards or levels of intelligence together with a minimal grasp of logic.

In Sparwood you have the Media running around and posing the question “How could he just walk into the house and leave the child and walk away?”

When asked, the police managed to avoid asking if the Media had eaten an extra bowl of stupid that morning, limiting their comments to the fact that their goal had been to achieve the safe return of Kienan Hebert to his family. His family who, after issuing a plea for the return of Kienan, had left their home unlocked and gone to spend the night elsewhere.

“How could he just walk into the house and leave the child and walk away?”

How about because that is what they (police and family) wanted to happen? The priority here was the safe return of little Kienan, which was accomplished. The priority was NOT doing anything to discourage or prevent young Kienan’s return.

The time to worry about or focus on the capture of Randall P. Hopley was after Kienan was safely back with his family.

Not only were viewers/readers confronted with the Media failure or lack of ability to grasp the priority in this matter, the viewers/readers were also affronted by the Media fanning the flames of panic in Sparwood.

Now I can understand why Media wants to fan the flames of panic, keeping the story alive with its increase in viewership and advertising revenue. It is simply that I find it offensive that Media, with its oft ‘holier than thou’ attitude towards the actions of others, is willing to disregard the possible cost of fanning the flames of panic.

Panic causes human beings to act in a less than intelligent manner – to react and/or behave stupidly.

What is needed in this manner is caution and thoughtfulness. And, obviously, minimal intelligence standards for Media.