Photos Of Burning Woman Signal Underlying Problem
WEST MIAMI-DADE (CBS4)
A woman just stood by taking pictures as Cecilia Casals burned inside the Mall of the Americas.
Cecilia Casals is in critical condition after purposely setting herself on fire at the Mall of the Americas. What is more shocking is that many people stopped and took pictures of her burning body instead of helping.
Still images and even video captured by cell phone cameras show the woman doused in flammable liquid and walking past stores.
"It looked like something out of movie," said John Torres, who actually stopped to help the woman.
However, dozens just gawked, and many pulled out their camera phones to capture the event.
Torres cut his hand as he bashed the glass in front of a fire extinguisher case. When the fire on her was out, the shoppers-turned-paparazzi didn't stop. CBS4 News asked why.
"Voyeurism is something that is a natural impulse. People get pleasure out of watching certain things," said Dr. Ewald Horwath, Chairman of UM's psychiatry unit.
Dr. Horwath told CBS4 fear may have played a major role in why people didn't help. Some overcome fear easier than others. However, the fact that more people went for cameras rather than extinguishers may be a sign of a defense mechanism.
"The camera or smart phone is another way of putting something between yourself and shocking frightening event," said Dr. Horwath.
"Instead of watching, participating, and getting emotionally involved in a way that might lead you to do something, you take a picture and it's a kind of distancing thing."
He believes your exposure to violence, whether in sports, violent reality TV or even the CBS4 newscast all plays a role in desensitizing our natural reactions. Had this happened in a small town, he says, the outcome may have been different.
"You have a lot of violent events that occur that maybe make folks in those urban cores a little more immunized to it," he said, "or reluctant to involve themselves."
Which means Torres isn't just a hero for putting this fire out, he's a rarity.
When asked if he'd do it again, Torres answered, "Yeah. Anyday."
CBS4 News spoke to the woman who took some of the pictures shown on air. She said it was her natural reaction to take them. She said her aunt thought it was a show promoting a product. She knew it wasn't though, because she could see the flesh burning.
Epilogue
Woman Who Set Herself On Fire At Mall Dies
(8/19/2009)
No comments:
Post a Comment