I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm trying to find the silver lining and point it out to you, but it doesn't seem to be there.

I'm sorry to hear about your terrible loss. Hmmm... For me those words don't really mean anything. They are what are routinely said when someone hears about death or loss. Horrified would be more accurate this time. Horrified by what happened, horrified by how desensitised we have become to something so horrible happening. The thing is that things like this happen far too often and the media are a buffer between us and them, they sanitize everything and take away the sting and the horror.

I can't imagine how anyone could be bored about such things but then, I can. The fire fighter proably handles a lot of things like this so he has to switch off his horror button or he wouldn't be able to carry on. The policeman can't commit himself to anything or a clever lawyer (damn them) would use it as a way to get his client (who isn't a man who did a horrifying thing but someone who pays the bills) and the presenter... well there's no excuse for her.

I am genuinely sorry that we, as people who don't feel horrified nearly enough these days have let your friend and his family down so badly and I send sincere and best wishes that they all come through this somehow.

Blessings to you all

I'm sorry to hear about that. My sister works as a nurse. When you're in a field that puts you close to people who died or are dying in a tragic way, you have to turn the button that makes you care off, or else you will go insane. It's sad, but it's what they have to do. There's no real silver lining here, as Mark said, but tragedy can often bring out the best in people. I'm betting your friend will be able to summon a personal strength and courage he never knew he had.

Thinking of you

To the news media, trite and cliched phrases concerning death are more appealing than a person's name. They add more zing to the headline news. And being bored? That's probably the most genuine emotion displayed by any of those you mentioned. I wonder if their audience isn't just as bored with all the murder and mayhem depicted on the TV and in the newspapers. It's gotten to the point that the weather forecast is the most palatable segment of the nightly news, and the weather forecast is correct about half the time.

My best wishes to you and your friend's family in dealing with this loss.

It's terrible, but the media and the police are often hardened to even the most brutal of crimes. It's not that they don't care. They just deal with it day in and day out to the point where they are desensitized. I hope your friend is going to be okay. This has to be a very difficult time for him.