67% of poll respondents say executions should be televised

[kechara420]

Dead Reckoning: TV Viewers Want Executions
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/23/2004 7:56:00 PM

It seems that most TV viewers don’t mind watching people die, so long as you don’t show them the body afterward.

According to a new poll by pop-culture digital channel Trio, a majority (67%) wouldn’t mind putting the public in public executions by watching them on the small screen (one in five--20%--would even pay for the privilege).

Although CBS’s CSI with its graphic post-mortems has been a runaway hit, a majority of respondents apparently want to confine their perusal of bodies to fictional treatments. Fifty-four percent say they would not like to see real autopsies televised. Nonetheless, Trio is premiering Autopsy March 8 at 9:30 as part of its "Uncovered TV" month of unusual programming.

Autopsy is the U.S. debut of a Channel 4 UK program from several years ago, in which a man who donated his body to science was autopsied before an audience. But Trio is currently out of luck on executions. While reporters are allowed as witnesses, cameras are not.

The study also found that 50% of respondents didn’t think the media should show caskets returning from Iraq (43% said show them). That conclusion came despite the vast majority believing that media coverage "significantly impacts the outcome of major events," including war.

When it came to TV shedding light on the workings of government, most viewers wanted the scoop on the CIA (41%) followed closely by the White House (40%).

The study, conducted by Harris, was a random phone poll of 1,017 adults 18-plus conducted Jan. 24-26. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1%.

[NebariNookiee]

I smell a pay-per view goldmine here.

[NYPinTA]

Yuck!
I guess that would make me one of the 33% that does not want to see them on tv.

[abbadon]

http://www.wutalk.com/images/smilies/normalsml/giljotiini.gif

Nope I can't see myself tuning in

[BaseLine]

That is just plain sick. Somehow I doubt this polls figures are accurate.

[NebariNookiee]

I can buy this -- there are a lot of folks out there with some pretty twisted likes and fetishes. Look at it like this -- That video series "Faces of Death" is a rather popular title. There's definitely a market for this sort of thing.

[BlackThorn]

It really wasn't that long ago that public executions made for "great" family entertainment. Bring the kiddies, enjoy the spectacle.

[LadyCrais]

I'm having a hard time believing that 67% have no problem with executions being televised. I thought the proponents of the death penality was considerably less than that number. Now of those who support the death penality, I have no problem at all believing that percentage would want to watch. I suppose it's possible that those against the death penalty might want it televised so that people would quit living in the abstract and be forced to acknowledge and witness the consequences of their beliefs.

Which is related to the statistic that stood out to me. 50% don't think we should have to witness the returning caskets of those we send off to die in war. Again, leave it in the abstract. Don't take responsibility for your decisions and beliefs. Yessirree. That is the American way.

[NYPinTA]

Originally posted by NebariNookiee
...Look at it like this -- That video series "Faces of Death" is a rather popular title. There's definitely a market for this sort of thing.

Some friends of mine rented that a few years back. Gave me nightmares for WEEKS! Totally freaked me out.
Again I say: Yuck. :g2f:

[fermicat]

Its the ultimate reality TV show.....

I'm one of the 33%.

[Deletham]

Originally posted by NebariNookiee
I can buy this -- there are a lot of folks out there with some pretty twisted likes and fetishes. Look at it like this -- That video series "Faces of Death" is a rather popular title. There's definitely a market for this sort of thing.

I've seen some of that series but not all of it's of people dieing, granted its some messed up stuff but to honestly have executions televised is a little messed up.. But hey, Court TV could jump all over that and have a little execution hour or something weeknight at 9 :rollin: :rollin:

[Third EYe]

I think they should televised, and not pay per view either, no commercials, and there should be a pre-death show as well.

No I'm not sadistic, I just think society should be a participatory one.

[Frellster]

Man, If they're gonna televise executions, they have to do away with lethal injections. I say throw them to the lions!!! Its more entertaining...after all this is the Roman Empire... er I meant the Empire of the United States.

[BillFrugge]

I think too many people would view it as entertainment. Bread and Circuses. It would bring out the worst in society.

[Third EYe]

I see what you are saying BillFrugge yet I think it can be done in a way that won't be so entertaining. The pre-death show would be an account of the crime, looking at past executions and future guests as well. Show the families, the ones left behind of both the victim(s) and the convicted. Also why I said no ppv or advertisers.

[Saajak]

I would like to know what were the exact questions asked? How the question was presented could have caused these (seemingly) skewed results.

[JadedLegend3]

I don't think that it should be televised...but I still think they should go back to doing the hangings on the courthouse lawns. There was so much less crime when there was public executions.

[BillFrugge]

Originally posted by Third EYe
I see what you are saying BillFrugge yet I think it can be done in a way that won't be so entertaining. The pre-death show would be an account of the crime, looking at past executions and future guests as well. Show the families, the ones left behind of both the victim(s) and the convicted. Also why I said no ppv or advertisers.

My first objection would be ratings. Even though there would be no advertising, we still would have to contend with ratings. Even if all of the channels were to carry it, the networks would compete for the post-execution coverage, ala CNN vs. MSNBC vs. FOX... I could just hear the ESPN color commentators...

Then, there would be the issue of desensitization. Lethal injection would get stale, so we'd have to up-the-ante. Shall we bring back draw and quartering? Since we're discussing it in another thread, shall we perform crucifixions?

It would, however, make the reality-game shows a bit more interesting. Do you think we're headed there anyway?

Don't get me wrong: I'm not opposed to the death penalty, I just don't want to participate. This is the sort of thing that the Taliban was doing in Afghanistan -- do we want to become like our enemy? I've got mixed emotions on this; I'd like to bury my head in the sand and pretend it's not happening but I know that it may be necessary.

[BlackThorn]

I see Third Eye's point. If people are going to support the death penalty, they should know exactly what they're supporting. It exists because society allows the laws to exist. You have a lot of people who are supporting laws that have their heads buried. Would they still support the same laws if they saw first hand what the results of those laws are? It's easy to condemn someone else when you can keep your distance from it.

BTW, I'm not against the death penalty. For some crimes, I'm all for it, and I still think Third Eye has a point.

[BillFrugge]

Originally posted by BlackThorn
I see Third Eye's point. If people are going to support the death penalty, they should know exactly what they're supporting. It exists because society allows the laws to exist. You have a lot of people who are supporting laws that have their heads buried. Would they still support the same laws if they saw first hand what the results of those laws are? It's easy to condemn someone else when you can keep your distance from it.

BTW, I'm not against the death penalty. For some crimes, I'm all for it, and I still think Third Eye has a point.

Okay, I think I understand. If we televise executions, we have two possible results: Death for entertainment, or society ends the death penalty.

I think both of those outcomes are why I am opposed to televising it. I don't want society to enjoy it, and I don't think the death penalty should be phased out.

Okay, it gets a little weird from this point. I made friends with a man who lived for a few years on Death Row. He was simply a hobo who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He told me about how they'd march someone down the last mile. I can't remember the state, but they still used the chair when he was in. Most of the time, they'd change their mind (reprieve) at the last minute and return the guy to the cell. That amounts to torture. It'd be more humane not to subject someone to repeated trips down that way. And when the lights dimmed, they knew.