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Comment by BaculumMeumEst | Hacker News Reader

> Residents are concerned about long-term effects of low-grade exposure.

> “There’s all that smoke and all those chemicals in there,” said Mason Shields, who lives in East Palestine and visited an aid center outside the evacuation zone. “I’m wondering if it’s even going to be safe for people to return within the next week or month or however long.”

Generally speaking, I read the news because I want to learn facts about a topic.

If I wanted to read the thoughts of some random person who is feeling anxious about something they’re ignorant about, I would go on social media.

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Peoples' feelings and sentiments about things that are happening are also facts, and none too unimportant, since feelings and sentiments are often the basis for their decisions or their government's decisions, which results in new facts.

Yes, we want factual reporting, but that people have emotions and fears is also a fact, that has influence on future events.

If these thoughts were not recorded, I'm sure some executive would say the town simply isn't concerned, therefore, all is well.

Therefore, these ARE facts.

I found these useless facts to be recorded in such detail. “People are concerned about future livability” is plenty details.

show don't tell

It's an affected resident, not a random person, so it's quite relevant to the news at hand.

> If I wanted to read the thoughts of some random person who is feeling anxious about something they’re ignorant about, I would go on social media.

It's one thing to ask random Joe on the streets if he's fine with immigration. That's pretty pointless.

But asking someone directly affected from a natural disaster or industrial accident by living right next to it? That's the kind of journalism that is needed, because it points out the answers that experts absolutely must provide.

I am not sure why random Joe's opinion on immigration isn't relevant by the same logic?

Because it doesn't affect random Joe on the street in his daily life, nor do other nationwide topics (think market economy, wars, natural disasters on the other side of the planet).

Sure it does. Joe may be in a social class that competes with immigrants in the labor market, or the housing market. He may perceive that the safety in his neighborhood has changed with an influx of people he perceives to be immigrants.

Doesn't mean he's right but he's got questions and believes he's impacted. That's my point, it's analogous to living in the town w the accident.

You are on social media

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