NPR’s On The Media (audio): https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm
Podcast: https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/episodes/on-the-media-great-white-lies
This podcast I listened to proclaimed the new fear of sharks. The podcast claimed that people were not always afraid of sharks. In the 1800s people swam freely and did not think twice about sharks, which I think is very concerning that they were so in the dark about what possibly could be out in the ocean. There are more problems to getting bit by a shark than just the bite, within the shark’s mouth they have bacteria-laden teeth which when humans are bitten they ultimately die from the actual bacteria in the teeth not the actual bite. I learned that in the early 1900s some resorts in New Jersey did not have the sewage capability to store it elsewhere than the ocean, so the immense amount of sewage that flowed into the ocean attracted sharks. The people who created this sewage problem had no idea what it would do to the ocean, it attracted many bait fish then the sharks would follow into the shore and come in contact with people swimming on the water.
People in the media are starting to call these shark attacks shark incidents/accidents because an attack seems too harsh. These animals are wildlife and the humans are technically in their habitat and home, which they are not used to. So by calling these incidents “attacks” it is objectifying the shark into seeming like its intentions were bad and harmful. Officials are commenting on these new names some claiming that it is stupid, while others claiming it is a good way to look at these incidents because nobody actually knows what type of intentions the shark actually has. An argument I have to this news in the media is that I disagree with the speakers on the podcast saying that little shark bites should not be seen as attacks, I feel that if you get bitten by a shark at any cost it should be written up as an attack. I feel this way because even if the shark’s intentions were not to kill you, or even if they had no idea what they were actually doing it still is an injury to a human. Just like if a dog bit you, you would classify that as an attack, not an incident.
