But where's the fighting?

I'm going to have to have another go at the BBC I'm afraid, and their continued search for the lowest common denominator.

The G8 summit starts in Scotland this week and the accompanying demonstrations have started today in Edinburgh. It all seems largely good natured but you wouldn't think that if the BBC were the only source for your news. Both on News 24 and online, the BBC seem obsessed with the potential for trouble. Their live reports are littered with comments and questions such as

"Have you seen any scuffles?"
"Are the police prepared for violence?"
"Where are the likely flash points?"
"Are there any known anarchist groups in the city?"
"Where will the worst of the fighting be?"
"Is the atmosphere getting tense?"

It really is quite horrid and of course the actual message of the demonstration is lost in the BBC's drive for the tabloid angle. They're not even up to a decent debate on the legitimacy of violence as a method of political change. That could be quite interesting. And very difficult for the establishment to argue against as their war for oil in Iraq gets ever more bloody and brutal.