Comments on Re: “I don’t feel sorry for Larry Craig, but I do feel sorry for these guys.”

i've said it before... all of our experiences and situations are different. would anyone think suicide is a rational response for this man? probably not.

but for him, he would rather die than to have to face those he knows (and/or is surrounded by) with the truth.

so the paper was judge and jury for these guys. Basically convicting them without any trial. What if one was innocent. It would be humiliating to peruse the charges and he would probably be branded by the community even if innocent.

The Nashville PD did a sting in a city park restroom and invited the local news to follow along. This was a few years agp. They cops had the guys do the perp walk past the cameras.

So, Johnson City Press: that's murder, pretty much. Proud? You make me want to puke. I feel sorry for ANYONE who has to live in your shithole state.

What Fnarf said.

They did a similar thing in a park in the 'burbs of St. Louis, and of course the local media was alerted so they made sure there was a reporter & camera crew waiting outside to station to "interview" the "perps". Real nice.

Note the article's complete erasure -- absolutely typical of the media -- of any role the newspaper itself may have played in the suicide story. ("Less than 24 hours after Johnson City police announced charges against dozens of men allegedly involved in sex acts at city parks" -- of course, the fact that their names, addresses, and photos were published in the newspaper had nothing to do with it.)

I'd encourage everyone to write to publisher@johnsoncitypress.com . Of course, I'd also encourage everyone to dig up as much dirt as they possibly can on the publisher and "journalist" who did this, and distribute it as widely as they can.

Seems like that family could sue the paper for publishing the names of ALLEGED offenders.

Two J-School no-no's here:

1) Although newspapers, especially in smaller towns, do often publish sex-offender information -- usually when they move into or within a community -- not all of these men, including The Deceased, appear to have been accused of sex crimes. The Deceased received a "disorderly conduct" only.

2) It's been my experience that suicides are most often treated by news outlets as crimes committed -- and not considered a news story unless that person was a figure of merit.

Bad moves all around.

@4: the newspaper's actions may have been wrong, but please don't paint everyone in TN all the same--there are actually some pretty progressive people there, and not just in the metro areas. many ppl there are actually pretty mellow and the climate is fairly mild. i also feel so bad for the deceased and his loved ones.

To: kswing@johnsoncitypress.com, mailbag@johnsoncitypress.com, publisher@johnsoncitypress.com

Subj: Accused in city sting apparently takes life

The first paragraph of this story seems to be missing an important bit of context.

Less than 24 hours after Johnson City police announced charges against dozens of men allegedly involved in sex acts at city parks, one of those accused is believed to have killed himself.

A minor revision will fix the problem.

Less than 24 hours after the Johnson City Press prominently publicized the full names and photographs of dozens of men charged by police with involvement in sex acts at city parks, one of those accused is believed to have killed himself.

This detail I notice is mentioned nowhere in the follow-up story about the suicide. I trust the Johnson City Press will promptly correct this oversight in the interest of serving its readers.

okay, trying this again. when i first posted, it seemed to post fine, but coming back to the site a few hrs later, i find my comment is gone. most likely an accident, but if not . . . .then wtf . . .anyway . . .

@4 and for all actually: please don't characterize TN like that. there are progressive ppl in that state--they can't ALL live in Seattle, y'know ;)--and not just in metro areas. bad shit happens everyplace and it's good ppl care enough to raise their voices and act. not everyone in TN is mean and narrow-minded like that.

i know i am but a wee commenter compared to some of the bigger ones on this blog but i just hate it when ppl shit on the south. PLEASE DON'T DELETE.

acceptance/respect/ for all ppl, including homosexuals AND southerners--by birth and by choice. don't judge ppl by where they live.

also, my condolences for the deceased and his loved ones. how sad.

Darwinism in action.

ugh, i'm at a computer cafe, and some of the webpages are not refreshing appropriately, hence me not seeing all of my previous posts, all of which did get posted. i am a little new to this. my apologies--sorry! hopefully this won't happen again.