PHOTO: The last second of life

Right. I was responding to someone who said they wouldn't try to save a suicide. But it's all cleared up now - it was a practical/logistical consideration, not a let-them-eat-cake reason.

 

Ah, now that makes sense.

 

This story makes the daring of subway hero Wesley Autrey that much clearer.

newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/02/21/5-years-later-new-york-city-subway-hero-wesley-autrey-is-still-the-man/

[Pro tip: there's enough space to lie down flat between the tracks.]

 

That was a good story.

 

Just when you think the Post can't lower the bar any lower, it does.

 

Yea, I was thinking the same thing. Look, it's one thing to debate why you got the photo instead of trying to help, although that seems to be cleared up with the explanation. Whether true or not. but running it on the cover like that? Had time to think about that.

 

I thought the Post did a longer story like this in the past few years, but I can't find it: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/01/AR2009100102404.html?sid=ST2010091606695. It's what I think of when these stories come up.

 

They've arrested a suspect.

Also, he was apparently down on the tracks for between 60-90 seconds.

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20121204/midtown/man-killed-by-train-was-on-tracks-for-more-than-minute-source-says#ixzz2E6xuX0xA

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/12/subway-push-suspect-in-nypd-custody.html

 

If you're the guy with the camera and saw this guy get pushed onto the tracks, would it cross your mind that if you went to help him, the crazy guy could come up behind you and push you down there, too?

 

He was in there for more than a minute? Something doesn't add up. I'd like to see the security camera video.

My wife and I talked about the Post and if they needed to run this photo. Personally, I would not have, because I'm a little more conservative. But you have to consider the source. And it certainly has people talking.

After a little Googling, it appears the NYT isn't always right in its decisions, either.

http://jimromenesko.com/2012/08/24/nyt-posts-intense-and-graphic-empire-state-building-shooting-photo/

In it's response, a NYT spokesman said, "It is an extremely graphic image and we understand why many people found it jarring. Our editorial judgment is that it is a newsworthy photograph that shows the result and impact of a public act of violence."

 

I'd be pretty surprised if it were anything like 60 - 90 seconds. Eyewitness accounts are notoriously inaccurate, especially as to estimating time intervals. And it sounds like the blog quoting that figure got it from a single source, so who knows.

 

I completely agree with this but see more editors today shirking away from publishing photos, stories or video in this vein because they don't want to put up with shit from readers wanting happy news.