michael jackson hosts 200 kids at ranch..

Wow...great debate!

Still, I have to say (and believe me I just don't like MJ)

I would certainly WANT Squirt and MiamiB as my jurors.

I know "I'd" never make it on the jury for Michale Jacksons trial.

I have a great deal of respect for people that can be the "devils advocate".

That's the only thing left that makes our judicial system work at all anymore...they're the only one's that give any kind of hope to innocent people.

I'm as guilty as the next, in so far as "just going by my gut" or by not liking what I hear and or believing most of what I hear from the media.

Do I think he's guilty as all get out? Yup...and "I personally" have very little to base it on. (Except what I see on the news and read)

But, I'm with you Mamakity, I wouldn't allow my kid to be anywhere near him...only, that has mostly to do with the fact I think he's whacko period....then to top it off, with him being "accused"....that just ads to it.

Anyway...seems that he just keeps digging himself in deeper and deeper with some people (Meaning that the more crazy shit like this he does, the more people think he guilty)

i guess we live in different americas. aside from the public opinion, i personally know people who have done time for things they didn't do. and every day, you read about people who were denied bail for things everyone else gets bail set for. i also know a guy who was jumped by a car full of thugs while he was on parole, and was thrown back to jail even though he didn't even defend himself.

i wouldn't know if michael jackson is the whacko people believe him to be, and i wouldn't know if he is a child molester.

but i agree that he shouldn't have hosted this event simply because of public opinion, and how this can be slanted in the media and maybe in court.

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Originally posted by MiamiB
Well, like it or not in my American you are still innocent until proven guilty. It is obvious that in the public opinion he is already guilty.

Very open minded of all you porn producers. I had thought that we might be a little bit more openminded and understanding...I guess that when the police come for you that you will want every one to make the same assumption about you as well...

I for one will still assume you are innocent (although I appear to be the minority on this board)!

Very sad indeed...

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There's one thing Michael Jackson most absolutely, definitely is guilty of: poor judgement.

I know he's not on trial for having an illogical thought process, but his relationship with kids can only be described as inappropriate and odd at the very least.

It doesn't surprise me that he's this strange. Look at the life he's lived. Since young childhood he's lived a surreal life in a surreal world, insulated from consequence and the kinds of realities most people face day to day. His lifestyle just breeds odd behavior by general standards, and he's far from the only celebrity that exhibits it. Extreme wealth combined with fame and all that comes with it... he's deluded. He doesn't appreciate reality... consequence... discretion... logic... reason... propriety... responsibility. And I don't at all feel I'm going out on a limb saying any of this. It's evident in so much of what he does.

Is he some crazed predator lurking in the shadows and chasing after kids, bent on abusing people? No. But he's obviously a grown, middle aged man whose thought process isn't quite on target and whose relationship with children is plain old off. He's a kid himself in many ways, incapable of thinking things through to the right conclusions.

We know he's been accused of child molestation in the past. Yet can't seem to think why anyone would see anything wrong with him continuing to not only have kids over at his home, but sleep in the same bed as him. I'm sure you all remember the television interview he gave awhile back where he was asked about that. And his answer was "Yes, I sleep in the same bed as children. But there's nothing sexual about it at all. Nothing happens. It's just natural and innocent" and it was obvious he truly believed that. And so there very well may not have been anything sexual that took place... but it's quite telling that he couldn't at all understand why no one else saw it the way he did. He made that revelation as if everyone would be like "Ohhhhh! In that case! Carry on!", completely unaware people would be like "You what?!"

He interacts with kids in a strange way. He has emotions for children that aren't quite the ones a man of his age should have. He identifies with children in an abnormal fashion. And so, in my opinion, I don't see it the least bit unreasonable to consider that at some point in time, it could very well be possible he'd end up doing something akin to what he's been charged with. Not because he's inherently evil. Not because he actively and consciously pursues deviancy. But because at no point is there a thought that clicks and says "Stop. This is wrong."

So I see two highly likely and equally plausible scenarios. The first being that his money makes him the target of greedy parents using their children to milk Jackson out of dough. The other being the accusations against him turning out to be entirely true. Neither consideration requires much of a stretch of imagination.

Time and a jury will tell, but it doesn't change the fact that inviting 200 kids over to a party at the home identified in accusations and by the prosecution as the place where serious crimes against children took place is a bad, bad idea beyond just publicity reasons. Where else has his judgement been sorely lacking?

i see a third possibility - that other people also feel his relationship with children is strange, and misinterpret it.

i don't find his relationship with children that difficult to understand. adults have been dangerous to him, and harmful - children are safe. he never had a chance to grow up, so he is emotionally a child as well.

years ago, for a while, the jackson family lived down the hill from a family friend of ours in beverly hills. the boys were kept at the house. one day, feeling sorry for them, we went down - we were kids, too - and asked if they could come over. the answer was a resounding no. those kids were kept at that house, by their pool, most of the time with no company and nothing to do - unless they were working.

is it that amazing that someone with such a background would fail to grow past a child stage, and would relate to "other" children?

Give me a break. So his property is still being used to give kids a good day. Big deal. They haven't even taken his own kids away from him.

If you believe the disabled children were in any danger of being raped by Jackson (who really wasn't even around), then I can only imagine what you think he's doing to his own kids.

Just the idea that family services hasn't pulled his kids should tell you how iffy the case is against him.

Look at the evidence that we know of. The only thing conclusive is that he's a middle aged man who is friends with young teen's as if he's their own age. Strange, but that doesn't mean he's also molesting them.

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what parents in their right minds would allow this??

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Parents with attournies waiting in the wings to hand him a lawsuit saying " My son was also molested"

Michael has to be crazy, I wouldnt go withing 100 ft of a kid right now, if i were him, if for nothing else but to avild any more lawsuits

wow, i never thought this subject would draw such a debate. miamib, i agree, he is innocent until proven guilty. my point was only that I would never allow my child (hypothetical) around anyone that was even accused or suspected of molestation. As mamakitty said, why take the chance?
I also agree that it shows very poor judgement by mj and his lawyers. brian, you made some great points on that.

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Originally posted by Squirt
(big "SORRY" picture)

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Apology not accepted. I'm sending you a list of 10 of my favorite SquirtIt.com models. I demand you put each one on a plane and send them to me ASAP. Then, and only then, shall you be forgiven.

a child with an adult caretaker, and 199 other adult caretakers, and michael jackson not in the area, i don't see the risk. he hasn't been accused of making off with kids like a desparado and raping them.

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Originally posted by RainGurl
...I would never allow my child (hypothetical) around anyone that was even accused or suspected of molestation. As mamakitty said, why take the chance?
I also agree that it shows very poor judgement by mj and his lawyers. brian, you made some great points on that.

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