I found out something about my teacher...

[Guru-In-Vegas]

How irresponsible can journalists be and at what point is it really past news and just becomes defamation?  Here is the long story.

So I was bored and decided to look up a book one of my professors had written.  I googled it and found it easily and was impressed by reading the book's brief description.  Then I decided to google another professor of mine.  He is an accomplished business man and a psychologist with high profile and celebrity clients.  I found a brief bio on him and learned some things on his achievements.  THEN...I decided to google another professor of mine. 

This is where it was a shock.  This professor has a huge following.  Everyone knows who he is and always recommends him.  Not only that but he is a lawyer at a prestigious firm and a judge pro-tem.  This guy has had awards and does a lot for the community.  On top of all that he is an excellent professor and unbelievably approachable.

So when I searched him, a two year-old article from the Review Journal came up.  His picture came up with a caption that read "judge arrested".  So shocked and curious I read it. 

He was arrested and booked for solicitation of a prostitute.  Wow.  Now to me it is enough to just report the fact that he was arrested ONLY because he was a judge.  Now this is where I got upset and lost respect for the newspaper.  Not only did they report on the charges but they went into detail on this man's most humiliating experience.  They reported on how he "heavily wept" and begged to the officers to make it go away.  All of this was on the front page.  This is no small 12,000 people town.  Murders, war, political corruption, spending, housing busts were too small a story compared to dragging this man's name through the mud.

I strongly support freedom of the press and demand that they inform the public on matters that affect them.  I'm not in disagreement that this needed to be reported.  However, they were very distasteful and demeaning in the way they did it.  Irresponsible is the best way I can describe it.

To follow up on what happened to him, he resigned from his position as a judge-pro tem.  He was also reviewed by the school board and some were advocating for his termination.  Which is ridiculous but good thing they ruled that it did not have any effect on students nor was this illegal act conducted on campus. 

Edit to add: I take it back.  There was an effect on the students.  Some of the respect and admiration for the man has been replaced with pity for what he went through. 

[TonyB0D]

i think prostitution being illegal is even more retarded than weed being illegal.  i mean seriuosly.  you wanna pay $$ to have sex?  knock yourself out!

[Brian Fein]

My guess is they do that to discourage other people from picking up hookers.  "man, look how humiliated they made this guy seem..."

Its a stretch, but you're right.  Sometimes these reporters go too far.  I always laugh when I see reporters get their asses whipped on TV because they just don't know when enough is enough.

[Guru-In-Vegas]

My guess is they do that to discourage other people from picking up hookers.  "man, look how humiliated they made this guy seem..."

Its a stretch, but you're right.  Sometimes these reporters go too far.  I always laugh when I see reporters get their asses whipped on TV because they just don't know when enough is enough.

During this sting on this particular weekend they caught like 190 other guys.  He was the only one who was named and pictured.

[Philly Fin Fan]

During this sting on this particular weekend they caught like 190 other guys.  He was the only one who was named and pictured.

The other 189 must not have been high profile like him.

[StL FinFan]

The other 189 must not have been high profile like him.

Every one of them were glad someone with a higher profile was caught so they did not end up being the poster boy.

[GUATARICCAN]

I worked with this guy at a Resort and he seemed like such a family man real cool guy too. He would bring his kids to work with him and I even met his wife once. Then he shows up on 20/20's Catch a Predator and kinda explains why I hadn't seen him at work. I kinda felt for him but man that was a stupid choice. Got roughed up by the cops too. But the topper was he was in his work uniform which the Resort didn't really like.

[landlocked]

i have no problem with Catch A Predator,because those guys are child molesters.what i have a problem with is reporting on a guy like that dentist in colorado a few years back.he was a respectable citizen,active in the community and his church,nice family the whole bit.someone found out he was receiving porn in the mail(it wasn't kiddie porn or anything weird)anyway he was arrested,they searched his home and found he owned tons of porn movies and the local media,always looking to expose and drag people through the mud,plastered his face all over the papers and six o'clock news.the guy ended up killing himself.

[Sunstroke]

Guru, I agree with you...sometimes the press goes way too far with this sort of thing, and there should be some accountability. I'm not optimistic that this will change any time soon though.

the local media,always looking to expose and drag people through the mud,plastered his face all over the papers and six o'clock news.the guy ended up killing himself.

I understand why something like this would make someone so distraught that they kill themself, but...wouldn't it make more sense to put together a list of people at the TV station who were involved and then strangle them with piano wire? I think this would be more therapeutic...

[run_to_win]

...reporting on a guy like that dentist in colorado a few years back.he was a respectable citizen,active in the community and his church,nice family the whole bit.someone found out he was receiving porn in the mail(it wasn't kiddie porn or anything weird)...

sometimes the press goes way too far with this sort of thing, and there should be some accountability.

For some reason I doubt the press would report it if it was an unsuccessful, non-church going single man. 

I understand why something like this would make someone so distraught that they kill themself, but...wouldn't it make more sense to put together a list of people at the TV station who were involved and then strangle them with piano wire? I think this would be more therapeutic...

Agreed.

The TV station undoubtedly claimed no responsibility for this.  Funny thing is, if any felon commits suicide while locked up his family can sue the prison system for $millions.   

[Dave Gray]

The TV station undoubtedly claimed no responsibility for this.  Funny thing is, if any felon commits suicide while locked up his family can sue the prison system for $millions.   

Sure, but anyone can sue anyone for anything.

[run_to_win]

Sure, but anyone can sue anyone for anything.

The families win, either outright or settlements. 

Personally, the cost of the investigation, arrest, prosecution, incarceration, etc, should be deducted from any settlements.

One prisoner at Walla Walla State Pen in Washington killed himself on Father's Day because his kids didn't come visit him.  Whether he was a lousy father or they were just ungrateful kids, they were handsomely rewarded for neglecting him.

[GUATARICCAN]

How exactly do you get arrested for getting porn in the mail? Last time I checked porn wasn't illegal and if it is now I gotta go home and burn some evidence. 

[YoFuggedaboutit]

The families win, either outright or settlements. 

Personally, the cost of the investigation, arrest, prosecution, incarceration, etc, should be deducted from any settlements.

One prisoner at Walla Walla State Pen in Washington killed himself on Father's Day because his kids didn't come visit him.  Whether he was a lousy father or they were just ungrateful kids, they were handsomely rewarded for neglecting him.

Do they still execute by gallows in Washington State?

[run_to_win]

I'm not so sure - one death row inmate ate himself into such a humungous blob that that hanging likely would have resulted in decapitation, and apparently that's cruel and unusual punishment. 

http://dwb.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/5512175p-4967216c.html

Perhaps if there was more cruel and unusual punishment INSIDE prisons then there'd be less of it outside?