Why do we humans dwell so much on disasters?

People get slower on the Autobahn to see every detail of a hopefully gory crash. TV repeats explosions, sports accidents, people drowning, car bombs, people starving, mass brawls again and again. The Internet is full of really disturbing pictures and video clips. Rotten.com makes a living from collecting all that stuff.

Is that our modern way to satisfy our inner blood lust? It certainly is better then paying for blood sports in the Colosseum or watching public torture and executing (except in Iran).

Maybe it’s an important survival instinct as well? Learning from mistakes, being even curious in the face of danger and the desire to protect our tribe / family - even when it kills us. Watching disaster porn excites us and connects us to the event and the people - maybe it’s an inner preparation for such terrible events? It certainly doesn’t ‘help’ anyone or bring poor victims back to life.