BBC Abuse Story

[andy-hughes]

I know that this story is gaterhing momentum daily, but is anyone else uncomfortable with the rising vitriol of what is in effect a trial-by-media?

Accusations are not deemed more believable on a sliding scale where the more there are, the more truth can be attributed to them - but that seems to be the approach that tne nation is being fed through its media.

We do still work on an 'innocent until proven guilty' system of justice, not, as it appears, a 'no smoke without fire' system which is pervading the nation at the moment.

When Jimmy Saville's picture was shown to the Have I Got News For You audience, there was a chorus of boos.

Let's remember, this is someone who is under investigation, and as yet, not proven guilty of any offence, and is no longer alive to mount a defence.

Under the law, he is innocent, as is John Peel, Freddie Starr, and so on. The only individual found guity of child sex abuse is Gary Glitter, and again, that was not this offence, and an offence once proven does not give the media carte blanche to pronounce guilt on any subsequent rumour that may surface.

I find this worrying - anyone else?

[bednobs]

it's not just media though is it?

[Zeuhl]

<After all, in the thirteenth century, the majority of the population would swear on a stack of bibles that the earth was flat>

Just pointing out ...

that isn't true - anyone who can see a horizon, especially at sea knows the world is round - and even the superstitious thought Atlas carried a globe on his shoulder

'Flat Earth' is anti-church, anti-europe propoganda invented by the american author Washington Irving in the C19th

[andy-hughes]

M-T - "anyone who can see a horizon, especially at sea knows the world is round".

I would argue that if you know the world is round, then seeing a horizon enables you to understand that concept.

Simply seeing a horizon without the knowledge that the earth was not in fact flat would simply underline your received knowledge that the earth was flat, and what you could see was the edge of it.

It is simply not logical to assume that previous to proof of a journey from point A back to point A without 'falling off', anyone would think anything other than the obvious - backed up by their own eyesight - you can see the edge of the world out there - it may be a horizon to us, but not to them.

[Mick-Talbot]

LOL ^ I have just read your last post on sloppy journalism too, andy ;0)

[andy-hughes]

Apologies M-T - my last post was in response to Zeuhl's point - good job I am no longer employed by the AB!!!!!!!

[factor-fiction]

I haven't taken part in this thread or studied it so I may be repeating what has been said by others.
Whilst the allegations are serious and must be investigated I feel uncomfortable that media reports are referring to JS as a paedophile/abuser etc as if he had been convicted by a court. They are not bothering to say 'alleged'.
If he were still alive I'm pretty sure that the media would not be allowed to report it in this way until he had been convicted.

[andy-hughes]

Absolutely my point factor30.

I am happy to accept that anecdotal evidence is considerble, and increasing daily, but that makes it evidence, not proof and conviction.

Once the enquries and investigations are complete, we will all be in a position to know the facts, and not just the rumours.