http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2008/11/20/not_to_beat_a_dead_goat_or_any Comments On: Not to Beat a Dead Goat or Anything by Dominic Holden en-us Copyright 2009 The Stranger. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, The Stranger readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:01 -0800 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:00:00 -0800 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Posted by Greg]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:13:36 -0800 The Stranger
Therefore, the government is subsidizing adultery!
Posted by Mr. Logic]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:53:46 -0800 The Stranger
Dan Savage has continued to be upfront and honest about what his mockery is - a condemnation of KOMO and Ginter for their actions. There have been no such disclaimers of any sort or any retraction of the false statements made by KOMO and Ginter. Ironically, they are the only ones in this situation who are legally bound by the standards for fair news reporting. And KOMO et. al. are the only ones who have violated them.
Posted by Vivid Confusion]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:10:10 -0800 The Stranger
The reason that this story has so much play is because there are many of us (literally thousands) that feel our Community Center is being threatened by this story. The Center is pretty much my home away from home. I go there to snuggle with friends, dance, and watch pretty and passionate scenes, from which I learn and by which I am inspired. I know how lucky I am to be in the same city as CSPC - the only organization of it's kind (certainly the first) in this country or the world.

When you threaten something that this many people care about this much, yeah, you're gonna get their backs up. Also, it was bad reporting, which sucks all on it's own.
Posted by Silver]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:33:20 -0800 The Stranger
To claim that is is simply an adolescent frat-boy wannabe giggle fest would be inaccurate. This is Dan Savage's malicious attempt to cause harm to someone. Was he named in the story? Was he directly provoked? Has this reporter maliciously tried to ruin his reputation because of his writings? I hope she hires a lawyer, this will be an easy victory.
Posted by common sense]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:58:36 -0800 The Stranger
This has hit much harder at the Stranger than its news value. Oh, mercy, the hideout for ... education.

OK by me, I have what I need at home EVERY night after NIGHT after Night .....


Noticed good taste has been in all coverage and the word whores has not been used at all ... hurrah.

Posted by Whoreing is OK]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:36:06 -0800 The Stranger Posted by joeyp]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:33:20 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Smartypants]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:06:09 -0800 The Stranger Posted by I Luv Whiners]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:44:48 -0800 The Stranger Posted by boredInSeattle]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:27:40 -0800 The Stranger
What has people outraged is that Marlee Ginter and KOMO were given accurate information, and they not only did not report a complete story, but what they did "report" was knowingly WRONG.

If you noticed in their "teaser," the woman interviewed, Allena Gabosch, is not the "owner" as KOMO reported. She is the Executive Director. It is not a "sex club," but a private, members only community organization in support of Sex-Positive Culture, providing a balance to the puritanical "don't talk about secks!" attitude legislated by the US Administration through executive order over the last 8 years. It includes educational outreach, community resources, and many other benefits for its members and the community. That includes basic sexuality education that the current administration does not allow in our schools or library - such as prevention of STIs, birth control methods, sexual expression beyond strictly heterosexual intercourse, self-esteem, differences in sexuality and gender, and anatomy beyond peg b goes into slot g mechanics for reproduction only.

It is not a "charity" as KOMO would have viewers believe, but a "non-profit organization" as defined by the US IRS, and that is not up to Washington State in any way. They do not ask for anyone's tax dollars. Nor are membership dues tax deductible for the organization or any other in the same category. Being a 501(c)7 does not exempt the organization from all taxes, either. It still must pay B&O taxes. That is not a subsidy. If it were, then numerous organizations would be receiving "government subsidies" from the same designation. I know I personally disagree with many of those organizations that receive tax-exemptions much more extensive under 501(c)3 and (c)7 status - many hate-mongering "churches" for example - but since it is America, discrimination based on personal biases is illegal.

Marlee Ginter and KOMO knew all of this information and was provided with accurate details about what the organization does as well as Brian Alexander's previous interview. They used intentional misrepresention, distortionion, and flat out fabrication in an attempt to sensationalize, construct a scandal out of thin air, and to commit slander/liable against those they claimed to accurately cite. In short, they KOMOed the piece. And in doing so, they violated the rules of the FCC for fair news reporting.

If that isn't worth of outrage, then perhaps you should tell us what YOUR constitution says.

Posted by Vivid Confusion]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:26:55 -0800 The Stranger
& it is TOTALLY the job of columnists to beat whatever horse they want to death. Don't like it? Get your own column.
Posted by Eva Hopkins]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:23:51 -0800 The Stranger ahem, commingling.
Posted by treacle]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:17:39 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Sex positive 2]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:17:32 -0800 The Stranger
A tax break is the economic equivilent of a subsidy. The government subsidizes your home purchase via the mortgage tax deduction. The The government subsidizes your child-rearing via the child tax credit. And the government subsidizes this sex club via its non-profit tax exemption.

The report is quite upfront about the fact that the club meets the legal 501c requirements. They interview a state official to that effect, and point out that golf clubs are also exempt. They aren't trying to say the that the club violates the law. They are trying to say that the law doesn't reflect the mainstream view of what should constitute a subsidy-worthy charity.

What pissed Dan off is not that the report didn't provide an in-depth exposition of the existing accounting and tax law. It's that the tone of the report was scandalized and titilated. Here's some news for Dan: mainstream people are scandalized and titilated by sex clubs. A mainstream media outlets adopt a tone that caters to the views of its mainstream audience. It's not the job of the mainstream media to "educate" their audience with an eye to turning them into good little progressives who wear their amorality as a badge of honor.
Posted by David Wright]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:57:31 -0800 The Stranger Posted by CommonKnowledge]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:37:57 -0800 The Stranger
ROFLMAO!!
Posted by Oh that]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:37:17 -0800 The Stranger
god folks, this is so dreary, oh yeah, well

zzzzzzzzzzzz no more please, we get it, bad reporting on a non issue

we are at war, the economy is collapsing, the state and the county are in the verge of bankruptcy,and on and on

news anyone?

need some ideas? ck drudge and huffington and go local
Posted by Louis]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:36:30 -0800 The Stranger
If this were a for-profit swingers club, they would definately be taxed.
Posted by Dougsf]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:31:08 -0800 The Stranger
If this were a for-profit swingers club, they would definately be taxed.
Posted by Dougsf]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:29:23 -0800 The Stranger Posted by scary tyler moore]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:26:32 -0800 The Stranger Posted by scary tyler moore]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:25:42 -0800 The Stranger