By Mark W. Danielson
At first glance you see a
smiling man, but then his shirt identifies him as one of millions that celebrate
the 9/11 World Trade Center attack as a victory against the infidels. Hold this image as I discuss the need to write
responsibly.
Every day, images and stories
of murder and destruction inspire fiction writers. While most novels end with heroes overcoming
chaos, some unknowingly prompt copycat crimes.
Adding to this, there is a troubling trend of stories and shows that capitalize
on actual school shootings, murders, and abductions without regard for the
victims, or any concern that such wide-spread exposure may romanticize such criminal
acts. Recently, live TV preempted local
programing for hours to cover the manhunt for a “home grown” terrorist. Apparently they failed to realize that their
sensationalized filler made martyrs out of these bombers and may encourage more
acts. With bombings now the norm in large
and small screen plots, it was disturbing to find a Mystery Writers of America forensics
article on bombings so authors could “get it right.” Are these writers aware that by incorporating
such technical information in their novels, they may be inviting disaster? You may cry nonsense, but no one can predict a
criminal’s mind. Anyone having doubts
about how people can be affected by media input should watch Pain and Gain – a movie based on a true
story of how words and images lured people into criminal activity and murder. Authors should not only be cognizant of any
potential negative effects of their work, they should also accept
responsibility if a criminal acts from their prose.
Don’t get me wrong. I love reading and writing suspense. In fact, several years ago I was well into a
terrorist book, but then realized if it was published, the information I
provided could lead to serious security breaches. At that point I deleted the story and moved
on. Unfortunately, there are far too
many published cook books for terror. Remember
that our media and Google Earth were Bin Laden’s best intelligence sources.
Our freedom of expression
allows us to write and publish whatever we choose. As a result, the Internet is packed with
dangerous recipes bearing Constitutional protection. So, at what point do authors realize they
went too far? The day after a disaster,
or before their work is published? In
the United States, that choice is yours.
In other countries, they make that decision for you.
While every good mystery should
involve danger and risk, none should generate real harm to individuals. Take another look at the man’s grin and then share
your thoughts.
