The real MARTA (Atlanta: insurance, how much, schools)

[cqholt]

This story, Good news on MARTA - Atlanta Public Transportation | Examiner.com, correctly depicts everyday coinsurance on MARTA. The local media won't publish good heated stories about MARTA, instead the only depict it as a crime-infested, dirty alternative for people who can't afford cars.

[bfarley30]

Great article!

[jsvh]

Agreed. I miss my old commute on MARTA. I have had mostly positive experiences when riding MARTA. A lot of little things.

[ATLTJL]

Of course there are a lot of things like this that happen everywhere.

But do you really think the AJC is going to print an article on a woman dropping cheese on MARTA? Not exactly news.

It's kind of like Iraq. During the war, there was lots of criticism that the media didn't cover schools being opened, instead they only covered explosions. I asked a friend of mine who was actually in Iraq covering it about this and he said that whenever they would get ready to cover something good, something bad, but more newsworthy would happen, and they would have to divert and go cover that. Also, a lot of the "good news" was happening out where it wasn't safe for the media to travel.

So yeah, of course there are nice anecdotes everywhere. I'm sure right now in Syria there are all kinds of stories of people helping each other. I'm sure Nazi concentration camps had some guards that helped the people held inside of them. There's good all over, but you can't blame the media for not covering these stories.

Who would read the AJC if half of it was just stories about who held doors open for other people today?

[rashadi]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

Of course there are a lot of things like this that happen everywhere.

But do you really think the AJC is going to print an article on a woman dropping cheese on MARTA? Not exactly news.

It's kind of like Iraq. During the war, there was lots of criticism that the media didn't cover schools being opened, instead they only covered explosions. I asked a friend of mine who was actually in Iraq covering it about this and he said that whenever they would get ready to cover something good, something bad, but more newsworthy would happen, and they would have to divert and go cover that. Also, a lot of the "good news" was happening out where it wasn't safe for the media to travel.

So yeah, of course there are nice anecdotes everywhere. I'm sure right now in Syria there are all kinds of stories of people helping each other. I'm sure Nazi concentration camps had some guards that helped the people held inside of them. There's good all over, but you can't blame the media for not covering these stories.

Who would read the AJC if half of it was just stories about who held doors open for other people today?

That's because the media is a business trying to make money so they will do anything to make the most profit. It's not even news but more about ratings. As for Iraq, this was a secular country and had schools and the hoghest standard of living in the region. No matter how much bad stuff our media covers, one thing it will never do is step to far out of line by making it seem what we did was wrong or illegal. I have yet heard a single broadcaster on any of the major media outlets oppose the sanctions that were placed on Iraq when the rest of the world was opposed to them. I don't get my news from the media because it isn't news, but entertainment/business.

I used MARTA often when I didn't have my car and never had any problems. I wasn't worried about my safety but I was more annoyed by how long it took to get to North Springs from decatur, for example. But safety wasn't my worry. I had to leave two hours early just to make it to work on time. I wish this was something MARTA could improve on but I know it doesn't have the support and funding from the metro area. There is no reason why an area with over five million people can't have efficient transportation that go throughout the metro area.

[tikigod311]

Nice try cq.

What about the stories about the thugs that are stealing TVs and taking them back to the hood via MARTA?!?!?!

[Lady's Man]

most people that criticize marta have never actually taken marta.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

But do you really think the AJC is going to print an article on a woman dropping cheese on MARTA?

They would probably print it if she dropped it and some kid picked it up and ran off with it.

"Poor elderly woman's cheese brutally stolen by gang of teens on MARTA train" is always going to be good for circulation.

[cqholt]

Nice try cq.

What about the stories about the thugs that are stealing TVs and taking them back to the hood via MARTA?!?!?!

I know right.

most people that criticize marta have never actually taken marta

Spot on.

Who would read the AJC if half of it was just stories about who held doors open for other people today?

Doom and gloom sells. Maybe that's why so many people go off and shoot a mass of people?

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by Lady's Man

most people that criticize marta have never actually taken marta.

Or have never used transportation systems in other American cities. For example, San Francisco's BART system is absolutely filthy; I won't even sit down on them. Many don't seem to know how good they have it.