Examples Of Milling

Similarly, true crime, typically those unsolved or those in pursuit of justice are fuelled heavily by the rumour public. Communication, a key condition for both the spread of rumours and collective behaviour. In relation to crime, perhaps the most significant function of the media is its ability to produce milling. Many collective behaviourists argue that milling is an essential part to almost all collective behaviour. Milling is aimless behaviour with no real direction, purpose or goal.(CITE) It can occur physically or psychologically which allows collective fads to occur at a faster rate than ever before. Milling is an almost guaranteed aspect of true crime reports and it’s perception as displayed by the media. Examples of milling in relation

For example, milling was forced when each episode of “Serial” was released one after another each week, similar to the way television episodes are released. Other forms of milling occur during the natural process of a court case. As the case proceeds, the process can become very lengthy and by the time the jury has reached a verdict the audience is left with catastrophic anticipation. Examples of this were the broadcasting of and reactions after the O.J Simpson verdict or the constant media loop after 9/11. Ralph Hyatt in his work “Criminals: America’s Crime Obsession” reflects on how milling can be reinforced with societies pressure to conform. He argues “People like to be seen as being ‘with it’ at the dinner table, coffee break, and Saturday night cocktail party. Such events are sure topics of conversation.”(CITE) It is known that society naturally pressures individuals to conform; people want to conform. Hyatt’s argument proves that a person’s admiration for true crime comes from this constant pressure to conform to this process of milling. Thus only perpetuating the excitement and tension around the

This combined with the CSI effect, which is the idea that crime show viewers expect better use of more evidence in actual trials and that the evidence that is presented is judged with this notion. (CITE) For example, a member of the jury may go into a murder trial thinking that DNA evidence is a defining piece of evidence, however in actuality DNA evidence in Canadian Courts is only circumstantial. In “Community Members’ Perceptions of the CSI Effect” authors Hayes and Levett confirm their findings when it reads: “Overall, the majority of participants believed that watching shows like CSI could affect trial outcomes without specifically describing the nature of that effect. Participant responses to the expectations of evidence construct closely resembles the pro-defense argument, suggesting that the influence of CSI watching on juror decision making lies in the expectation of more evidence.”(CITE) Perhaps, these preconceived notions of what crime is like versus one’s actual interactions with the law, could then in theory cause a person to lash out against the system. These are plausible mitigating factors as to why riots or actions of displeasure occurred after a non-guilty verdict is delivered over individuals who seems to likely be guilty. This idea is reinforced in “Media Consumption, Perceptions of Crime Risk and Fear of Crime: Examining Race/Ethnic Differences,” author