This is the kind of wrong headed disdain

[nadinbrzezinski]

I mentioned to neighbor I am covering OWS for local paper

Don't get arrested

Well given press has been arrested, I just might

Shock, this can't be...replaced with...well press are bothersome anyway.

Some folks are willing to give absolutely all rights to feel safe.

[The Magistrate]

1. The Mechanism Is A Litrtle Different, Ma'am

One of the mental means people use to feel safe in face of danger is to find differences between themselves and those bad things happen to, and to find mistakes the people bad things happen to which can be said to have led to those bad things happening to them. These mechanisms break identification with people who are victimized, and leave a person feeling since they are not that sort of person, who will not make that kind of mistake, the bad thing that happened to someone else will never be a danger to them: they are not trouble-makers, not criminals, they are not lay-abouts, they are not nosy press people trying to make up a story to make police look bad. They view what happens as a proper response to such wrong and mistaken people, not as any revocation or denial of the rights of U.S. citizens; they are quite sure these remain entirely intact and available to all good and decent folk in the great country of ours.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Oh I get the process

But this is fascinating to see in the flesh...as it were.

[gratuitous]

2. Yes, they are

And the real kicker is that while they might "feel" safe, in reality they're in more danger. Some of the media types in New York have recently found this out, when Mayor Bloomberg's repressive practices (previously applauded in the media) were used against reporters and cameramen. Suddenly, these media folk have discovered some real, live outrage. My only comfort is to tell them that it's not like they haven't been warned.

I hope the New York media concern isn't just for a season. I hope the feelings of betrayal and resentment stay with them for a while. And I hope it shows up in a more adversarial relationship to the big shots they're supposed to cover. It doesn't have to be hammer and tongs, but both sides (politicians and reporters) should be a little more prickly to each other. Neither side should feel too comfortable in the other's presence.