Is this Jimmy Saville thing getting boring?

[10ClarionSt]

No disrespect to anyone, but isn't this getting boring now? I think the media should leave it now and let the relevant authorities get on with their investigations. But these things sell papers don't they?

[Answerprancer]

Not sure about "boring" but aside from the supposed victims getting closure on their ostensible traumas with the guy, I think there is a 'witch hunt' coming out of all this. I can't help but wonder that it might have been influenced by the public outrage over the as yet unconcluded situation with that little girl in Wales.

[LazyGun]

I would not have said boring was the right word to use here.

Savile is dead, so cannot be prosecuted - but the case shines a light on practices in institutions that need to be examined, and changed.

It also allows us to examine some social attitudes. Someone commented that they wish lawyers had not been brought in. Why? If you accept that Savile did these things, then institutions and individuals need to examine their practices and consciences, because it seems there a cultural failing that enable his actions.If people were victims, then clearly they should be offered some redress.

Abuse would be traumatic, For some, it will have changed, maybe blighted their lives. Should they not be due some acknowledgement, closure, recompense?

And then there is the argument about "provocation". This is an argument employed most often when discussing rape cases - "she was asking for it" because of the way she was dressed or in her manner.This is,ultimately, poor logic. It assumes than men are unthinking sexual predators, consumed by lust, willing to abuse and assault a female because she has, by dressing provocatively,unleashed an ungovernable urge. This is nonsense. Its a cop out for men.This is the argument of the Burkha. We are, supposedly, rational individuals, aware of the cultural rights and wrongs, and fully responsible for our actions. Its a comic book defence, the Hulk defence, blaming the victim for the provocation, in the Hulks case turning green, losing all but his trousers, and going on a hate filled rampage - "you wont like me when I am angry."

And then we have actions of celebrities. Pop stars, Actors, DJs, Footballers - All gain fans, many of whom are infatuated or in lust or in love. And children will want to experiment, and explore their own sexuality - its part of the human condition. But, children are protected - In this country, you are a minor until 16, incompetent to offer consent. And, despite liking John Peel for his music, I do not like the selfishness and self gratification that such people fall pray to, when, in his own words, he married and had sex with a 15 year old, and had a "regular customer" of just 13. Regardless of her sexual maturity, she was a minor, and he was an adult - his celebrity offered him access, and his own selfish desire for gratification prompted the abuse.

It has been mentioned before, but there is a kind of dissonance employed by much of the media - piously calling for tougher laws and sentencing for paedophilia, but full of pictures and gossip of underage girls in bikinis. Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame said in an article recently that there was a kind of countdown thing going on amongst the paperazzi following her, culminating in a photographers attempt to take an upskirt shot of her the day she turned 18.

Such attitudes need to be examined and challenged, and that is the value of the news stories around Savile.

[zebo]

HIGNFY on Friday obviously had this item and I've never known anything discussed so seriously, the audience was silent, Hislop was supurb and Merton explained the so-called spoof on Youtube. Hislop was defending the BBC saying there's a difference between "knowing" because you've heard the rumours, everyone had heard them and "knowing" because something can be proved. The Press who are now happily vilifying the BBC also "knew" the rumours but didn't take it further so are they not as guilty?

[Mick-Talbot]

No Idea what you mean by your post @ 20:51 Sat, sp.

Mick-Talbot
In what way was the alleged Michael Jackson story 'acceptable'?

...........
But can you explain how paying someone millions of dollars rather than going to court and facing the charges against you is acceptable?

[anotheoldgit]

School teacher absconding with his young lover, a dead accused paedophile????????????????

Pity they are not more interested in the growing number of child grooming gangs that are operating all over England.

[tonyav]

Very true, that is, oag.

[joeluke]

Saville is 6 foot under p!ssing himself laughing and sticking 2 fingers up cos it's all too little too late

The whole of the female population could come forward and claim Saville molested them and it still wouldn't make a jot of difference

[owdhamer]

I said this days ago.

[factor-fiction]

I seem to remember though that you kept raising your Alan Hansen story allegations and didn't leave that alone for a long time.
The Savile story is important - the story will die down at times but will resurface from time to time now that the BC is launching an investigation and the lawyers are involved for some of the victims. Whilst the allegations are serious I think it's wrong that the media is now talking openly about his crimes of paedophilia and abuse even though nothing has been proved and they couldn't say it if he were still alive