Pulaski

Why do so many tragic stories turn into a media circus? Often it doesn't seem to be the media's fault per se, it's more that the story becomes more convoluted as the details come out: for example Hannah Anderson, the girl who was kidnapped by James DiMaggio, a "close family friend", is now being requested to provide DNA to establish if DiMaggio is her biological father.

Then there is Erica Parsons story, which has been a local hot topic for the past couple of weeks, but has now "gone national" after her parents appeared on Dr Phil's show this week (presumably for the money) to profess their innocence, but the fact that their daughter has been missing for at least eighteen months appeared to be of only tertiary importance (after the money, and the attempt (in vain) to clear the cloud of suspicion hanging over them).

robin1234

I find it interesting, although certainly tragic for the people involved. I tend to follow the Daily Mail, mostly to read the comments from readers on stories like the Hannah Anderson one. Commenters there were speculating quite early in the cycle that Uncle Jim was actually her father. So, a media circus, yes, but the hoi polloi are active participants too.

Then, people caught up in these crimes and tragedies seem to want to, or be advised to, act like "celebrities" now. They retain professional spokespeople, they give press conferences, and of course they tweet and update their FB etc., all in the glare of Daily Mail (etc) reporting.

sir_eccles

I thought you were going to talk about actual circuseseses and i was going to mention that i drove past the Ringling Bros. circus train recently.

robin1234

Well, you could mention it, technically it is not OT.

md95065

... and even if it were off topic when has that ever stopped anyone ...

Pulaski

So now Bradley Manning wants to be known as Chelsea and "live as a woman", and Jennifer Leathers (Weiner's sexting partner) porn video is out, so what's next?

robin1234

Hmm .. my guess is that there might be some issues with undergoing sex reassignment therapy while serving time in a prison. Maybe I'm just looking for problems where none exist, though.

Pulaski

It's a pretty radical step, but inmates who put themselves into that limbo where they're certainly not female, but not male either, can't be housed in the general population. So putting himself in that small population of gender-ambiguous former male prisoners likely leaves him in a much safer environment than being in the general population.

Yorkieabroad

But trying and risking not getting it is a pretty high stakes gamble!

Pulaski

Yup, he's got balls, .... though not perhaps for much longer!

Yorkieabroad

kins

This thread has made me laugh more than any circus I've visited

scrubbedexpat097

I imagine the Kardashian Klan must be pretty upset that they are not hitting the headlines right now. I'm sure a new sordid story will hit the gutter press soon

Dorothy

I'm tickled that Leathers and Weiner are the names of people involved in a sex scandal. Juvenile? Yes siree!