I think sage303 might just have hit the nail on the head with that comment. I think that although things have certainly got worse in the last few years, it is something that has been brewing up for a long time. 20 years ago the media wasn't like today, it todays world we have news 24/7, channels on tv that cover every possible taste. I don't think society has changed a great deal, its just we know more about it, we know more about other countries and what news they have to offer. When you look at recent stories you see that these people have been around for decades (the Austrian basement being a perfect example) its just that we didn't know about them.