Naomi - "Only visual images of the event as it happened and of the aftermath with panic-stricken people hurling themselves off those buildings could do that."
When my wife and cruised last year, we dined with a couple who live across the street from the Two Towers. On 911, the gentleman was returning to his apartment when the bodies started landing in front of him. As he recounterd the story, a silent tear appeared and was wiped away without comment.
When he went to the toilet to compose himself, his wife confirmed that the psychological trauma of that day was such that from then on, he has walked with a limp, and uses a stick, and the doctors advise that there is nothing physically wrong with him.
The gentleman was a Navy Seal as a young man, and went on to train Navy Seals, so I would suggest he is no-one's softie, and has probably seen sights that would make the rest of us curl up and sob.
But my point is, some images are not good for us in any way, there is noting educational or enlightening in seeing these things - and please see my post about child pornography - the point is exactly the same.
Some images are simply damaging, and nothing else - they should be left unseen.