General Discussion

Baltimike

(4,441 posts)

60. YES!! The social media following perpetuated this coverage

Mon Sep 20, 2021, 10:32 AM

Sep 2021

It wasn't a national story until their channel's followers made it one. I remember thinking this exact thing too....had these been black folk, CHRONICLING THEIR VENTURES WITH A SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING, it would have generated this response...with this exception: had the boyfriend been black, he would have been arrested for grand theft and held without bond.

But the coverage came from their channel and people who are into 'the van life' and the like.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

205 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

If Gabby Petito had brown skin, would it be the national story we are witnessing? [View all] RAB910 Sep 2021 OP

No. we can do it Sep 2021 #1

Sadly, I think you are correct. Movies and TV shows love to show women tied up Walleye Sep 2021 #2

No, we wouldn't Bettie Sep 2021 #3

I'm not sure if its that clean cut Amishman Sep 2021 #175

And, maybe not if she was white and ugly Laura PourMeADrink Sep 2021 #184

Agreed Amishman Sep 2021 #205

White is the common denominator StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #185

No Duncanpup Sep 2021 #4

Probably not - the TV audience would be smaller and the story wouldn't pull the same ratings Klaralven Sep 2021 #5

It might make the evening news once Clash City Rocker Sep 2021 #6

How many Native American, Hispanic, Refugee, Asian, (human trafficking) and women of color ... Botany Sep 2021 #7

Not that many, given these are minority populations treestar Sep 2021 #76

No. There is always a missing or dead white girl story going on. Tomconroy Sep 2021 #8

..and there are more missing / dead males yet males also participate in media frenzy Demovictory9 Sep 2021 #126

Thank you! Always nice to know someone is reading my posts! Tomconroy Sep 2021 #132

Media coverage doesn't equal justice. This country doesn't give a shit about violence against WhiskeyGrinder Sep 2021 #9

Agree, but justice isn't blind either Johnny2X2X Sep 2021 #12

I don't consider an arrest and an incarceration to be "justice." WhiskeyGrinder Sep 2021 #13

What? What does justice mean then...you catch the guilty party...now granted as I have Demsrule86 Sep 2021 #52

It means she would have gotten the help she needed before it ever came to her death. WhiskeyGrinder Sep 2021 #78

I see. I completely agree...justice delayed (in this case) is for sure justice denied...thanks, I Demsrule86 Sep 2021 #140

+1. Green River killer got away for so long for this reason also, radius777 Sep 2021 #199

It wouldn't Johnny2X2X Sep 2021 #10

This one got attention because she's a Youtube star LeftInTX Sep 2021 #18

6000 subscribers is a star? Johnny2X2X Sep 2021 #19

I see 17K, but once word gets out, everyone will click and you don't need to subscribe. LeftInTX Sep 2021 #20

a week ago they had 326 subs Celerity Sep 2021 #116

They were gaining followers...and were on the upswing. Demsrule86 Sep 2021 #50

But this gave the press lots of video to work with- a meticulously recorded road trip &police videos womanofthehills Sep 2021 #55

Schulte and Turner are lesbians, radius777 Sep 2021 #200

6000? A week ago they had 326 subs. This whole (not by you) 'they were stars' meme is bullshit Celerity Sep 2021 #115

+1. Agree, the meme itself, and more importantly radius777 Sep 2021 #201

I found the story compelling and I had no idea she was a "star". NH Ethylene Sep 2021 #29

I got obsessed with the Tylee and JJ disappearance LeftInTX Sep 2021 #65

Young, pretty and seemingly innocent makes many feel sorry for her. honest.abe Sep 2021 #22

Young pretty and WHITE StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #24

Sure that is a factor but there is more to the story than that. honest.abe Sep 2021 #26

Really? StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #28

Vanessa Guillen was a huge national media story honest.abe Sep 2021 #31

Pointing to the one time someone not white was covered doesn't answer my question StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #34

The question.. "Can you point to anytime in the last, say, 20 years" honest.abe Sep 2021 #37

You're ignoring that there are a lot more white women in America. RestoRay Sep 2021 #130

Ew don't add logic to convo. :) Laura PourMeADrink Sep 2021 #183

It took a while for this to get attention. Latina Celebrities and other major Latina figures were JI7 Sep 2021 #41

Do you think her military service was the hook? RAB910 Sep 2021 #64

Absolutely. It has drawn attention to Ft Hood LeftInTX Sep 2021 #68

It's because she was a soldier. If she was a regular MVP Kamala Sep 2021 #195

There is no doubt the media goes with pretty and white. NH Ethylene Sep 2021 #32

20 yrs ago we did not record everthing we do - we have good videos of Gabby eating organic dinner, womanofthehills Sep 2021 #63

And yet, 20 years ago, cable news managed to still do saturation coverage of missing white women StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #71

Agree Johnny2X2X Sep 2021 #27

True. But I am amazed - although I shouldn't be given other things I've seen here StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #30

Yeah Johnny2X2X Sep 2021 #33

Yup. And that WE'RE causing the racial divide in America StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #36

Can't agree more Johnny2X2X Sep 2021 #38

I wish to God I could disagree with you. LanternWaste Sep 2021 #147

It's weird how so many white people seem to know that "racist" is a bad thing to be...... ShazzieB Sep 2021 #189

Excellent point! StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #191

No doubt that national coverage favors white women, but TheProle Sep 2021 #98

This discussion is about how national media covers these stories StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #111

Thank you TheProle Sep 2021 #121

You are welcome StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #125

Pretty may be the key treestar Sep 2021 #75

You're grasping at straws StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #84

Exactly! You could turn on Forensic Files randomly MVP Kamala Sep 2021 #194

Yes StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #197

NOT AT ALL SallyHemmings Sep 2021 #11

I was thinking the same thing. Kablooie Sep 2021 #14

On local news, most likely Lulu KC Sep 2021 #172

In the overwhelming majority of cases, no. GoCubsGo Sep 2021 #15

They should try us. I think they'd be surprised how many people would care. n/t NH Ethylene Sep 2021 #35

Exactly. They often perpetuate bias by assuming what their audience is want to see StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #39

My sentiments, exactly! nt GoCubsGo Sep 2021 #44

the chances a person is white are greater since there treestar Sep 2021 #51

Forty percent of the population is non-white or mixed race. GoCubsGo Sep 2021 #83

Very true - attractive is likely the key treestar Sep 2021 #178

How many pretty women of color whose disappearances have gotten this kind of coverage can you cite? StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #186

Yes NJCher Sep 2021 #16

How many pretty young Black victims have gotten this kind of coverage? StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #25

if you regularly watch crime shows NJCher Sep 2021 #45

We're not talking a out "crime shows " StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #48

re-read, please NJCher Sep 2021 #56

No need for me to re-read it - I read your entire post before I responded to it StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #66

prove you know what I'm saying NJCher Sep 2021 #69

Or you can assume StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #73

for the record, then NJCher Sep 2021 #74

I agree completely. I like to see this story get publicity and others as it might make some women Demsrule86 Sep 2021 #43

Not to seem indifferent. Etherealoc1 Sep 2021 #17

Well you do seem indifferent. This happens to women of all colors. And it is a terrible thing. Demsrule86 Sep 2021 #46

Um that was rhetorical Etherealoc1 Sep 2021 #101

I really think she was going get followers as the van thing is big right now. Demsrule86 Sep 2021 #139

no nt Celerity Sep 2021 #21

Be careful StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #23

I actually don't know Johonny Sep 2021 #40

Ask yourself these questions StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #42

If 7% of the stories cover black women that would be about right.. EX500rider Sep 2021 #103

That's a silly argument StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #112

Yeah, no EX500rider Sep 2021 #129

I should have been more specific StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #131

Even if you assume the percentage of women who are missing/murdered is the same NH Ethylene Sep 2021 #136

Exactly StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #138

"Unless you know the percentages " EX500rider Sep 2021 #180

Because I'm not claiming the population percentages should drive the coverage StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #182

Actually you are the one claiming it should be based on percentages of crimes by race. EX500rider Sep 2021 #198

No - that's not what I claimed StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #203

Here is her van life video- it says a lot! womanofthehills Sep 2021 #142

She was an after the fact social media influencer RAB910 Sep 2021 #59

That's sort of my point Johonny Sep 2021 #72

No. Iggo Sep 2021 #47

Yes, if she were doing the same thing on you tube treestar Sep 2021 #49

Can you name any missing Black women who got national coverage like this? StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #53

She was an after the fact social media influencer RAB910 Sep 2021 #58

She wouldn't have had that if she weren't attractive treestar Sep 2021 #179

this is more or less what America has been reduced to BannonsLiver Sep 2021 #82

Well that settles it for me. BannonsLiver Sep 2021 #54

No. Goodheart Sep 2021 #57

YES!! The social media following perpetuated this coverage Baltimike Sep 2021 #60

She was an after the fact social media influencer RAB910 Sep 2021 #61

But those thousand were the alarm ringers Baltimike Sep 2021 #108

Probably not, although a large segment of Virginia phylny Sep 2021 #62

Maybe, if she was hot, if Gabby weighed 350 lbs, would it be national news? Hot young sexy sells Shanti Shanti Shanti Sep 2021 #67

Kind of a sad murder mystery at this point, need to see how it ends. Wingus Dingus Sep 2021 #70

I agree it probably wouldn't be a national story but you're missing the reasons why. RestoRay Sep 2021 #77

Two letters. OJ nt joetheman Sep 2021 #79

So you aren't interested in white or black victims? marble falls Sep 2021 #85

I wouldn't put it that way. RestoRay Sep 2021 #100

Why is it always seeming to be 'cute', white females? How much more likely is it that a black ... marble falls Sep 2021 #104

Because the media is a business based on eyeballs. RestoRay Sep 2021 #107

So it is a racist decision. marble falls Sep 2021 #109

I wouldn't call it racist. RestoRay Sep 2021 #110

You think that the networks should only cover stories about people based upon whether StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #113

I think the networks are only interested in stories that will gain the most attention. RestoRay Sep 2021 #135

Seriously? StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #137

No one is defending anything. RestoRay Sep 2021 #141

Do you have statistics showing the numbers of white women kidnapped and murdered versus StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #144

If you have a source to those stats I'll take a look. RestoRay Sep 2021 #149

What you think and what is are two different things StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #154

If you have a source that proves my assumption wrong, please provide a link. RestoRay Sep 2021 #155

I don't need to prove your assumption wrong StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #156

Yes you do. RestoRay Sep 2021 #159

Lol - you have no idea how this works, do you? StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #160

This is just getting bizzare. RestoRay Sep 2021 #163

You can use a calculator and the Census website to prove the stats I'm talking about. RestoRay Sep 2021 #157

You're comparing apples and oranges StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #158

It has everything to do with overall population. RestoRay Sep 2021 #161

Percentage of the population is not the determinant of who gets coverage on particular stories StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #162

Ok so you just don't understand the media business at all. RestoRay Sep 2021 #165

LOL. I understand the "media business" quite well StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #168

Less An Excuse Than A Theory I Think... Jim G. Sep 2021 #150

And what's perceived as "sexy" is often seen through a racial prism StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #152

I Suppose You Can Make Anything "Racial" If That's Your Intention Jim G. Sep 2021 #166

Because if Black people and our allies didn't make everything "racial" ... You know the rest StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #167

+1 BannonsLiver Sep 2021 #171

There are three dead women, maybe more DenaliDemocrat Sep 2021 #80

You might also consider all the true crime stories on TV/cable joetheman Sep 2021 #81

I don't remember the last time a black woman was in CNN for 5 days Sabrielo Sep 2021 #86

I do! Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction at the Super Bowl in 2004. NH Ethylene Sep 2021 #146

Lol Sabrielo Sep 2021 #181

If she was an attractive and young Black or Hispanic woman? Absolutely. Drunken Irishman Sep 2021 #87

Do you think that no attractive black, or Hispanic women have burned murdered by their boyfriends? StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #89

I guarantee there are hundreds of white women missing at this moment... Drunken Irishman Sep 2021 #91

The fact that every single murdered white woman does not get coverage StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #94

I outlined my reasoning. Drunken Irishman Sep 2021 #96

It is the same reason... LiberatedUSA Sep 2021 #164

Oh boy. That's another hornets nest you don't want to kick here... Drunken Irishman Sep 2021 #190

Yep. honest.abe Sep 2021 #95

A black girl like this would get attention of the media Klaralven Sep 2021 #90

I think any attractive person would. Drunken Irishman Sep 2021 #93

You think that no attractive young black women have ever been missing or murdered? StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #120

No ismnotwasm Sep 2021 #88

I hope not to sound shallow by mentioning a movie... Chili Sep 2021 #169

About the 10th GD OP making this same point maxsolomon Sep 2021 #92

It's known as DUronic lame54 Sep 2021 #97

Oh I would do it. Considered it even ismnotwasm Sep 2021 #99

Just go on websleuths.com. There are a ton of white women who go missing every SweetieD Sep 2021 #102

Social media impact, undoubtedly, live video cams, the whole thing playing out in real time, almost Shanti Shanti Shanti Sep 2021 #134

She got the pretty and she got the white sammythecat Sep 2021 #105

and YOUNG Skittles Sep 2021 #143

Probably not, but her family plays a big role in the media attention too. Buckeye_Democrat Sep 2021 #106

Numerous black families have begged the media to cover their missing female family members StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #114

I've been following the recent mass graves of indigenous children ismnotwasm Sep 2021 #117

it gets worse...black females are often portrayed as prostitutes... in the category of "risky behavi Demovictory9 Sep 2021 #118

Anyone with even the slightest "blemishes" in their histories will likely get it shared... Buckeye_Democrat Sep 2021 #124

Canada had a serial killer running around. the case was solved when he killed a white male, he Demovictory9 Sep 2021 #128

I'm not too surprised, and such inconsistencies are wrong. Buckeye_Democrat Sep 2021 #119

The inconsistencies are indeed annoying StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #122

Probably not but.... kentuck Sep 2021 #123

I can say without even really knowing.... JuJuChen Sep 2021 #127

I really don't understand why people have a problem acknowledging that our media ismnotwasm Sep 2021 #133

Fascinating, isn't it? StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #145

Yeah I am disturbed by this, but unfortunately not surprised ismnotwasm Sep 2021 #148

This OP is quite disturbing mcar Sep 2021 #173

It is, isn't it? StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #174

The percentage of the US population thing is nuts mcar Sep 2021 #176

It's completely nuts. And utterly desperate StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #177

International. meadowlander Sep 2021 #151

Undoubtedly not misanthrope Sep 2021 #153

no Chili Sep 2021 #170

If she had a YouTube channel with 40K followers, probably TexasBushwhacker Sep 2021 #187

Did she have 40k YouTube followers when she disappeared? StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #188

I don't have a problem saying race MAY (your words) play a role TexasBushwhacker Sep 2021 #193

Can you cite any young, pretty Black or brown women whose disappearance StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #196

We had a local story that was pretty big. However, it did not hit the national media too much LeftInTX Sep 2021 #202

We're not talking about local coverage. We're talking about national coverage StarfishSaver Sep 2021 #204

NO MVP Kamala Sep 2021 #192