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SebRLuck t1_irrsww4 wrote

Reply to comment by TheBlueSlipper in CNN ‘deeply regrets’ distress caused by report on Thailand nursery killings by darthatheos

Sometimes it can be an honest misunderstanding between cultures.

When I lived in Bangkok, I visited a public but very untouristy temple and walked towards the central ubosot. On the way, I had to pass a couple of people, of whom a few looked at me somewhat weirdly. Since I'm very tall and used to Thais looking at me for that reason, I didn't think much of it.

I walked up the stairs to the ubosot, took off my shoes, walked around the corner into the hall and stood in front of at least 50 meditating monks.

Turns out, they had just received a new Buddha statue and were holding an ordination ceremony. Everybody else around the temple knew about it and knew I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but nobody spoke up, since they were being polite and didn't want to confront me.

It's possible that the situation was different for the CNN team and they should've certainly been especially careful and respectful in this specific situation, but I can definitely picture a scenario in which they thought they were following the correct steps and still ended up in this situation.

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TheBlueSlipper t1_irrudlj wrote

I appreciate your reply. +1. And the situation you described for yourself is certainly a reasonable mistake. But the journalists in question were in a childrens' nursery where 30 something children and teachers had just been murdered. Their actions were not merely a cultural misunderstanding.

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SebRLuck t1_irrwyyp wrote

Well, the (perceived) permission to enter may have been a misunderstanding. With the information we have right now, it's impossible to tell what exactly happened. However, journalists who cover a crime scene and believe they have been granted access are unlikely to decline this option.

In that scenario I put more blame on the network who decided to air the footage. A lot of journalists and photographers take videos and images of horrific scenes, which networks and media outlets decide not to publish. The network had editorial control and made the decision to put the footage out there.

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detroitiseverybody t1_irsbtpp wrote

I read that a Thai reporter told them not to climb the fence and cross the crime scene that was cordoned off. They ignored him. There is also a photo showing them doing it that appears to be from the Thai reporter. It's against the law.

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