In case my audience wasn't tuned in to Dateline NBC, I'll inform the reader that the report described the deaths of two girls resulting from a fight at an unsupervised party at a fancy suburban home. The pressing question was what circumstances had caused the situation (i.e. two individuals fighting and 40 others egging them on) and what could stop it from happening again. Doesn't this sound like a perfect picture of crowd behavior, the bystander effect mixed with a bit of adolescent mob mentality? No, says Dateline's psychologist, the situation was brought on by lack of supervision and underage drinking, and in order to protect their children, parents are advised to get phone numbers for parties their children will be attending and call to make sure there will be supervision and no alcohol.
Those factors probably played a part, but...need I even say it? What do you think will happen to the children whose parents call to make sure parties are legit, compared to the average? On the other hand, how would the situation change if the parents decided instead to, say, teach good values by example, keep an open line of communication with their children, and above all trust them to do what's right?
I guess I just find it frustrating that a program seemingly intended to enlighten the public on social problems and their possible remedies would be so afraid of causing a stir, instead stating the most accepted solution as their remedy of choice. But the correspondent sure was well-dressed, huh? Now that's reporting.
p.s. And don't forget about the murdered girl's parents thoughts on the murderer's upbringing. What could have caused her to grow up this way when she had been given everything she needed to become a virtuous human being? She wasn't even sick or poor, they said. Gee, poor, that would explain it. Why, Dateline? Why?