The Weather Channel "Forecasting The End!" Jumps on the Doom Porn from Rogue Planets to Gamma Rays

Mod please move this if needed.

So I go to check out my local weather and come across the Headlines of "Will this Hurt Earth?" A theoretical giant Rogue planet spinning into our solar system. It starts with this Doom scenario and continues through many more like Gamma Ray bursts, asteroids and comets.

Get your Doom Porn Here!

I am always surprised at how popular this type of entertainment is. I have noticed that in Hollywood to, any of our fears are played out in massive earth ending scales.

Sure these things can happen but will you spend your time worrying about it or living your life? I for one do prep for some emergencies but these scenarios go beyond what an average person can prep for. I am curious as to what purpose they serve? To keep us in a constant state of worry and panic?


Kinda makes my local weather seem a bit moot however, with Earth catching fire or turning into a Snowball...

It's all about attracting as many readers as possible.

More readers = more clicks = more $$$

When presented three stories on three weather sites, which one do you read ?

1. The article about a drought in a remote Asian region.

2. The article about the massive snowstorm in Greenland.

3. The article with the unlikely but possible apocalyptic scenario in which the whole world will be devastated, directly affecting you and your family.

The choice is obvious.

Hilarious how it premieres on March 21st. I just read some thread about 2012 actually being March 21st 2013 and not December 21st.

This stuff doesn't bother me. I've been reading up on doomsday prophecies since I was a child. My favorite book of the bible growing up was revelations. I used to read it over and over and over. Never understood why I was so obsessed with that book as a 6 year old.

I rather preferred the Weather Channel when Weather was their primary focus and business. When they became political crusaders for green causes and then..well, as you note here, host to as many nutty stories as legitimate and serious ones? Well.... I find the National Weather Service to be far superior to anything the Weather Channel ever peddled anyway. I wouldn't have had the reason to explore the full breadth of what the NWS offers these days if it weren't for other outrageous crap from TWC.

(It's Government 2.0...check it out if you haven't recently. Obama changed A LOT in Online presence and much for the better, too. The NWS is the source material the Weather Channel goes to anyway..so I just cut out their silly commentary and middleman. ).

reply to post by Wrabbit2000

The NWS is the source material the Weather Channel goes to anyway..

Same goes for pretty much every TV news meteorologist... Weather marketing.

Most people plan their activities around the pictures of the 5-day forecast

Originally posted by Q2IN2Y
Hilarious how it premieres on March 21st. I just read some thread about 2012 actually being March 21st 2013 and not December 21st.

This stuff doesn't bother me. I've been reading up on doomsday prophecies since I was a child. My favorite book of the bible growing up was revelations. I used to read it over and over and over. Never understood why I was so obsessed with that book as a 6 year old.

edit on 19-3-2013 by Q2IN2Y because: (no reason given)

You know I didn't even catch that, thanks for bringing it up!

The problem I see is that so many of these "Educational" Channels are so over-saturated with ratings sensationalized programing. From TLC's Honey Boo Boo, to the History Channels Ancient Aliens and very Fictional "The Bible". Is there really any News, History or Learning happening anymore?

Are these creating a Boy Who Cried Wolf conditioning? Is the fear and entertainment of these keeping people from seeing the real catastrophes?

reply to post by abeverage


I have to admit that I watched the clips...entertaining yes, doom porn YES, my question though is WHY? Why are they doing this? Is it just educational or is it something deeper? FEAR! Oh yeah. Their headline is disturbing for sure!!!!

reply to post by Starwise

Why are they doing this?

People have always been obsessed with the end of civilization. I mean, what bigger news could there be than that?

It sells.

Originally posted by Starwise
reply to post by abeverage

 

I have to admit that I watched the clips...entertaining yes, doom porn YES, my question though is WHY? Why are they doing this? Is it just educational or is it something deeper? FEAR! Oh yeah. Their headline is disturbing for sure!!!!

I think it is less educational then it could be and more sensational. It just seems we are surrounded by it. I suppose I too add to it as even bad publicity is still publicity...