Michael Jackson: Guilty or Not-Guilty?

[Winter Storm]

Ok, first I have to say I have always loved Michael Jackson as a musician, he has made great contributions to the music industry, I love his music and I love him as an artist...

...but something is not right with him. I hate to say it but I really hope they find something on him otherwise his behavior is never going to stop. He sees nothing wrong with having sleepovers with young boys and I truely believe that if he gets off again, he'll go right back Neverland and do the same things again. He doesn't live in reality. He was previously accused and went right back to the same ol' stuff.

I don't know what he's doing, but he's up to something and personally I'm sick of it of the speculations and accusations. I want the truth to come out.

Your thoughts?

[biodork]

Tough question. Not quite sure where I stand, although I'll say I do think he has a couple of screws loose in his head.

Anyone see the Southpark where they made fun of him? "Ignorant...that's, that's just ignorant" They sorta hit it dead on though lol

[and1grad]

They killed MJ on that episode. It was hilarious! That being said, I think the dude's innocent...but then again, I have this thing about there needing to be proof, and using Peterson as my example, its become obvious to me that its no longer necessary.

[WeirdBrake]

This is a really tough case. On the one hand, MJ is a documented nutjob, and it's quite conceivable that he molested children. On the other hand, there are plenty of nuttier nutjobs out there who are celebrity-obsessed and who would easily make up stories and manipulate their own children to lie for them in order to get the attention and possible lawsuit money from a celebrity with a false accusation against him.

[wordsmith]

I think he's a freakshow (albeit a tremendously talented freakshow whose music I love), but, yeah, hello, proof? And don't get me started on parents.

[Kitty]

I really don't know where I stand on this...

For the most part I think he's innocent, but he's such a freak that its hard to not have doubts...

[Deadend]

Thankfully, it's not, strictly speaking, illegal to be a nutjob. Personaly I wouldn't put it passed someone that loony, but other than that will refrain from further conjecture. It *should* be irrelavent in the case.

Guess we'll just see how the *facts* play out in court, that is before he gets convicted and half of america protests.

[pisces2473]

He needs some serious mental help, guilty or innocent. The guy is obviously not in touch with reality.

[GetMeOuttaDC]

Here is my thing.... where the hell are the parents?

He's been having sleepovers with young boys, and subsequently accusations of pedophilia made against him, for at least 10 years now. The original young boys that he allegedly molested are now our age. So the question is, would you let your child sleep over with an adult man, not a family member or a friend, just some washed-up singer who hasn't cut a record in ages, who had been charged with pedophilia not once, not twice, but every freaking time you turn around??? Apparently some parents in CA have NOO problem with that!

I mean wtf is wrong with these people? why the hell aren't they stepping up to the plate, doing their job, and protecting their children???

If he really is molesting the boys, they should burn in hell for putting thier children in that line of fire. If he is not molesting the boys and this is some ploy to get money, they should burn in hell for messing with innocent, impressionable children's psyches to make a quick buck.

[pisces2473]

Yes! You read my mind. I cannot believe that parents were still sending their kids to his house after the first allegation was made public. WTF? Are parents THAT blind???? Some people should have to be licensed to have children. I watched that thing about MJ on ABC last Friday and it was sickening. HE STILL THINKS HE DID NOTHING WRONG!!!!!

UGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH

[Deadend]

He needs some serious mental help, guilty or innocent. The guy is obviously not in touch with reality.

I guess he's rich enough that he can afford his own reality.

[MetFanL]

I ADORE MJs music. Love it. This trial stuff (and all the other charges before this) really upset me.

I want to think that he's probably, mentally, 13 years old and, as a result of that, probably doesn't intend to hurt these kids.

However, Lisa Marie Presley did an interview once where she said that the innocent, child-like thing was all an act and that he was VERY different and VERY adult. So, who knows... It's creepy, though, if someone can really keep an act up like that.

[Winter Storm]

However, Lisa Marie Presley did an interview once where she said that the innocent, child-like thing was all an act and that he was VERY different and VERY adult. So, who knows... It's creepy, though, if someone can really keep an act up like that.

I also saw an interview recently with a former butler or house servant that also admitted that his child-like demeanor was an act and the he actualy doesn't speak with that whisper-soft voice but actually has a very deep masculine voice when in private.

Did you also hear that Michael's former friend Corey Feldman is also testifying against him, he is also claiming inappropriate behavior. Of course Corey Feldman is kind of messed up too, but that sure won't help Michael.

Chek this out: http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1496823/20050210/jackson_michael.jhtml?headlines=true

[paiger81]

I saw the same show. It also mentioned that in the 80's he'd take Emmanuel Lewis(WEBSTER) with him every where, and that their relationship stopped when MJ was trying to check them into a hotel under an assumed name pretending to be father & son. Emmanuel's mom freaked out and cut all ties to MJ.

I think he is a musical genius, who is mentallly unstable. I would NEVER EVER let my child go with him, ever.

[kimmer23]

Here is my thing.... where the hell are the parents?

exactly! and what kid wants to stay over an adults house anyway?? dont kids usually want to stay over OTHER KIDS' houses?? i think tomorrow i'll talk my brother in law into having my nephew stay over the guy's house across the street that has no wife or kids. hehehehe!!!

[paiger81]

But he has neverland. That has to be a huge draw to some kids.

The TV show said preys on children who are less fortunate. The parents are usually undeducated and are so start struck that they are fine with letting their kids stay.

[tina1979]

I mean wtf is wrong with these people? why the hell aren't they stepping up to the plate, doing their job, and protecting their children???

If he really is molesting the boys, they should burn in hell for putting thier children in that line of fire. If he is not molesting the boys and this is some ploy to get money, they should burn in hell for messing with innocent, impressionable children's psyches to make a quick buck.
You took the words out of my mouth.
And1 I agree that there should be proof. I would, however, like to say that if he is convicted I wouldn't be surprised.

[GetMeOuttaDC]

The TV show said preys on children who are less fortunate. The parents are usually undeducated and are so start struck that they are fine with letting their kids stay.

No excuse. Being "uneducated" (which where I live, can mean "no masters degree") is NO excuse for a lack of common sense and lack of ability to protect your children.

Grown man who wants sleepovers with little boys = weird and creepy, no matter WHO the grown man is.

[heatherf]

Have you guys seen the new Chris Rock stand up where he talks about MJ? SO DANG FUNNY!

Michael is 100% guilty. It is not normal for a 40 year old man to hang out with 10 year old boys. Have any of you read the stuff on the smoking gun? I couldn't even get through all of it cause it is SO bad. So you have been warned.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/michaeljackson/010605jackson.html

K, the boy says that Michael Jackson masturbated him and then told him to take off his underwear and take a shower. Then michael gave him NEW underwear when he got out. When the police searched Michaels house- they found the little boys underwear, like he said would be there.

[tina1979]

Michael is 100% guilty. It is not normal for a 40 year old man to hang out with 10 year old boys. Have any of you read the stuff on the smoking gun? I couldn't even get through all of it cause it is SO bad. So you have been warned.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/michaeljackson/010605jackson.html

I love that site. I read it all the time. :huge:

[pisces2473]

When I was little, I used to sleep over my aunts' houses all the time. They didn't have kids, were single and fun, so my mom used to send us there so she could have some free time. LOL But my mom would NEVER send us to some random dudes house!!!! EW!

[kitalyn414]

I want to think that he's probably, mentally, 13 years old and, as a result of that, probably doesn't intend to hurt these kids. i go back and forth, but this is where i am at the moment.

i don't think mj ever progressed (mentally and emotionally) past early adolescence. lets say there was something sexual going on, it seems to me almost as if it is the type of sexual "experimentation" that goes on with kids when they are trying to figure out how everything works. in that respect, he doesn't seem like a predator, but more like a kid who just doesn't get it.

i don't know. my bf had a good point during the corey feldman interview when corey said that mj showed him porno mags. he said, "hey, if i had a 14 year old nephew or whatever and he wanted to see some porn, i'd probably show him."

there's no doubt about it, jacko's one sick pup. i actually feel really bad for him. he had no childhood and his father was a psychotic, abusive bastard. it seems like the defense should really emphasize this. almost like an insanity plea. let's face it, the guy is NOT normal. if he is, in fact, mentally a child, then he cannot really determine right from wrong.

and another vote here for holding the parents responsible.

[WeirdBrake]

there's no doubt about it, jacko's one sick pup. i actually feel really bad for him. he had no childhood and his father was a psychotic, abusive bastard. it seems like the defense should really emphasize this. almost like an insanity plea. let's face it, the guy is NOT normal. if he is, in fact, mentally a child, then he cannot really determine right from wrong.

Nope, his abusive childhood wouldn't have any legal relevance as far as arguing a straight not-guilty plea. In fact, it might make it worse for him because the jurors could think that if he suffered through an abusive childhood, maybe it warped him to the point of becoming a molester. The defense doesn't want the jury to sympathize with MJ or his life story; it only wants to convince them that the molestations never took place. Personally, I think the defense's best bet is arguing that the alleged victims are making it up in order to get media attention and possible lawsuit money.

[kitalyn414]

yeah that makes sense. one who is abused is much more likely to become an abuser.

hypothetically, is there any way that pointing out his troubled childhood could lead to a reduced sentence? i guess i'm really wondering if an insanity plea is an option in a molestation/rape case. or is that just murder cases?

[wordsmith]

Parents for whom it's sooo important to be fame whores that they are willing to risk endangering their children by placing them in the care of a person who's emotional balance is at the very least questionable deserve to be on the stand as much as anybody.

[kitalyn414]

Parents for whom it's sooo important to be fame whores that they are willing to risk endangering their children by placing them in the care of a person who's emotional balance is at the very least questionable deserve to be on the stand as much as anybody.agreed. it is neglegent.

[WeirdBrake]

hypothetically, is there any way that pointing out his troubled childhood could lead to a reduced sentence?

Yes, sometimes it can be used as a mitigating factor in certain crimes, but this would only be talked about after (and if) someone is convicted. But "troubled childhood" as a mitigating factor in the sentencing of a child molester? I don't know... maybe... but I have a hard time imagining a judge who would be sympathetic to that. Especially since the crime of molestation gives someone else a troubled childhood.

i guess i'm really wondering if an insanity plea is an option in a molestation/rape case.

Probably not. To prove insanity, you generally have to prove that you were so out of touch with reality at the time you committed the crime that you literally didn't understand what you were doing. Example: A paranoid schizophrenic who starts hallucinating that the guy walking toward him on the street is a demon monster who's about to eat him, so he attacks the guy, believing it to be necessary for self-preservation. In this scenario, the schizophrenic-- because of his psychosis-- literally didn't understand that he was committing the crime of assaulting another human being. He was insane.

Insanity doesn't just mean you have severe mental/psychiatric problems that influenced you to commit the crime (if that were the case, you'd need to transfer most of the prison population to mental hospitals because this description fits most convicted inmates). It means you really don't understand the basic nature of what you're doing at the time you do it. As long as you understand with a rational mind that you're being sexually intimate with a child, you're still sane enough to be guilty. A rational mind just means a mind that perceives reality correctly on the cognitive level. It doesn't mean one that's emotionally or psychologically or socially healthy. So I don't think an insanity plea would work in a child molestation case.

[WeirdBrake]

Let me rephrase. It's still an option. Procedurally, you'd be allowed to do it. But it probably wouldn't work.

[RealDeal]

I think that he is innocent until proven guilty

[and1grad]

That stuff on the smoking gun is FLIMSY...which gets me to thinking. What does the prosecution need to win this case? Assuming the jurors arent swayed by media bias. I think MJ's defense plan is clear.

[heatherf]

WTF is his defense plan? Get lots of celebs in the courtroom to woo the jurors? :rolleyes:

MJ is as guity as Scott Peterson.

I don't understand why people don't trust their instincts on shit like this. If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck..........

This isn't some big C-O-N spiracy. MJs own family isn't even going to testify on his behalf cause they know he's sick!

[pisces2473]

MJs own family isn't even going to testify on his behalf cause they know he's sick!
Yeah! They even tried to get him away from the boys!!!!

[and1grad]

MJ's family dont know shit. With the exception of Janet, and I think Jermaine, they barely have any contact with him. The defense's gameplan is simple: Challenge an already rather questionable credibility in these so-called witnesses and the almost retarded pieces of "evidence" they claim to have. Simple sayings dont mean jack when it comes to somebody's life. You wanna use a looks like a duck explanation for a man who's on trial for his LIFE ala Scott Peterson? Lets not simplify this into fairy tales and fables.

[pisces2473]

Dude, I meant back in the day, they were trying to get him away from the boys. Now, I know they don't really give a shit.

And the ONLY thing he has in common w/ Peterson is Mark Garagos, WB's idol ;)

[WeirdBrake]

Not anymore, Jen. MJ fired Mark Geragos.

[pisces2473]

Ooooooh...uh oh.

[heatherf]

I don't think Geragos could have added anything to the defense team anyway....

I hope he goes down! Boozing up kids.....Sleeping with them.......What a neighborhood Creep!

[Winter Storm]

OK, I just wanted to add that I don't know what to believe anymore. The accused teenager or his brother admitted that they lied for their mother before in another court case. So I really don't know. Maybe he'll get off.

[MetFanL]

I'm in the same boat, winter. On one hand, I really don't think MJ is on the up and up. I adore his music, but I think he's v. strange and a little shady.

However, if the DA is CONVINCED of all of this, as well, he should have done his f*cking job and gotten credible witnesses. Not the sexually abused equivalent of Jose Canseco... If these kids have admitted to being liars, put MJ in the same category as OJ.