Real Estate Blog - TOXIC DEATH SENSATIONALISM (Or, I'm Going To Scream!)

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TOXIC DEATH SENSATIONALISM (Or, I'm Going To Scream!)

Okay, I've made some interesting observations over the past few days. They're not new observations per se' - just something that has gotten to the point that it's time to be dragged out into the open.

I am fascinated by the "statistics" on Active Rain. What I have "learned" (keeping in mind it's nothing new really,) is that twice as many people have viewed my posts with scary or "negative" connotations than those who've viewed the "positive" posts with words like protecting, improving and resources.

Why is this the case? The media outlets know this too. Watch the news or read a newspaper. Scary scary scary - with a little happy fluff thrown in to make you feel better.

Let me give you the example from my "statistics."

As of a few minutes ago... 341 people have viewed "Child Dies From Pesticide Exposure" 246 have viewed "Protecting Our Future" 186 have viewed "Mama Resources" and 116 have viewed "Improving your Indoor Air Quality."

Last night I added "Protecting Our Future - The Children" to see if it made a difference in getting viewed. It made a little bit of a difference but nothing substantial... So what's my point?

My point is that our society is drawn to the easy way out. It's much easier to read the negative and say "how can this happen?" versus reading the positive and actually getting off your a** to do something about it. We're lazy. It's that simple.

If you don't want to see children harmed by pesticide exposure along with other indoor pollutants, revisit the "Protecting Our Future" post and get IAQ Tools For Schools implemented in your local school district. Read the resources and apply them to your life and home. Be proactive.

I will equate it to my beef with mold. (Which btw has nothing to do with moldy beef.) I've become very frustrated by all of the "scary" mold stories in the media over the past 5 + years. They usually start out "toxic black mold blah blah blah..." I have felt the media has taken an opportunity to educate people in a calm and logical manner and teach prevention; and has instead frightened people to the point of chaos.

Their reasoning? Sensationalism sells. "Toxic black mold" is much catchier than "mold - if we didn't have it we'd be surrounded by dead stuff so don't let it grow in your house, plus it's not healthy."

Hopefully you get the drift. If not, I'm sorry to have caused a ripple in your bubble.

Open your eyes, expand your mind and have a lovely day!

Posted by Stacey Champion on 07/23/2007 12:09 PM

Comments (10)

sensationalism, toxic black mold, toxic mold, pesticide exposure, statistics, active rain, laziness, resources

10 Comments on TOXIC DEATH SENSATIONALISM (Or, I'm Going To Scream!)

I agree. some of the post here are really "interesting" when it comes to statistics.

07/23/2007 12:17 PM

by Marcus Valdez (Keller Williams Realty of Northern Colorado)

What a fun post! I like that line at the end regarding mold...=) But you know, they say in the media that 'if it bleeds, it leads' which would explain all the gloom and doom about the real estate markets. Phooey on them!

07/23/2007 12:18 PM

by Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties)

I have seen on more then one occasion brokers putting sales statistic up and showing it off as a good place to buy with property jetting off the shelves. then when you do the math you see there are 20 active listings and zero sales in the last year. (about 2 years worth of inventory) I love stuff like that.

07/23/2007 04:36 PM

by Marcus Valdez (Keller Williams Realty of Northern Colorado)

Stacey,

Point well taken. I also look to the incomplete titles with an "implied" click here for more...

07/23/2007 07:13 PM

by Gary Smith, Realtor® (The Michigan Group - Livingston)

Kudos to all of you who've read this post!

07/23/2007 07:29 PM

by Stacey Champion (Champion Indoor Environmental Services, LLC/Champion Indoors, LLC)

Very interesting. I am going to have to go back and check my blogs. Not that I doubt what you say. I think the biggest problem with the mold issue is the complete lack of information. Nice job.

07/23/2007 08:18 PM

by Joan Whitebook, ABR, e-Pro, CEBA (Buyer's Option Realty Services)

Now thats a title- a nice post as well.

07/23/2007 09:41 PM

by Beth Butler - EWM Realtors

Thanks Stacey, Yes the media (at least the major ones) prefers to either show fluff and infotainment or the blaring, ridiculously overstated headline. I long for the old days when there was actually some analysis done by the newspeople. The only analysis being done today has to be dug for, hence the majority of Americans never get the real stories.

07/24/2007 12:55 PM

by David Helm, Bellingham,Wa. Home Inspector (Helm Home Inspections)

Seems to tap human nature. Think of how everyone rubbernecks at a roadside accident, or prompts our local TV station to play, on the air, all the 911 calls that come in for horrible tragedies!

07/25/2007 08:43 PM

by Laura Warden (Choices Real Estate)

Stacey you are right on all counts. Especially the mold issue. Here in Florida, everything has mold growing on it, including probably me. Hey its humid here year round, so its a given. After the 04 hurricanes, the alarmists were crying "toxic mold" to everyone with water damaged homes. I'm not sure of the exact facts, but one mold expert told me he hardly ever sees what we all think of as "toxic" mold here. Now, all kinds of mold can be toxic to individual people, but its not actually toxic, its just that a particular person has a particular allergy to that particular mold. Humans just seem to be drawn to the dramatic, regardless of topic.

07/26/2007 12:26 PM

by Terry Haugen STAGE it RIGHT! 321-956-2495 (Stage it Right!)

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