Atrocity or Tragedy

[Anonymous]

I may be splitting hairs (no bugs bunny jokes) since I have a hard time finding words to describe what has happened and my feelings towards it.

In either case: The news media has been using the term Tragedy to describe the 9/11 events. I think they missed the mark and should be using something much stronger.


From http://www.dictionary.com/

Tragedy - A disastrous event, especially one involving distressing loss or injury to life: an expedition that ended in tragedy, with all hands lost at sea.

Atrocity - An appalling or atrocious act, situation, or object, especially an act of unusual or illegal cruelty inflicted by an armed force on civilians or prisoners.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

"Tragedy" are insured against. "Atrocity" may open the "act of war" exclusion.

I like "atrocity," but not for the reason stated above.

[Anonymous]

On 2001-09-26 15:01, Biker Actuary wrote:
I may be splitting hairs (no bugs bunny jokes) since I have a hard time finding words to describe what has happened and my feelings towards it.

In either case: The news media has been using the term Tragedy to describe the 9/11 events. I think they missed the mark and should be using something much stronger.


From http://www.dictionary.com/

Tragedy - A disastrous event, especially one involving distressing loss or injury to life: an expedition that ended in tragedy, with all hands lost at sea.

Atrocity - An appalling or atrocious act, situation, or object, especially an act of unusual or illegal cruelty inflicted by an armed force on civilians or prisoners.





Biker, why don't you write all the news agencies about this? Keep writing a letter, once a week until your point is acknowledged.

[Guerilla poster]

Not to steal the thunder from Bill Mahler but I disagree with the use of the word coward to describe the terrorists (Am. Heritage)

Cowardly - one who show cowardice

cowardice - ignoble fear in the face of danger or pain

don't think coward works in this case

[Gomer]

Shouldn't this be moved to a Rush Limbaugh discussion board? You've tipped your cards, BA. At least credit your source.

[Aaron Brachowitz]

BA, you have to remember that this is the same media that routinely includes the suicide bomber in total death counts in suicide bomb attacks ("seventeen, including the bomber himself"), the logic apparently being that all lives are equally precious. (This was the topic of another discussion thread about two forums ago.)

[Hierophant]

Gomer is right. I heard this on Rush today as well. I also agree that atrocity is more descriptive, as it connotes the actions of an agent of evil, rather than the vagaries of chance.

[Anonymous]

First off, when perky Katie calling it a tragedy I was deeply offended. But my grasp of the English language is in mathematics and profanity so I could not think of better word. At this time, my wife added a tragedy is for something like earth quakes, tornadoes, drownings… She was hard pressed to find the right word.

Yesterday, I overheard a conversation in an elevator with regards to tragedy vs. atrocity and it hit home with my feels of how the media (as usual) sucks. So if it was from Limbaugh so be it.

Half the time, I think Limbaugh is full of sh** and rarely listen to him. I prefer to read and think for myself rather than have some babbling pompous talk show host tell me what to think. A brain is a terrible thing to waste.

So f*** you Gomer Pyle and take your attitude and shove it where the sun don’t shine you backward ass mother f***er!

To all others, sorry for my mild use of profanity, it is what I work best in.

[Gomer]

Sorry BA. You seem like a reasonable person, diatribe notwithstanding.

I agree that atrocity is a better description of the events, but tragedy best decribes what has befallen the friends and relatives of the victims, don't you think?

[Anonymous]

My most sincere apology, I did not have any coffee this morning. Thus, I was grumpy and got carried away. I violated the number one rule of giving people sh**; I was not able to take it!

[Hierophant]

The point is: Yes, it IS very definitely a tragedy. However, unlike earthquakes and other natural phenomenon which can result in death and destruction for thousands, this was the willful act of man. Thus, "atrocity" or some other word is needed to remind us of the direct action of evil in this event.

(Not that we're likely to forget.)

[Damn, Dirty Ape]

My thinking is that the act was atrocious, and the results were tragic. Tragedy seems to reflect the victims while atrocity is related to the terrorists.

Another word to consider, Biker, is "heinous": hatefully or shockingly evil (according to Webster's).