Will He , Wont He ?

[bazwillrun]

win his appeal ?....

http://news.sky.com/story/1677134/adam-johnson-appeals-child-sex-sentence

'es a footballer innit, cant do no wrong guv !

His family obviously think hes a very good little boy.....
FB page in support, blimey...stand by for a Free AJ campaign !

[Mamyalynne]

If I may stick my oar in Islay , I think you may be confusing what some term as a 'Role Model' rather than someone who is in a position of trust.

[andy-hughes]

I am always seriously wary of the media-created notion of a 'role model' when applied to famous people.

The media are always very quick to jump on anyone who has transgressed their 'rules' for being a role model, but for some reason, they never comment about someone who is being a wonderful role model for young people, except in further condemnation.

Take Any Winehouse who, towards the end of her tragic life was, in my view, a twenty-four carat role model for young people. You only had to look at photographs of her to see that this is what alcohol and drug abuse do to you - but nary a mention of her being a 'role model' by the media, who continued to tut and condemn up to and well past her tragic death.

I am always reminded of Paul McCartney's response to a journalist who asked him about his drug taking. Macca cheerfully advised the journalist that he would be happy to tell no-one, if the journalist did the same! If the media made a deal out of his behaviour, then the results were their responsibility - not his.

That is a view with which I entirely agree - being famous does not automatically give you the responsibilities of being an upstanding citizen - privacy means just that, anyone is entitled to do as they with within reason, without the need for the media to wag its finger in print at every twist and turn.

As far as Mr Johnson's conduct - he should have been responsible for dissuading the bad decisions of a fixated child.

Not because he his a footballer, but because he is an adult - and with adulthood come certain automatic built-in responsibilities, the protection of children is just one of them.

He is entitled to appeal - that is due process - but in terms of his 'defence' - simply being a decent human being would have lifted him out of the situation that has seen him convicted and imprisoned.

[ummmm]

I would call her a fan, not a fixated child. She asked him to sign a shirt.

I also do not consider her a child. An age where she is still vulnerable, yes, but not a child.

I'm not taking away from him being a despicable excuse for a man!

[andy-hughes]

ummmm - fair point - I probably went a bit OTT on the emotive language!