[Geysers] Conewalkers

[Freund, Udo]

Maybe NPS wasn't too smart by releasing this to the press in the first
place.  On the other hand I doubt one could stop the blogs from being
picked up by mass media eventually.  Damned if you do, damned if you
don't.
 
The mass news media, in case anyone forgot or hasn't discovered on their
own, is in the entertainment business.  They can't simply report news
stories because that doesn't satisfy advertisers' greed.  The web is no
different, either.  Hence the need to be creative with a headline.
Toilet humor is one of the lowest common denominators and it sure
captures attention.  And as comedians know, it gets big laughs.
 
Making light of this incident makes matters worse and will likely spread
the message even further.  If more see this story and laugh, what do you
think will result?  As I previously stated, this will be an interesting
summer.  And require much vigilance on our part.  Let's be sure to act
in accordance with all NPS rules & regulations as good examples.  As
proven by the headlines below, the general public are morons, the best
of which are Darwin Award candidates.
 
Thanks, 
Udo Freund 
Blessed are those that run around in circles for they shall be called
big wheels! 
 


________________________________

From: geysers-bounces at lists.wallawalla.edu
[mailto:geysers-bounces at lists.wallawalla.edu] On Behalf Of David Schwarz
Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2009 7:30 PM
To: Geyser Observation Reports
Subject: Re: [Geysers] Conewalkers



   It never ceases to amaze me which stories will capture the attention
of the media and their public.  Every other Yellowstone story from the
last few years got maybe a fraction of the coverage this one did.  Some
samples, courtesy of Google News:

The LA Times: Putting the yellow in Yellowstone
<http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2009/05/putting-the-yellow-i
n-yellowstone.html> 

The AP: 2 Yellowstone workers fired after watering geyser
<http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iNfrGcynNUWA7rGsrQD5h
m33Pq5wD986AACO0> 

KTAK (Riverton, WY): Old Faithful leak, but don't call plumber
<http://www.ktakradio.com/news/2009/may/15/old-faithful-leak-dont-call-p
lumber/> 

ABC2 News (Baltimore, MD): Marking Their Territory
<http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story/Marking-Their-Territory/iai6ns
cuFUCZD6iLUcxWeA.cspx> 

Metro (UK): Geezers caught weeing into Old Faithful geyser
<http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?Pair_of_geezers_caught_weeing
_into_Old_Faithful_geyser&in_article_id=663803&in_page_id=2> 

The St. Petersburg Times (Florida): While geyser held it, they decided
not to
<http://www.tampabay.com/SearchForwardServlet.do?articleId=1001168> 

Grist Magazine: If it's Yellowstone, leave it mellow-stone?
<http://www.grist.org/article/2009-05-14-yellowstone-six/> 

Backpacker Magazine: Don't Pee On A Geyser
<http://www.backpacker.com/arrest_pee_old_faithful_yellowstone_urine/blo
gs/daily_dirt/1027> 

   GOSA directors, I hope you're taking notes.  If ever you find that
you need publicity for any reason, find a way to frame the message as an
invitation to off-color toilet humor.  The news aggregators
<http://www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=4389744> , headline writers,
and newswriters of the world will take it from there.

David Schwarz


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