Vote for Michael Jackson-Free GD forum HERE:

[Jacobin]

Our press has devolved from being the mouthpiece for the junta, explaining away and santizing each idiotic policy and inane statement of the administration, to being simply the paparrazi. Who woulda thunk they could have sunk any lower. :shrug:

There have been several thoughtful posts here describing this situation in detail, and no good could come from going into the obvious any further.

I, for one, am sick of this claptrap and non-stop diversion from critical issues this country is faced with. GD is one of the last refuges from the inanity of U.S. "journalism" where thoughtful discussions of important issues can be had.

I respectfully request the administrator to ban Michael Jackson posts from GD, as they would be more suited to the Lounge and ask for your vote to request that this ban be implemented.

[Ellen Forradalom]

1. Oh, don't pollute the Lounge with Jacko crapo

Put it in LBN :-)

[Cooley Hurd]

2. IMHO - The Lounge is a more appropriate forum

It's my understanding the GD is for political discussion. Celebrity gossip threads should be discussed in the Lounge only.

[Spazito]

4. I agree, Michael is NOT a political issue

This is taken from the home page of DU:

General Discussion Forum

This very popular forum is for discussion of miscellaneous political topics.

[Rowdyboy]

3. Please do this!

You can rationalize the Limbaugh trash because he talk politics, but Michael Jackson does not belong on DU. Give us this refuge!

[mikehiggins]

8. Am I voting to ban ALL Jackson commentary on DU?

If so, can I repeat my vote?

Please squash any threads dealing with this buffoon and/or the media circus around him. You could also ban anything dealing with Kobe Bryant or Scott Peterson while you're at it.

[Don Claybrook]

5. How do I respond to an MJ thread...

...when I don't even want to see it here in the first place, even if the subject is ostensibly that Michael Jackson shouldn't be covered here at all? If I say anything at all, I'm helping to perpetuate this waste of time. That said, here's what I think about the whole Michael Jackson issue:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3225626.stm

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/11/20/MNGDO368UK1.DTL

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-alaska-oil,0,1727260.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1111970,00.html

http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/budget/story/7823481p-8764256c.html

http://www.ftaaimc.org/en/2003/11/1314.shtml

I think that these 6 stories present the Michael Jackson coverage in the best possible way.

[eileen_d]

6. This Too Shall Pass.

[theboss]

7. I disagree

This is an important news story. I think it says a lot about fame, wealth, and celebrity . . .and weird black men who turn themselves into Asian women.

Also, from a legal aspect, it is interesting, considering the changes in the law since his last arrest. And the politcs of a prosecutor waiting to get him for 10 years.

We are not discussing an album or his clothes, but a crime.

[messiah]

9. All MJ Post Should Be In

"The DU Lounge" but some should be allowed if there is a connection to the media, media reform, media bashing and MJ!.

[sandnsea]

10. Make a tabloid forum!

If people want to talk about the legal implications, new law created just to prosecute Michael, that's one thing. But constant Michael all the time is just sad.

And I like Michael and am going to wait and see the evidence. I remember the social services 'counselors' and day care abuse stories from the 80's.

[Bertrand]

11. No

Obviously one of the most recognized people in the world being arrested for child molestation is newsworthy. Furthermore, i dont want to participate in a board that censors news because they dont like it.

[BigMcLargehuge]

12. Please direct all questions about DU message board administration

to the Ask the Administrators forum. That said, I'm going to lock this and "Beat it, because I'm Bad, I'm Bad, you know it."

Big McLargehuge
DU Moderator

[chiburb]

13. Missing an option...

I agree that we don't need minute-by-minute "case" updates, but in all the chaff there was SOME wheat yesterday. Especially interesting was discussion of racism and the politics of race in this case. I'm not saying I agree with everything I read, but if I hadn't read it I certainly wouldn't have thought about it. Also of interest was the belief by some DUers that "presumption of innocence" doesn't count because this freak is "clearly guilty".
For those reasons, I say let the threads exist...