Michael Jackson Acquitted on All Counts... dicuss

[cantdog]

I guess the only "conspiracy" was the one to hang Michael out to dry.

 

[Wildcard Ky]

I just hope that justice was done. I know this is bad, but I have a certain amount of bias in this case. Part of me was really hoping that they would convict him, even though I don't know if he's guilty or innocent.

In the end, I hope the jury reached the right verdict. Being weird isn't a crime. Hopefully that's all he's guilty of.

 

[TheEarl]

Oops. A minor spelling error in the title of a thread. I feel so stupid *hates self*

And that's DOCTOR Shepherd.

Carson - Just because you have a white coatm, stethoscope and like playing doctors and male nurses, idoesn't mean that you're a doctor.

The Earl

 

[carsonshepherd]

Carson - Just because you have a white coatm, stethoscope and like playing doctors and male nurses, idoesn't mean that you're a doctor.

The Earl

wanna be my next patient?

 

[Celtic Princess]

Carson - Just because you have a white coatm, stethoscope and like playing doctors and male nurses, idoesn't mean that you're a doctor.

The Earl

You should see what happens when he puts on his cowboy hat and boots.

 

[cantdog]

I do remember the sailor thing. Wow.

 

[shereads]

"His innocence was as plain as the nose on his face."

~ David Letterman

 

[shereads]

In the end, I hope the jury reached the right verdict.

I've been on so many juries I should have my own key to the courthouse, and I'd say the odds of one reaching the right verdict are about 50/50.

Rent the movie, "Trekkies," and ask how you'd feel if you were on trial and one of the jurors came to court every day in her Star Trek Federation uniform. True story. She was a juror on the Whitewater Savings & Loan trial in Arkansas. One of her fellow jurors said she insisted on being addressed as "Lieutenant."

Jury of your peers. Good luck.

 

[Couture]

You ever wonder if Micheal seeks out these sorts of people - you know - poor and with dodgy backgrounds? That way he can do what he wants, and no one will believe them.

 

[CharleyH]

Not all, carson. I was afraid he'd walk. Of all the kids who had sleepovers with that freak, and the parents who allowed it, the case that was prosecuted suffered from a mom who seemed like a con artist. The jury had to decide one case, not the likelihood that the man was a pedophile. The mom's behavior made this sound like something conjured by gypsies. Whether or not it happened as the boy testified, I feel sorry for him. What lovely role models he's been given.


But enough hand-wringing. Who's going to the celebratory slumber party at Neverland? I dibs the bunk with the monkey.

Actually, I heard he was going into hiding in Africa. Good choice, considering the kids probably won't complain as much there. :|

 

[Guest]

"His innocence was as plain as the nose on his face."

~ David Letterman

Laughing -

OK, I laughed. I'm bad. I should be punished.


Small aside, the man has lots of problems, of course, some possibly due to his own hideous childhood at the hands of his father. It's a shame he wasn't able to enjoy his fame, his talent, his own attractiveness (he was a stud at one time) and seemed to only find relief in surrounding himself with non-judgmental adoring fans. Hence - children.

Though someone once remarked that Neverland was bait, perhaps it really was the way for him to provide enjoyment for others. And in return, those Neverland guests would give Jackson nonstop praise.

In the words of Buzz Lightyear - a sad, strange little man.

 

[Pure]

is it possible

that MJ is one of those 'child oriented' individuals (actually males) who inhabit and behave in a kind of 'gray' area, as far as the law goes? (let us assume the law covers only sexual touching, sexual exploitation, sexual exposure and sexual acts, and other means to sexual gratification through direct 'use' of a child)

i think of Dodgson and his pictures of young girls, and i don't think he deflowered any.

is it possible just to 'sleep with' young boys?

none of this is to say MJ is not passing weird or that i'd let my kid go and visit, but aside from the 'alcohol' thing (which has a desperate look to it; just charging Dillenger with tax evasion AND jaywalking), is it possible there was no crime?

 

[hmmnmm]

that MJ is one of those 'child oriented' individuals (actually males) who inhabit and behave in a kind of 'gray' area, as far as the law goes? (let us assume the law covers only sexual touching, sexual exploitation, sexual exposure and sexual acts, and other means to sexual gratification through direct 'use' of a child)

i think of Dodgson and his pictures of young girls, and i don't think he deflowered any.

is it possible just to 'sleep with' young boys?

none of this is to say MJ is not passing weird or that i'd let my kid go and visit, but aside from the 'alcohol' thing (which has a desperate look to it; just charging Dillenger with tax evasion AND jaywalking), is it possible there was no crime?

I think all of the above is possible.
I never cared for him or his music (I don't know him and don't expect to gain his acquaintance any time soon). I did not keep up with the trial except the occasional Yahoo headline. And I too, got suspicious of the prosecution's motivation when I saw that about the alcohol. Red flag. I thought to myself, "I don't know MJ and I never liked his music, talented as he is, but I just don't see MJ as the boozy type, nor the type to entice anyone by plying them with booze." It just didn't jive. I think he's a victim of his own success and his own mind and may he go back to his Neverland place and may everyone leave him alone and may he leave all of us alone.
I got work to do.

 

[Kassiana]

Like I said on another thread today, from what little I've heard of the trial, this just goes to show that California prosecutors suck. If I ever have damages in California, I'm going to get a civil suit going. Criminal trials in CA already have one strike against them IMO.

 

[Pure]

query

trivia question that nags:

has there ever been a well known, wealthy star or celebrity (in his/her own right) who committed a murder and suffered a serious penalty (let's say, 15+ years in prison).

i know this is a variant of the old 'do any millionaires ever do 'hard time'?

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Depends on how you define Celebrity. Al Capone was a celebrity, the papers followed him from his clothes, to his cars to what bar he liked.

There have been a few Ex-NFL players who have served hard time for drug crimes. Nate Newton being the latest, I think. Ray Carruth is serving a life sentence. An NHLer is serving hard time in a murder for hire consiracy. Mike Tyson did hard time on a rape conviction.

Politicians are a type of celebrity and a handful of them have taken long vacations.

One thing you have to consider, when looking at Celebrity trials, is that, by and large, Celebs at the top of their game don't end up on trial. It's usually people we could term has been celebritys who end up on trial. In that sense, it's celebs who are on the downside of a career, be it in sports, music or movies, who end up in situations where their celebrity no long is enough to protect them from their stupidity. When they are really popular most have a group of peole around them who protect them from themselves. As popularity wanes, this high quality supporting cast is replaced by mere sycophants who probably encourage abberant behavior in their own way by providing no check to the Star's ego.

 

[CharleyH]

There have been a few Ex-NFL players who have served hard time for drug crimes. Nate Newton being the latest, I think. Ray Carruth is serving a life sentence. An NHLer is serving hard time in a murder for hire consiracy. Mike Tyson did hard time on a rape conviction.

So what you are saying is that black celebrities are more likely to go to jail? In which case, and to quote Lauren, 'he should have plead guilty, gone to jail (can't be a gangsta rapper without such a stint) then changed his name to Jacko Shabazz to re-boost his career.

lol - I know you are not saying that

Added: You cannot include Robert Downey Jr. in future lists since it took several tries for him to get there in the first place.

As for the definition of celebrity as opposed to star, though both have similar features: Celebrities are products of mass consumption generally packaged by a system in order to sell entertainment. I am not certain that I would put Capone in that same category, and of course, this is my layman definition.

 

[shereads]

Actually, I heard he was going into hiding in Africa. Good choice, considering the kids probably won't complain as much there. :|

Into hiding? In Africa? How many surgeries before he's a black guy again?

 

[shereads]

It's a shame he wasn't able to enjoy his fame, his talent, his own attractiveness (he was a stud at one time) and seemed to only find relief in surrounding himself with non-judgmental adoring fans. Hence - children.

Though someone once remarked that Neverland was bait, perhaps it really was the way for him to provide enjoyment for others. And in return, those Neverland guests would give Jackson nonstop praise.

So he's a typical pedophile.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

So what you are saying is that black celebrities are more likely to go to jail? In which case, and to quote Lauren, 'he should have plead guilty, gone to jail (can't be a gangsta rapper without such a stint) then changed his name to Jacko Shabazz to re-boost his career.

lol - I know you are not saying that

Added: You cannot include Robert Downey Jr. in future lists since it took several tries for him to get there in the first place.

As for the definition of celebrity as opposed to star, though both have similar features: Celebrities are products of mass consumption generally packaged by a system in order to sell entertainment. I am not certain that I would put Capone in that same category, and of course, this is my layman definition.

I believe the NHL player is white.

As to Jackson, I don't think he has much chance of reviveing his career. In the first place, pop music is notoriously fickle. In the second, he's too old. In the third, guilty or not, he has certainly turned off a significant portion of the populace. Most significantly, he is so wierd he is more likely to provoke laughs at his antics rather than enjoyment of his music among the teenagers who seem to have the most influence on what's hot and what's not.

 

[Guest]

So he's a typical pedophile.

Horrifying.

Yet probably true.

 

[Guest]

Into hiding? In Africa? How many surgeries before he's a black guy again?

Bwahhhhh!

Damn.

 

[Pure]

well, if he's a typical pedophile, there should be abused kids coming out of the woodwork in large numbers, now. let's hope some have mothers without credibility problems, criminal past, etc.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

well, if he's a typical pedophile, there should be abused kids coming out of the woodwork in large numbers, now. let's hope some have mothers without credibility problems, criminal past, etc.

Do you think J, that Jackson's success in fighting charges and allegations will discourage people from coming forward? He can hire good lawyers and they are adept at putting the alleged victim on trial.

In the same vein, if he is guilty do you think he will be more discreet or will he be emboldened by this success?

Obviously if he is innocent of any wrong doing, then all such speculation is moot.

 

[CharleyH]

Into hiding? In Africa? How many surgeries before he's a black guy again?

ROFL Hadn't thought of that. LOL