“Brendan Nugent [went] on to allegedly drive a Toyota LandCruiser into the independent MP Helen Haines in a targeted attack”
(The Guardian)
I don’t care about the car’s model name or brand so why is it always specified in news stories or podcasts?
Also, why don’t we do that with everything else?
“The robber took her Longchamp bag before fleeing on his Minimotors Dualtron Mini. A witness saw the scene an called the police with their iPhone 18 Pro.”
Sounds fun, right?
Because it’s a very quick and easy way to paint a mental picture.
Because it’s relevant. The kind of car that hits somebody makes a big difference.
This got me thinking about how this is not the case for gun make and models for shootings. The only thing you ever hear is handgun, semi-automatic, or the scary assault rifle. Does the manufacturer of an AR-15 matter, not really, but caliber and gun type sometimes do.
The AR-15 thing is funny to me. Notice whenever an AR-15 is used in a shooting it’s BIG NEWS? Now think back on the guy in Maine who killed a bunch of people. (God damned was that guy screaming for help. Reg flags flying high.) Took me 3-days to find a news report on the gun used. It was an AR-10, basically the same as an AR-15. ducks as gun nuts throw rotten tomatoes.
But they didn’t report that because no one gives a shit about an AR-10. Very few have heard of one, not newsworthy. Now consider the public’s opinion of AR-15’s, the Toyota Corolla of guns. Not the best at anything, certainly not killing humans, but reliable, simple, inexpensive, customizable, AHH!
Anyway, I know I’m off topic. Merely puzzled as to why our billionaire media overlords would want public opinion turned against a simple, easy, cheap(ish), reliable rifle. One ponders what they would do if we built working guillotines…
Also details make a story. Otherwise it might be something like: “This guy hit someone with a car. End of story”
Before searching, I didn’t know a Toyota Landcruiser was a 4x4 SUV, which is the relevant piece of information in this case.
I used this example because it was the one that made me wonder why the car’s brand is always specified but I hear that nearly everywhere: “The killer drove his Ford Puma to the victim’s house…”, “they fled the robbery in a Pontiac Firebird” (I invented these ones).
The only other case of brands or models being mentioned that I can think of are planes, rockets and weapons which are not common objects everyone will buy in their life.
But I did know that. So do many others. So when a news story mentions that someone was hit by a Landcruiser we can immediately differentiate that from a Prius or an F-150.
You could maybe just say “SUV” but even that has a lot of ambiguity.
Then add in the fact that the press tends to stick to consistent reporting styles, and when describing vehicles it’s also helpful in situations where the perpetrator is still at large.
I have to admit my knowledge of cars is really limited…
it’s also helpful in situations where the perpetrator is still at large.
That’s a good point, and I think it answers my question, thank you!
It’s as relevant as describing the clothes a criminal is wearing and it tends to stay with stories written years later.
Not quite so. The media also insists on doing this with guns, while cramming in as many irrelevant descriptions and scare-words as possible.
I’m used to old.lemmy.world, don’t see how to copy my comment URL, but see my reply on AR-15s. I think you’ll find it hits (heh) home.
