Michael Jackson

[blas87]

OMG...thank you.

E! has played the THS of Michael Jackson at least 10 times since Thursday. Nothing else is on that fucking channel right now!

[Slytovhand]

Granted, I'm a hermit, especially over weekends when I'm working, but it was only on a call when someone had mentioned Farrah had died as well.... I don't see (perhaps also cos I"m a hermit) the news running story after story after story on her...

AA - I am so totally with you on that!!!!

[LeChatNoir]

I like to come home in the morning and turn on CNN or the local news and get caught up with current events (usually too tired to sit at my computer and read the news that way.) The past couple of days, all I've seen is MJ news. Granted, it's sad. It's kind of tragic (I think he may possibly have made a comeback with this London tour). But...I know there is more going on in the world! At least this morning, CNN had a bit "other" news...but for the most part it was every other story was about MJ. And, actually...I've barely heard anything about Farrah Fawcett. Maybe it's because everyone expected her to die, and so her death is not as newsworthy? I don't know.

Anyway, the frenzy will most likely die down once they have his funeral. Or when we get the official autopsy results, etc. It's frustrating to be so inundated with a celebrity death that it feels like all the other world news is nothing.

[BlaqueKatt]

Found not guilty by a bunch of morons does not mean he was proven innocent. He admitted to numerous instances of sleeping and inapropriate touching of children, but oh no he never molested.

I'm glad you know the jurors personally, know their jobs, and know their IQ to be able to call 16 people morons(12 jurors and 4 alternate)-oh you've never met them well.....how do you know they're morons, is it because they don't agree with you? As far as the law is concerned he was found not guilty, or innocent of all charges.

Jackson's attorney alleged that the charges were made in retaliation by the family after the family members realized that Jackson was not going to continue supporting them financially indefinitely. The family was portrayed during trial as exhibiting a long history of attempting to extort celebrities.

and also
"Both he and Jackson testified that they had slept in the same room, but not in the same bed. They also agreed that each had offered to sleep on the floor and let the other have the bed."

admitting to sleeping in the same room=/= inappropriate touching

filmed on the night of February 19, 2003 in the home of videographer Hamid Moslehi. and it showed the accuser's family praising Jackson, Gavin insisted no molestation had occurred and that Jackson was "innocent".[8] Gavin, his sister Daveline, brother Star and mother Janet were "upfront" and said that inappropriate behavior had "absolutely not occurred" while also calling him a father figure.[8] They also insisted that they slept in Jackson's bed although Jackson himself always slept on the floor.[8] To further the rebuttal Janet Arvizo issued the statement:

"The relationship that Michael has with my children is beautiful, loving, father-son and daughter one. To my children and me Michael is part of the family."

[guywithashovel]

Micheal Jackson has been such a powerful media sensation for such a long time that it's pretty much a given that his death would be such a big news item. It's sad that other stories that many of us deem more important are having to take a backseat to MJ, but let's face it, news networks thrive off of sensational stories.

A few years ago the editor of my city's newspaper wrote a special column about how people had written to the newspaper complaining about the newspaper printing too many "depressing" stories. These "depressing" stories included things going on in the Middle East as well as other tetchy political and social issues. These complainers apparently felt that the newspaper was printing these stories simply to ruin their breakfast, and that the paper should find some "happier" stories to print.

If the newspaper for my city gets bad mail for printing such stories, then I'm sure that major news networks do, too. I'm no expert in journalism, but I would wager that this is probably the reason why the news media eats up stories like MJ's death. I guess many people would rather hear about one of their favorite entertainer's life and death as opposed to a story about a skirmish between the Isrealis and Palastinians. That's probably also why I so often turn on CNN and hear reports about kids mooning their graduating classes and people trying to close down kids' lemonade stands while there is conflict in the Middle East and in Congress.

[Nyoibo]

He admitted to numerous instances of sleeping and inapropriate touching of children, but oh no he never molested. Bull!

When, I'd like to see an instance of him saying he inapropriately touched a child.

[Flyndaran]

When, I'd like to see an instance of him saying he inapropriately touched a child.

He slept in the same bed, naked I think, hugging little boys. I consider that inapropriate.
Either way, I guess it's possible for others to, naively in my opinion, think Mr. Jackson was just weird/mentally ill without ever once molesting children.
I find that seriously unlikely, but technicaly within the realm of possibility.
I won't call anyone that thinks that crazy, but I may secretly judge them as a little blinded by celebrity worship.

On the other hand, I guess you would make a wonderful friend; what with your willingness to believe others over more likely scenarios.

[BroomJockey]

He slept in the same bed, naked I think, hugging little boys.

Source? Preferably quoting Jackson or one of the boys. Remember, any other source would be suspect in either sensationalizing, or inflating in hopes of a nice civil suit.

[Slytovhand]

And not indicating a stance one way or another, but when jurors are asked to deliberate, the judge will lay down certain guidelines that they are supposed to follow, and various points of law that are significant.

If there's not enough 'proof' to give 'reasonable doubt', then they've got to rule 'not guilty'. And, unless there's penetration, or kids consistently saying things to the police/investigators about what happened, then the jury is going to have to rule 'not guilty'. Inappropriate touching, at the best of times, is going to be damn hard to convict on.

[DGoddess]

What I don't get is people running out and buying albums now that he's dead. What, they didnt' like him enough to buy them when he was alive and now he's dead they can't get enough of him? What is up with that?

I think it's because it's being believed that MJ memorabilia will shoot up in price and worth more money now that he's dead.

Frankly, I wouldn't part with my money that way. And I'm not too crazy about all the hoopla over his passing.

All these people boo-hooing it up on the video cameras, talking about how MJ was "their hero" yadda yadda yadda.

But would they dare leave their children alone in the same room with him?

They can say what they please, but IMO all the world lost was just another pedophile. Even though he was never found guilty, there's still a number of people who still believe in his guilt and it was only the combination of his fame (he was almost broke by this time) and the fact that the parents of the minor child involved were less than credible that got MJ off the hook.

And now the child from the first allegations (in 1993) has come forth to recant his story? Gimme a break. Sounds to me more like he's wanting his 15 minutes worth of fame, too.

[McDreidel09]

Though to be fair Elvis slept with an underage GIRL not boy.

And that's any better how? Underage is still underage.

[Flyndaran]

And that's any better how? Underage is still underage.

I was being sarcastic.

[powerboy]

Found not guilty by a bunch of morons does not mean he was proven innocent. He admitted to numerous instances of sleeping and inapropriate touching of children, but oh no he never molested. Bull!
You know, I also think OJ did it. There was D.N.A. freakin' evidence.
It's not my fault jurors are often idiots and can be easily hoodwinked by celebrities with stupid stories.

Exactly. The world lost a pedophile, not a hero. If he didn't touch any boys, then why did he give that one kid millions to shut up? If was innocent, then why pay him off? But then again, I have never really liked MJ. I only liked one song and that was Thriller.

What I find interesting though, is that NO ONE is telling everyone to shut up about Farrah Fawcett's death, only Jackson. So it's okay for one and not the other? Granted in the past few years, Jackson has found himself lower on the likeness scale, but still. If we can talk about one for a few days, then we can talk about the other.

How much do you hear about her death? Compare that to how much you hear of Jacksons death. There is your answer. Her was overshadowed by his

[linguist]

Exactly. The world lost a pedophile, not a hero. If he didn't touch any boys, then why did he give that one kid millions to shut up? If was innocent, then why pay him off? .

not saying he did or didn't, because i wasn't there and i don't know, but the payoff could very well have been exactly to shut him up and prevent further damage to his reputation. a public trial on this sort of charge, even if he was ultimately found innocent, could have done irreparable damage to his reputation. look at the damage that just an accusation did. people label him a pedophile when he was never proven so.

[blas87]

This is almost just as bad as Anna Nicole's death two years ago. It was almost 6 months before E! and other channels just finally shut the hell up and found someone else to talk about.

Although we are talking about two very different people here....it's still the same principle on the ridiculous scale. Every. Single. Day. "Breaking news!"