Weather As Drama

This morning WSMV in Nashville, usually my favorite local station, reached a new low in weather reporting. With a light snow falling amidst rising temperatures and substantially clear roads, the warnings and imagery would have you thinking Donner Party. Our parking lot is almost empty, and much of that due to Metro Schools lack of courage in closing yet again when it didn't have to. Other absenteeism can be traced to folks looking at their televisions and not out their windows.

There were two accidents, count them, in Metro Nashville that required emergency workers. The footage of one of those accidents played continuously throughout the morning weather coverage. Some young cub reporter was dispatched to Clarksville showing footage of a slushy street with cars moving at nearly full speed. His comment? That it was surprising how fast traffic was moving given the dangerous conditions. He also pointed to Wilma Rudolph Blvd. where "last week over 200 wrecks were reported." Well, there were over 200 wrecks in all of Clarksville last week (he later corrected himself), but if there were 2,000 wrecks last week what does that have to do with today's conditions?

I left the house, drove my 20 minutes to work, and there was no snow on the streets. None. Zip. Nada. Metro Schools and local media combined to create unnecessary absenteeism that's disruptive to families and to business.

You can't yell, "Fire" in a crowded theatre. There are crimes against hate speech. How about a law against fear mongering that contributes to lost wages and productivity?

Just remember when you watch local weather that its sponsored by Kroger; the people selling you milk and toilet paper.

Comments

Jeff Hendricks said…
Right on! It is a grocery store mafia conspiracy.
9:24 AM
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