Pangs of guilt
Aside from my duties as a city reporter, I also step in to cover breaking news events. So on Monday, when we heard that a man trying to steal copper wire was electrocuted and died, I'm the one who went out to the scene.
Today, I got a call from a reader thanking me for writing the story. “I was happy to read about that toasty critter,” he said of the man who had just died. “Guys like those are always trying to steal from me.”
Also in my voice mail this morning was a call from a woman who said that a friend of hers has been missing for several days, and she is concerned that he may be the man who was just killed. She sounded choked up, and was hoping I could help her identify the man.
When I first responded to the incident on Monday, I found it somewhat amusing and ironic that this man died while committing a robbery. Even officials at the scene made a couple of jokes, saying he was “dead wrong” for thinking the electrical vault was not on. But the friend who called in put this incident in perspective, and now I am feeling guilty for making light of someone else's pain.
Comments
It's nice to know that reporters can see the people they're writing about as human beings -- even if they are doing bad things. Sometimes I wonder. It's a lesson another blogger at your newspaper would be wise to learn.
And I believe the term is "pangs of guilt."
Posted by: MA | April 2, 2008 10:23 AM
The crispy critter got what he deserved. Quit felling guilty.
The courts would have done nothing had he been apprehended. One more criminal irrevocably rehabilitated.
Posted by: jammer | April 2, 2008 4:08 PM
Jennifer it is always sad when someone dies, but you shouldn't feel bad over the choices others make for themselves. Heck, this guy decided his fate...not anyone else.
Posted by: gilman | April 2, 2008 8:12 PM