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OUR resident wordsmith and sub-editor, ?Ilde, yesterday commented, while in the throes of a deadline, just how sick and tired she had become of having to read through and edit so many stories about death in the news queue this week.

And that, in addition, to the shocking incident close to home here in Woodstock yesterday morning, where five people were gunned down in a panel beating warehouse in Albert Road and a number of taxis parked on the premises set alight. In another incident in Manenberg this week, a gang member was unfortunate enough to be shot in his head twice, dying while being rushed to hospital.

Similarly something that really shocked me was another incident in Factreton two weeks ago when another resident, a young man, was shot in the face seven times after returning home from shopping.

He was shot while in full view of neighbours and children milling about in the streets as the sun began to set over Cape Town.

In another incident in Grassy Park this week, a senior citizen was killed by a 60-year-old woman after she was stabbed in the chest with a blunt object and hit in the eye with a hammer. Shocking indeed.

I recalled all of these incidents after considering our sub's statement. I began evaluating the details of the killings and I think that I have come to agree with her.

If our reflection of news is anything to go by, it does seem as if life has certainly become more depressing by the year ? aside from the realisation that crime generally seems to be out of hand. Of course there is also the realisation that sooner or later the violence might affect you. I mean, what makes you any different from any other person who?s been a victim of crime? Logic keeps reminding you that despite doing your best to mind your own business, you could very well be next...

Funnily enough, while growing up incidents of crime seemed relatively few and far between.

Then again, it also could have been due to the fact that I was less aware of my environment at the time.

People argue that it is not actually the end of the world on our doorsteps, but merely the fact that the media is becoming all the more accessible to people.

Whatever the reason, the reality of these crimes being committed remains tragic. It has been argued that journalists, much like police officers, become desensitised to crime. While residents would cringe at the sound of a gruesome story of crime, cops and reporters face it every day and often hardly even blink when retelling a story.

I think the last thing I would want for society is to become desensitised to crime ? that is, of course, until it happens to you.

The extent of our feelings towards the occurrence of crime is what is going to us from accepting it as an inevitable part of our existence in generations to come.

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