General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWE'RE ALL GONNA DIEŽ brought to you by The Weather Channel
I live in NY and am affected by this storm, but this post is a long time coming. The Weather Channel is no longer a meteorological reporting channel with elements of entertainment. Now they are an Entertainment and Fear network with elements of meteorology. The coverage of this storm and others has been all about drama and fear. The first bad sign was the naming of storms.
BOSTON -- Meteorologists might not be sure whether the storm heading into the East Coast will drop 12 inches or 24, but they are sure about one thing this storm is definitely, absolutely, not called Nemo.
But thats what the Weather Channel has decided to call it, part of a policy announced in the fall in which the TV station will give names to winter storms so that people can more easily follow them.
Its angered a few meteorologists, and has spurred a Facebook page, "STOP the Weather Channel from naming winter storms."
<snip>
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nemo-winter-storm-20130208,0,401412.story
But is it any surprise considering that the Weather Channel is now owned by Comcast and Bain?
The weather is no longer something to be aware of. It is now something designed to entertain and terrify (not in any particular order).
Don't believe me? Look at weather.com over the last couple days. Besides the scientifically unsupported naming of winter storms, there's the blaring headlines:
"Live Threatening Storm Closes in?
"Blizzard Imminent!"
"Watch: 19-Car Pileup"
I understand the storm is "a big deal." NutmegYankee makes an important point.
I see the weather outside and it is significant. I get it. We're going to get a lot of snow and wind and ice in some places. But we have gone past information and awareness to alarmism and hype.
In America, nothing is safe from corporate exploitation including the weather. We're one step closer to Idiocracy.
sasha031
(6,700 posts)I wasn't aware weather channel is owned by Bain, thanks for the info.
Dreamer Tatum
(10,926 posts)The weather will happen anyway.
Renew Deal
(81,861 posts)That's a funny point.
Xipe Totec
(43,890 posts)Canuckistanian
(42,290 posts)Why does everything on American TV have to be so dramatic? What's wrong with the plain facts and maybe even a little educating the masses?
Don't tell me, I know. Death and destruction sells. And there's money to be made.
gourmet
(4 posts)Name makes the storm sound more ominous, making people want to check out the current status, making people tune into the Weather Channel.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)which they still do on their web page, dunno about their tv since I dumped the tube a few years ago.
RoccoR5955
(12,471 posts)Long ago.
I also remove their software from people's computers at work, and replace it with their local weather forecast from the National Weather Service.
Much better website, no ads, so it loads much faster. Not to mention, it's where all the others get their data from.
check out http://www.weather.gov
Type in your zip code, and there's your weather!
OneMoreDemocrat
(913 posts)but not OK to name Winter ones?
I can only assume that there were a 'few angry meteorologists' (someone somewhere is always thus), when someone started naming Hurricanes as well.
Anyhow, I applaud the weather channel for making weather interesting and fun.
Sorry I can't add to the outrage.
Have a safe weekend.
tridim
(45,358 posts)They mainline the weather during tornado season.
The local TV meteorologists aren't any better, they instill massive amounts of fear too. Ratings.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)You'd think people would take this seriously. NWS product, which the Weather Channel uses, s alarmist I s'pose.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)It's just baffling.
Weather predicting has become far more accurate. Will become less as a few satellites die, but enjoy it...
AsahinaKimi
(20,776 posts)Allow me to say.. Mou, iya desu. Sonna koto o suru wake ni wa ikimasen.
(I can't very well do such a thing.)
Blue_In_AK
(46,436 posts)and it doesn't even get a mention anywhere but Alaska's local news.
Go Vols
(5,902 posts)was just on MSNBC,never mentioned the word Nemo and instead referred to a winter storm/blizzard as NOAA and all news outlets do.
bunnies
(15,859 posts)thats what they tell me.
modrepub
(3,496 posts)I suspect this will be fun to watch: http://w1.weather.gov/data/obhistory/KMWN.html
Currently: -2 F, Snow/Freezing Fog, 300 ft visibility, drifting snow, winds 23 kts (25 mph)
Mt Washington Observatory: http://www.mountwashington.org/weather/conditions.php
I suspect we'll see some hurricane force winds early this morning.