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Post by Mel (cherry) on Jun 17, 2008 8:28:31 GMT -5
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Post by sheyd on Jun 17, 2008 8:38:56 GMT -5
Most definitely yes!
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Post by JimB on Jun 17, 2008 9:43:56 GMT -5
Need a source and context for meaningful comment.
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Post by freckles on Jun 17, 2008 10:05:30 GMT -5
Here is one
Here in Texas there is a Compound with Polygamists living there
There has been a Uproar agansed Polygamists
So, a Kooky Lady called Pretending to be a Girl that is pregnant and being sexually abused
So the CPS Raded and took over 400 kids away (about 10 or so were grown women they thought were kids)
The Texas Supreme court said *You cant do that
I suppose it would be the same as saying * In the State of California there is 1 child being mistreated so ALL Kids in California should be taken from thier Parents (Plus they also take the young women away)
They were just doing it on a smaller scale
Now they have to * Look at the specific Family etc
They cant just do a Nazi Raid on Everybody they can get thier hands on
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Post by Mel (cherry) on Jun 17, 2008 10:41:14 GMT -5
Honestly Jim you could apply it to anything. The way things happen when a woman accuses a man falsely of rape - the poor guy is marked for life and she doesn't really suffer much if any consequences. Young kids who are having sex and one of them is 18 and the other 16 or 17 - well one of them is obviously a predator ya know? And they are marked as such. Or worse yet, the little kindergarten boy who kisses a girl.............. The case specifically was a man who's computer had been infected by malware which was linking to child porn. Experts on both sides confirmed that is what happened and not that he was perusing the porn himself. However, before the experts reviewed the computer they pressed charges, assuming he was guilty before even checking. (The quote was someone commenting on the story) So the question is in general, does the media whip the masses into a frenzy before we even know what the truth is? And how much damage do you think this does? Does it also damage the general person in his day to day life?
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Post by goods on Jun 17, 2008 11:01:12 GMT -5
I think we are moving to a nanny state throwing common sense out the window.
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Post by freckles on Jun 17, 2008 11:08:51 GMT -5
I saw this on the News
A 14 year old Girl and a 14 year old boy had sex
They now must both register as Sex offenders for the rest of thier lives
Because, they both had sex with a minor
+ They can not be within 200 feet of anyone under 18 or they will go to Prison (For the rest of thier lives)
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Post by gdgross on Jun 17, 2008 11:20:41 GMT -5
So the question is in general, does the media whip the masses into a frenzy before we even know what the truth is? And how much damage do you think this does? Does it also damage the general person in his day to day life? I don't think "the media" does it. I think we do it ourselves. We can complain all day long about car chases on the TV and how they're a waste, but the simple fact is that it people didn't watch them, they'd stop showing them. IMO, in general, there is a lot less left/right wing media than we think, but there's a lot more corporate media. Media is still business, and if people buy over-hyped nonsense, then ""the media" will sell over-hyped nonsense. There's a saying that people get the government they deserve. I don't know if that's true or not, but I'm inventing a corollary: We get the media we ask for. So the short answer: yes, but we asked for it. Just think of how quick we are to judge the aforementioned cases without even knowing the facts. “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
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Post by Mel (cherry) on Jun 17, 2008 11:28:30 GMT -5
I think there is a lot of merit to what you are saying gd. I also agree with what good said. I think that we are very willing to hand over a lot of "freedom" here lately. Im looking at both the damage the media does, but also the way the public allows themselves to be lead.
All in all, im starting to see a seriously destructive pattern developing. I've been doing a lot of thinking lately......
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Post by redskyatnight on Jun 17, 2008 12:24:27 GMT -5
I am an observer by nature. I like to talke in lots of information before making a decision. (My daughter is the same way, and it drives me nuts when we are shopping ) But, I find that many people will believe what they are told, without digging deeper for all the facts. The media has a responsibility to uncover all the facts, but unfortunately, as gd said, we want the over-hyped drama. Its also unfortunate that fact digging is less objective and more filtered to prove what ever point the author is trying to make. So if the media condems you, you're in a bad place for a long time.
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Post by JimB on Jun 17, 2008 12:31:33 GMT -5
Honestly Jim you could apply it to anything. Because of this, it's hard to dispute the truth of the statement. Ever hear of a witch hunt? Know where and when that term came from? How about the Red Scare? Or the Inquisition? Point is, the masses have always been easily influenced by those who know how to do it. The media is an easy scapegoat, but it's more a function of the efficiency of the media than anything - people have access to more information more quickly than ever. The specific cases you mentioned have more to do with the legal definition of a sex offender. There was a high profile case here in Chicago recently where R. Kelly - the rapper - was on trial for child pornography. Supposedly he made a video of himself and a 13 year old girl. A well-known local music reporter received a copy of this video a few years back, when he was researching a story about R. Kelly's reputation with the ladies. He turned it over to the authorities within a half an hour of receiving it, most likely without viewing it. But when he was called as a witness during the trial, he had to take the Fifth. It seems he ran the risk of indicting himself for possession of child pornography under the current, very strict legal definition of the term. How ridiculous is that? In our current social climate, there does seem to be a rush to judgment in the case of sex offenders. But there's always some hot button issue with the general public - if not sex offenders, then communism, or witchcraft, or heresy. Education, and a willingness to pause and reflect rather than react, are the best ways to combat this tendency.
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Post by RO on Jun 17, 2008 12:32:40 GMT -5
If some of the greats from American history, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Abraham Lincoln, were to magically appear before us today, I think they would be shocked at how the country they fought to shape and mold as a beacon of freedom and hope has turned out.
These men, along with their contemporaries, believed in a country where you had the freedom to use the abilities you were born with, bestowed upon you by a higher being, to choose your own destiny — be it where you live, how you earn your keep, and whom you associate with. They believed in a country where citizens are free of interference from government, except in cases where said government protects its citizens from foreign invasion, provides basic infrastructure such as roads and bridges, and deals with those who break laws intended to protect the basic rights of all citizens (e.g., punishing burglars, murderers, etc.).
Bottom line: faced with the choice of possibly making a bad decision or letting the nanny staters do my thinking for me, I’ll go with the chance of screwing up on my own — because at least then I’ll have a chance to learn from my mistakes and do things right the next time. But once a bad government policy takes root, it’s nearly impossible to get rid of.
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Post by Mel (cherry) on Jun 18, 2008 9:44:36 GMT -5
Okay, so we are just seeing the modern day version of the witch hunt then, that is a really good parallel.
RO, I couldn't have put it any better. I have to agree whole heartedly with you. However, I must say, I don't think we will EVER get back to that. What do you think?
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Post by freckles on Jun 18, 2008 9:51:30 GMT -5
A good example:
When the antrax scare was on
i was at the supermarket and the baker had flour all over him
All Anyone would have to do would be *Point at him and say ANTRAX !
They would have called the Fire Dept and used the Fire Hoses on him
Even thou Him and everyone KNEW it was Flour
And even thou the Emergency responders KENW it was Flour
+ they would shut the store down and call in Haz Mat with the Space suits
And shut the town down
And evacuate 1/2 the State
And everyone including the TV People would know it was only Baking Flour
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Post by sheyd on Jun 18, 2008 10:00:37 GMT -5
I just have to add - the political scene these days is also a very good example. Those founding fathers would NEVER have made it to political office in today's climate. They had too many skeletons in their closets - too many affairs, shady business practices, etc. But they were businessmen, and they had dreams beyond themselves - they were excellent leaders despite their flaws. People today are convicted by the court of public opinion LONG before any real trial, and people are written off before they have a chance to show their true selves. Mistakes are never forgiven, in public opinion (unless they have a good publicist). It is very sad, and we can only change it one person at a time.
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