Narcissistic hacks and others: Do Haiti a favour and stay away

WE in Ireland have a general response to external disaster such as the earthquake in Haiti.

We consume every available fact about it; gaze, mesmerised, at photographs of bodies swelling in putrefaction on the streets; fasten on any story of unexpected survival, particularly if it involves adult heroism or a rescued child.

And then we slowly shake our heads as if those heads are weighty with new wisdom.