General Discussion

Renew Deal

(81,861 posts) Fri Feb 8, 2013, 06:41 PM Feb 2013

WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE® brought to you by The Weather Channel

I live in NY and am affected by this storm, but this post is a long time coming. The Weather Channel is no longer a meteorological reporting channel with elements of entertainment. Now they are an Entertainment and Fear network with elements of meteorology. The coverage of this storm and others has been all about drama and fear. The first bad sign was the naming of storms.

Naming a winter storm? Meteorologists are appalled by Nemo

BOSTON -- Meteorologists might not be sure whether the storm heading into the East Coast will drop 12 inches or 24, but they are sure about one thing – this storm is definitely, absolutely, not called Nemo.

But that’s what the Weather Channel has decided to call it, part of a policy announced in the fall in which the TV station will give names to winter storms so that people can more easily follow them.

It’s angered a few meteorologists, and has spurred a Facebook page, "STOP the Weather Channel from naming winter storms."
<snip>

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nemo-winter-storm-20130208,0,401412.story

But is it any surprise considering that the Weather Channel is now owned by Comcast and Bain?

The weather is no longer something to be aware of. It is now something designed to entertain and terrify (not in any particular order).

Don't believe me? Look at weather.com over the last couple days. Besides the scientifically unsupported naming of winter storms, there's the blaring headlines:

"Live Threatening Storm Closes in?
"Blizzard Imminent!"
"Watch: 19-Car Pileup"

I understand the storm is "a big deal." NutmegYankee makes an important point.
I see the weather outside and it is significant. I get it. We're going to get a lot of snow and wind and ice in some places. But we have gone past information and awareness to alarmism and hype.

In America, nothing is safe from corporate exploitation including the weather. We're one step closer to Idiocracy.

20 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE® brought to you by The Weather Channel (Original Post) Renew Deal Feb 2013 OP

We're watching local Boston stations sasha031 Feb 2013 #1

You have the option of turning off your television. Dreamer Tatum Feb 2013 #2

lol Renew Deal Feb 2013 #4

This rant brought to you by Frosted Mini Wheats. Now with 40% fewer recalls. nt Xipe Totec Feb 2013 #3

lol Renew Deal Feb 2013 #5

The Foxification of simple weather reporting Canuckistanian Feb 2013 #6

This is a money making scheme by the Weather Channel gourmet Feb 2013 #7

I tuned out when they started calling their forecasts "products" dixiegrrrrl Feb 2013 #18

I tuned out of the Weather Fear Monger Channel RoccoR5955 Feb 2013 #20

So, it's OK to name Summer storms and hurricanes.. OneMoreDemocrat Feb 2013 #8

And it's addictive. Just ask my parents. tridim Feb 2013 #9

I remember reading arguments like this before Superstorm Sandy hit nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #10

Never poke a hiberating bear. Let them wake up at their own speed. freshwest Feb 2013 #11

Good point nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #13

As someone, who is accused of being an paid WEATHER CHANNEL underground operative AsahinaKimi Feb 2013 #12

We've had storms that drop a couple feet in a 24-hour period Blue_In_AK Feb 2013 #14

Jim Cantore from the weather channel Go Vols Feb 2013 #15

Im in NH. Im gonna die more than you. bunnies Feb 2013 #16

Mt Washington Obs modrepub Feb 2013 #17

I quit watching the Weather Channel today.....when the power went out. TheCowsCameHome Feb 2013 #19

sasha031

(6,700 posts)

1. We're watching local Boston stations

Reply to Renew Deal (Original post)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 06:45 PM

Feb 2013

I wasn't aware weather channel is owned by Bain, thanks for the info.

Dreamer Tatum

(10,926 posts)

2. You have the option of turning off your television.

Reply to Renew Deal (Original post)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 06:45 PM

Feb 2013

The weather will happen anyway.

Renew Deal

(81,861 posts)

4. lol

Reply to Dreamer Tatum (Reply #2)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 06:49 PM

Feb 2013

That's a funny point.

Xipe Totec

(43,890 posts)

3. This rant brought to you by Frosted Mini Wheats. Now with 40% fewer recalls. nt

Reply to Renew Deal (Original post)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 06:47 PM

Feb 2013

Renew Deal

(81,861 posts)

5. lol

Reply to Xipe Totec (Reply #3)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 06:50 PM

Feb 2013

Canuckistanian

(42,290 posts)

6. The Foxification of simple weather reporting

Reply to Renew Deal (Original post)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 06:54 PM

Feb 2013

Why does everything on American TV have to be so dramatic? What's wrong with the plain facts and maybe even a little educating the masses?

Don't tell me, I know. Death and destruction sells. And there's money to be made.

gourmet

(4 posts)

7. This is a money making scheme by the Weather Channel

Reply to Renew Deal (Original post)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 06:56 PM

Feb 2013

Name makes the storm sound more ominous, making people want to check out the current status, making people tune into the Weather Channel.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)

18. I tuned out when they started calling their forecasts "products"

Reply to gourmet (Reply #7)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 07:49 PM

Feb 2013

which they still do on their web page, dunno about their tv since I dumped the tube a few years ago.

RoccoR5955

(12,471 posts)

20. I tuned out of the Weather Fear Monger Channel

Reply to gourmet (Reply #7)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 08:16 PM

Feb 2013

Long ago.
I also remove their software from people's computers at work, and replace it with their local weather forecast from the National Weather Service.
Much better website, no ads, so it loads much faster. Not to mention, it's where all the others get their data from.

check out http://www.weather.gov

Type in your zip code, and there's your weather!

OneMoreDemocrat

(913 posts)

8. So, it's OK to name Summer storms and hurricanes..

Reply to Renew Deal (Original post)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 06:57 PM

Feb 2013

but not OK to name Winter ones?

I can only assume that there were a 'few angry meteorologists' (someone somewhere is always thus), when someone started naming Hurricanes as well.

Anyhow, I applaud the weather channel for making weather interesting and fun.

Sorry I can't add to the outrage.

Have a safe weekend.

tridim

(45,358 posts)

9. And it's addictive. Just ask my parents.

Reply to Renew Deal (Original post)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 06:59 PM

Feb 2013

They mainline the weather during tornado season.

The local TV meteorologists aren't any better, they instill massive amounts of fear too. Ratings.

nadinbrzezinski

(154,021 posts)

10. I remember reading arguments like this before Superstorm Sandy hit

Reply to Renew Deal (Original post)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 07:00 PM

Feb 2013

You'd think people would take this seriously. NWS product, which the Weather Channel uses, s alarmist I s'pose.

freshwest

(53,661 posts)

11. Never poke a hiberating bear. Let them wake up at their own speed.

Reply to nadinbrzezinski (Reply #10)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 07:19 PM

Feb 2013

nadinbrzezinski

(154,021 posts)

13. Good point

Reply to freshwest (Reply #11)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 07:26 PM

Feb 2013

It's just baffling.

Weather predicting has become far more accurate. Will become less as a few satellites die, but enjoy it...

AsahinaKimi

(20,776 posts)

12. As someone, who is accused of being an paid WEATHER CHANNEL underground operative

Reply to Renew Deal (Original post)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 07:25 PM

Feb 2013

Allow me to say.. Mou, iya desu. Sonna koto o suru wake ni wa ikimasen.

(I can't very well do such a thing.)

Blue_In_AK

(46,436 posts)

14. We've had storms that drop a couple feet in a 24-hour period

Reply to Renew Deal (Original post)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 07:28 PM

Feb 2013

and it doesn't even get a mention anywhere but Alaska's local news.

Go Vols

(5,902 posts)

15. Jim Cantore from the weather channel

Reply to Renew Deal (Original post)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 07:30 PM

Feb 2013

was just on MSNBC,never mentioned the word Nemo and instead referred to a winter storm/blizzard as NOAA and all news outlets do.

bunnies

(15,859 posts)

16. Im in NH. Im gonna die more than you.

Reply to Renew Deal (Original post)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 07:30 PM

Feb 2013

thats what they tell me.

modrepub

(3,496 posts)

17. Mt Washington Obs

Reply to Renew Deal (Original post)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 07:36 PM

Feb 2013

I suspect this will be fun to watch: http://w1.weather.gov/data/obhistory/KMWN.html

Currently: -2 F, Snow/Freezing Fog, 300 ft visibility, drifting snow, winds 23 kts (25 mph)

Mt Washington Observatory: http://www.mountwashington.org/weather/conditions.php

I suspect we'll see some hurricane force winds early this morning.

TheCowsCameHome

(40,168 posts)

19. I quit watching the Weather Channel today.....when the power went out.

Reply to Renew Deal (Original post)

Fri Feb 8, 2013, 08:14 PM

Feb 2013

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