My friend and editor Scott Leffler wrote an excellent piece on the irresponsibility of Channel 2 and their coverage of the LPD’s outdated computer system. I don’t use racial terms because I honestly do not want to offend anyone and I have no idea what is offensive these days. So let’s just say that the LPD computer system was critiqued for having a decidedly 1960’s feel to it. Channel 2 went on the prowl and now Lockport is a town full of racists. I agree with the boss that this is not only irresponsible, it is also unethical.

I wish the Channel 2 incident was one of those uncommon situations in the media, but it isn’t. The media is constantly trying to scare the crap out of the American people for the sake of ratings. Not to toot our own horn here at East Niagara Post, but we like to think that we are not your typical media outlet. We deal in facts and we deal in useful information. If there is news in East Niagara, then it shows up here.

Scott leaves the editorial spins to idiots like me and that terrifying conservationist Bob Confer. Once a week, Leffler puts aside his responsible journalist hat and he puts his spin on things as well. But where Scott is the controlled and rational side of East Niagara, I tend to be the completely out of control and chaotic side. One cannot exist without the other, I hope.

The problem with the media that gets served up to the masses is that it is done without that sense of journalistic responsibility. There was a time when being a journalist was a noble profession that was respected by the community. This was long before televisions and electric lights. These days, the news is just a product being produced by people who know what sells the most – fear.

Ebola is coming. EBOLA IS COMING! Run! Trust the media! This is worse than SARS, Bird Flu, West Nile Virus, and the other 10 dozen deadly diseases that have been in the news the past few years!

Ebola is not new. Ebola is not just being discovered. It has been around for a very long time and it is a virus. That means that there really is no cure for it. At the same time, it is difficult to contract Ebola in the United States. But don’t tell that to the media.

Did you know that hundreds, possibly thousands, of people in the United States die from the flu every year? I bet you didn’t know that. Do you know why you do not know that? Because when the flu kills, it kills very young or very old people. It kills people with weakened immune systems that are unable to fight off the virus. That means that the flu is not a threat to a healthy person of average age. With the right amount of fluids and bed rest, the flu usually runs its course without incident.

Every so often, the media will throw a fancy name on a flu virus and try to terrify the public. Yes the Bird Flu killed people, but it is just like any other flu virus in that it is a threat mostly to people with weakened immune systems. The same goes for SARS and the West Nile Virus. All names that strike terror into the public for no reason whatsoever.

Let’s look at some facts about Ebola and try to counteract the terror the media is attempting to create. Ebola is only transmitted through bodily fluids such as blood, sweat, saliva, and semen. Unless you plan on walking down a crowded city street grabbing people’s sweaty arms with your bare hands, then you can probably rest easy about getting Ebola.

The biggest difference between Ebola and many flu viruses is that Ebola cannot be transmitted through the air. That means that you can be in a crowded room with people who have Ebola and you are safe as long as you do not make skin to skin contact with them, randomly French kiss one of them, or get into a bloody knife fight.

Is Ebola ridiculous? Of course not. It is a very serious condition that has killed hundreds of people. But it has killed hundreds of people in parts of the world where Purell is not used every 10 minutes. It kills people who do not shower every day and who do not wash their utensils before using them. In short, the things that you do out of habit every day do a great deal to protect you from contracting this deadly condition.

Be smart and be responsible when it comes to something like Ebola. Practice good hygiene habits and avoid having unprotected sex with random people you meet in the streets. But, most of all don’t let the media use Ebola to scare you into feeling like you have to watch CNN just to survive. Go out and enjoy yourself. Do yourself a favor and stick with news outlets that focus on real news. News outlets like East Niagara Post. We appreciate it!

Nick Oliver is a complete shill and attention monger. His column appears every Wednesday and could save your life one day.

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