Dualdiagnosis said:
The juxtaposition is [disconcerting], Crystal Magnum comes out with a book, and two posts later, this. I seem to remember the campus faculty going bonkers on the Duke rape charges, I wonder how the professors will act this time.Well, let me look that up for you. As a blogger, I am on record. Here is my first post on the subject. Excerpt:
If this is a hoax she should be prosecuted.
How about you Ann? Were your reactions as dismissive last time?
Do you think you know which side is telling the truth in the Duke lacrosse team rape case? You shouldn't.I've made a "Duke rape case" tag, so you can see all my old posts on the subject. I did not blog very much on this subject. (I see a post on the subject of Eugene Volokh's saying why he wasn't blogging very much about it.) I did post about the professors' letter that explain an earlier letter that supported the alleged victim. I said:
"The disaster is the atmosphere...." -- we're told. The students' perceptions matter and deserve to be "give[n] voice." But the professors don't like how they were perceived by the world outside the university; that was misreading. But if it is perception -- atmosphere -- that matters -- how can you think that you can contribute things to be perceived and avoid responsibility for the effect that you have?Peter Hoh says:
There was a Madison kidnapping hoax in the spring of 2004. A quick search shows that Althouse did not blog about it.I checked too, and I don't think I blogged about it. It was a local story, and it turned out to be a young woman who needed help. Bandying her name about was not helpful. You know, when you're blogging, you're always reaching out to grab at the latest things, but it's still important to think about not making problems worse. But that Madison case was not what popped to mind. Someone emailed to push me to blog about the story and my response was: 1. An expression of doubt, 2. "Doesn't belong in the spotlight," and 2. "Tawana Brawley. Bleh."
I wonder if that was in the back of Ann's mind when she said that this incident seemed like a distraction.
Why Tawana Brawley? It was the case of: 1. A young woman who did things to her own body, and 2. A cross-racial accusation.
UPDATE: As predicted. Fake.
Posts
98 comments:
"It was the case of: 1. A young woman who did things to her own body, and 2. A cross-racial accusation."
It's also a case that is readily distinguishable unless the Wikipedia article is completely wrong. Brawley's physical condition when she presented herself to the cops, per wp, was entirely inconsistent with the story that she told them, whereas Todd's injuries and story are at least internally consistent. No inconsistencies in the story that Todd told have been brought to light. And frankly, Todd's story is made credible by context: this isn't an isolated incident, merely an escalation of an existing trend. It comes after years of violent rhetoric from the left and months of intimidation by Obama supporters.
This may or may not be a hoax, but the comparison to Brawley doesn't work. Not unless wikipedia's version of the facts there is completely wrong.
By the way - after Tawana Brawley made her allegations, was there a media blackout on all MSM coverage? I take it that network news and the press ignored the story, right?
Simon, I can't understand your eagerness to stir the pot of racial ugliness on a local story like this. Part of a pattern? What pattern? You think overheated rhetoric is in the same pattern with physical assaults?
The comparisons illustrate it’s safer to bet on the possibility of a white hoax than on a black hoax.
Is self preservation still legal in this country?
Simon, I looked to you as the voice of reason on so many issues. But on this subject you've gone off the rails. This story, true, false, a bit of both, is meaningless. It's a waste of valuable time.
Factors to consider in the curious case of the woman robbed and whose face was marked up by the robber; who had a car with a McCain sticker on it:
1. The woman supposedly refused medical treatment, at least when offered that, per the media story. 2. The so-called "B" looks like it's reversed as it would be if that woman did it herself while looking in a mirror. 3. She doesn't look like she's been beaten about the face as severely as she's supposed to have been. 4. The cross racial makeup of the story seems designed to draw attention to her case.
I have no idea whether in fact her story is true. It seems suspicious on several levels as noted above. Perhaps she's trying to draw attention to herself, perhaps her story is real. Regardless there's not too much there and it does have a stench about it.
BTW: for the record, I'm a fierce McCain/Palin supporter and Constitutional Conservative all the way.
"Stir the pot"? Stir the pot?!
And as to the pattern, quite aside from the years of violent rhetoric, the comment I linked to above - not even by me! - notes several incidents of physical attacks on property (they're by no means unique, I've seen reports of others) and at least one incident of assault and battery.
Well, I came in to ask, "Ann, between the Wieseltier post and this one, are purposely trying to send up Simon's blood pressure to such dangerous heights so early in the day?", but I see that I'm too late.
A hoax much like the reported screams of "Kill Him" by rabid republican whipped into a blind frenzy by that estrogenatrix Palin?
W-a-a-y too late.
I had my doubts early on this (pats self on the back).
Though in the dark, Hillary! could me mistaken for a 6'4" black guy.
"could me" should read "could be mistaken".
Palladian, with all due respect, I cannot understand why people are being so quick to dismiss this. The woman has quite plainly been physically injured -- how stupid do we think the cops are? We don't think that if the injuries were fake, the experienced professional law enforcement officers handling the case, who see victims of assault often -- so the only question is by whom and for what reason. Yet those who resist the story have not posited an alternative explanation beyond the frankly incredible idea that she carved this into her own face (did Tawana Brawley self-mutilate? Just how dedicated to the hoax do you have to be to cut yourself up?), or any serious reason to doubt the story. Yet they dismiss it for... For I don't even know what reason. Because not talking about this is distracting the media from not talking about Obama's dodgy donations or not talking about the Berg lawsuit or not talking about Acorn? Because we don't want to believe that Obama supporters could do this? What did people think was going to happen on election night if Obama lost? You don't think that followers of the hopey changey cult of personality candidate could physically attack people? They already have!
"not talking about Acorn?"
A nation of squirrels could feed off the number of mentions and discussion Acorn's received.
Unless you mean "not propagating lies and misinformation about Acorn." Then, yes, outside of FOX News graspers, the media hasn't been "talking" about it.
It's clearly struck a nerve with Simon. I think I understand why, even though I remain skeptical of the story adn think the police need to finish their investigation.
I do agree that were this a story about a black woman for Obama attacked by white assailant for McCain, there would be 35 vans for CNN/MSNBC/ABC/CBS/etc etc parked in front of her apartment.
Just more evidence why the MSM is worthless.
This is a no win for McCain, if a hoax, he gets blamed for it (which is completely unfair). If true, how can you legitimately blame Barack for some nut job. Racism only flows one way in this political "race" anyway.
Clearly a hoax. This is a hoax too. And this. And this. We can do a hundred of them. And what a bunch of psycho self-immolating whiners they all are. Nothing to see here folks. Move along.
What's interesting about this story is that most of the comments in this post are somewhat reasonable. Very little ranting and raving; Ok, maybe just a tad bit of R & R!
I still believe that the article's claim that the victim refused medical treatment is quite telling and perhaps her injuries were self-inflicted. Weirder things have happened this election year.
BTW: The spate of idiotic house defacing and the recent house shooting are demonstrations of the sheer hysteria this year.
Just wait until after the votes are counted! Then we'll really see real hysteria; either result too!
After all these years of Republicans raking Democrats over the coals for victimology, you want to go into victim mode? McCain may lose this election, but that doesn't mean you need to act like a loser. Fight honorably, and stay on message. Don't take a side-trip into some local person's 15 minutes of fame. This is not the next Joe the Plumber. It hasn't got a damned thing to do with Barack Obama.
(...Just how dedicated to the hoax do you have to be to cut yourself up?)
At least as dedicated as Morton Downey Jr!
This does not pass the smell test for me. But I have been wrong so many times before! I remember thinking and posting that Fred Thompson would be our next president!
So I will claim what I smell, but not what happened.
Trey
But the Bradley matter smelled to high heaven as well.
Trey
If some criminal had done this, wouldn't it have been far easier to carve an "O" for Obama (come on, it's the ever-present logo, isn't it?) rather than a complicated (and too-perfect) "B"?
"Fight honorably, and stay on message."
But the Marquis of Queensberry rules apparently only apply to the GOP. The left can lie, cheat, and steal (credit card fraud, ACORN voting fraud, tossing out military votes, MSM biased reporting, attacks on Palin, etc etc).
Why isn't the left held to any standard at all? And our bitching about that fraud is merely dismissed as being sore losers.
The right is expected to be honorable, while the left fights dirty.
Screw that.
"Can honor set to a leg? No. Or an arm? No. Or take away the grief of a wound? No. Honor hath no skin in surgery, then? No. What is honor? A word. What is in that word? honor. What is that honor? Air. A trim reckoning? Who hath it? He that died on Wednesday. Doth he feel it? No. Doth he hear it? No. Is it insensible, then? Yes, to the dead. But will it not live with the living? No. Why? Detraction will not suffer it, therefore, I'll none of it. Honor is a mere escutcheon, and so ends my catechism."
My own take is to suspend judgment until the police finish their investigation. True or not, this incident does not flow from either campaign.
And as to the pattern, quite aside from the years of violent rhetoric, the comment I linked to above - not even by me! - notes several incidents of physical attacks on property (they're by no means unique, I've seen reports of others) and at least one incident of assault and battery.
First of all, Simon, incidents of vandalism occur on both sides. I have worked on campaigns and peoples yard signs get stolen and defaced and people's property gets vandalized all the time, both Republican and Democrat. There are assholes on both sides--I have a personal opinion of which side is guilty of more incidents but don't have any figures to back it up, so I want make any wild-assed claims, like you do.
But this I do know. If you are concerned about violent domestic terrorism, the history of this country demonstrates that the right has and continues to be much more violent than the left. Over 5,000 documented lynchings prove that. The second worst terrorist attack in the history of the United States was carried out by right wing zealots. The Olympic Park bombings, the abortion clinic bombings and murders of doctors and talk show hosts were all carried out by the right.
Even the Weathermen, who the right is so obsessed with this election cycle, were a lot better at blowing themselves up than anyone else.
The Dharma Beats are playing cosmic long-ball and Republicans are playing Who's on First -- apparently satisfied with weak ground balls and pop-ups.
Victims schmicktims. It isn't that. It's the double-standard. Tell you what Ann, you can test it for yourself. Put a McCain/Palin bumper sticker on your car and see what happens. Are you up for that?
the abortion clinic bombings
Oh, we're not sure those clinic bombers are terrorists, there, now. You betcha.
Zeb, I see McCain/Palin stickers on cars all over the place. And faded old W stickers from four years ago as well. What fevered imaginings are you nursing?
Pogo said...
"Fight honorably, and stay on message."
But the Marquis of Queensberry rules apparently only apply to the GOP. The left can lie, cheat, and steal (credit card fraud, ACORN voting fraud, tossing out military votes, MSM biased reporting, attacks on Palin, etc etc).
As a side note, they are tossing out military absentee ballots in my country (Fairfax Virginia). The reason is that the generic Federal absentee ballot using by some in the military. The ballot has a spot for a witness signature, but no spot for the witness address now required in VA. Fairfax tosses the ballots, Arlington accepts them saying that the issue is not a "material defect". The Democratic VA SOS is trying to compell Arlington to ignore the votes as well.
http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_militaryvotes_1024oct24,0,6673419.story
I predict the first of many military vote stories.
Come on Drill Sgt. These ballot abuse stories are urban legends.
We had a big problem 8 years ago but Congress promised to fix it. Are you suggesting they did not fix it? Heh.
Beth said...
the abortion clinic bombings
Oh, we're not sure those clinic bombers are terrorists, there, now. You betcha.
Beth, I am not sure of your point. Freder apparently thinks they are terrorists. I think they are terrorists.
any evidence most conservatives (Freder obviously isn't) don't think that bombing a clinic isn't terrorism?
If true, the significance is that "even though violent things happen all the time" the supporters of one political party are more violent than the supporters of the other.
Few people realize that the vast majority (75%?) of America's murders are committed by Democrats or persons who would vote Democrat if they voted.
The same for lesser malum in se crimes.
I think it's interesting when there is such a disparity in criminality between the parties. It certainly reflects on the moral basis of a party to be so popular with persons who commit common law crimes.
any evidence most conservatives (Freder obviously isn't) don't think that bombing a clinic isn't terrorism?
Beth was getting a dig in at Sarah Palin, who apparently doesn't consider abortion clinic bombers "terrorists".
But of course asking that question was just the MSM being mean to her.
"any evidence most conservatives (Freder obviously isn't) don't think that bombing a clinic isn't terrorism?"
I suspect others will chime in here, but Palin hedged on this very question yesterday.
It's a big country. Bad stuff happens.
So it's pretty easy for partisans of any stripe to come up with a catalog of horrors that characterize their opponents.
Accumulate enough isolated and random incidents and you can declare them endemic. Or better (because more resistant to reason) you can declare them emblematic.
Once the random incident is turned into a symbol, it can support any number of subjective notions.
It is the glorification of anecdote and argument by assertion that marks the thoughtless.
Drill Sgt., Palin answered, "I don't know if you're gonna use the word 'terrorist' there" asked by Brian Williams, "Is an abortion clinic bomber a terrorist, governor?"
What word are we supposed to use, for God's sake?
Drill Sgt,
According to Ambinder (who had a post along your lines earlier yesterday) there is follow-up to correct that matter though it is still worth monitoring.
Drill Sgt. -- sorry I overlooked your request for evidence about "most conservatives." I didn't say most conservatives thought or felt anything in particular so I don't know why you'd request that.
Few people realize that the vast majority (75%?) of America's murders are committed by Democrats or persons who would vote Democrat if they voted.
Please explain the basis of this assertion. And how do you know who people who don't vote, and are violent criminals, would vote for if they could?
Since a large percentage of the murders in this country are committed by career criminals and their victims are also often career criminals, they are involved in a society that operates under the principles of pure, unregulated capitalism (often dealing in stolen property or illicit drugs). It seems to me that they are living the libertarian dream and would, if anything, more likely to vote Republican, who want people to keep their hard-earned money and believe in encouraging market based solutions.
"It is the glorification of anecdote and argument by assertion that marks the thoughtless."
How many false credit card transactions, fake ACORN registrants, tossed military votes, and 95% media skewing for Obama needs to occur before Henry is satisfied there are sufficient anecdotes to merit the appelation "fact", I wonder?
Trevor Jackson said...
I suspect others will chime in here, but Palin hedged on this very question yesterday.
hedged is a fair description, I just went and found the video. something like, "I don't know if I would use the word terrorist, but she calls it unacceptable."
She is wrong. But recognizes that abortion bombers are wrong as well, but wants to avoid the terrorist label.
why? I don't know.
- because of her pro-life views?
- because she wrongly thinks it defuses the Ayers attacks?
she is wrong. anybody Bombing anything in the US is terrorism, absent some Nation state going to war with us.
How many false credit card tranactions, fake ACORN registrants, tossed military votes, and 95% media skewing for Obama needs to occur before Henry is satisfied there are sufficient anecdotes to merit the appeklation "fact", I wonder?
You draw conclusions based on completely unrelated and bogus "facts" (95% media skewing--where did you get that fact--did the monkeys flying out of your ass deliver it to you?).
The military votes issue in Virginia is a technical requirement that I guarantee you will be resolved in favor of counting the votes.
Beth,
The longer version here makes it clear that she hedged some.
she's wrong, but not as wrong as your clip implies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qty8kuS7Vo
Gee--I dont ever think I have seen a study that identifies the political affiliations of murderers. If we are referring to a mafia like organization, I wouldnt personally regard them as much capitalists/libertarians, as I would regard them as feudal. Robert Putnam's book, "bowling alone" talks about precisely that point when he compares the development of northern versus southern Italy. And I am also under the impression that the majority of homicides are perpetrated by family members on other family members in domestic disputes. Will have to look that one up.
Freder Frederson said...
'the vast majority (75%?) of America's murders are committed by Democrats or persons who would vote Democrat if they voted.'
"Please explain the basis of this assertion.
...Since a large percentage of the murders in this country are committed by career criminals ...It seems to me that they are living the libertarian dream and would, if anything, more likely to vote Republican..."
___________________
In 2005, offending rates for homicides by blacks were more than 7 times higher than the rates for whites.
In 2004, 88% of the black vote went to Democrats.
But I agree with Roger, it's feudalism.
And felons cannot vote, unless ACORN registered them of course.
And I am also under the impression that the majority of homicides are perpetrated by family members on other family members in domestic disputes.
Most murderers know their victim. The Times Picayune in New Orleans did a detailed study of all the murders in the city in 2004 and found that something like 80% of victims had prior felony arrests. In New Orleans, which by far has the highest murder rate in the country, except for 2005 and 2006 because of Katrina, the murder rate is mainly attributable to young thugs killing each other (and unfortunate innocents who get caught in the crossfire).
Looks like that VA military ballot thing's going to get resolved.
link
Freder
"By a margin of 70%-9%, Americans say most journalists want to see Obama, not John McCain, win on Nov. 4. Another 8% say journalists don't favor either candidate, and 13% say they don't know..."
I say the remaining 21% were just too stupid to answer the question, and the 9% who answered "McCain" are criminally insane. FOX and the WSJ do NOT represent anywhere near 5% of the media, and I do not see more than 1% neutrality at best.
This link has some data about murders in the US:
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius_04/offenses_reported/violent_crime/murder.html
I know this is OT, but it is interesting stuff.
And felons cannot vote, unless ACORN registered them of course.
Actually, the rules on felons voting varies from state to state. In every state there is always the possibility that a felon can regain the franchise. Many states automatically reinstate voting rights upon release from jail or the end of probation. In Maine and Vermont a felony conviction does not mean a loss of the right to vote and you can even vote while in jail.
In 2004, 88% of the black vote went to Democrats.
You need to reassess your statistics and your logic. Even if your statistics are correct, that means that almost as many murders are committed by whites as black (because there are about five times as many whites in the country as blacks). Regardless, just because 88% of blacks are Democrats, it doesn't mean that 88% of black murderers are Democrats. I would imagine that most murderers are not affiliated with any party.
I'm yanking your chain, Freder.
Your assertion about murderers being libertarian was just plain ridiculous.
I say the remaining 21% were just too stupid to answer the question, and the 9% who answered "McCain" are criminally insane.
Personal support of a candidate does not necessarily lead to biased reporting.
Your assertion about murderers being libertarian was just plain ridiculous.
Maybe as regards to murderers, but when the libertarians take over, we will see a society based upon what you see in organized crime and drug gangs. That is pure capitalism in action.
The Brawley affair was truly ugly with government officials bizarrely accused by name of being the rapists.
The assistant prosecutor, Pagones was particulary targeted. He later sued Brawley and her supporters when the Grand Jury decisively determined there was no case.
I do not know if he ever collected, but he won.
As of 10 years after the fact, when Tawana Brawley was 26, had moved, gotten an education apparently, and repeatedly, repeatedly, refused to appear in court, even defying the courts by appearing at an event in NY (she had moved to VA). She had even been offered removal from the lawsuit, in exchange for hertestimony. She still claimed victimhood.
She subsequently was found responsible and ordered to pay punitive charges.
The above information comes from the court records.
I confess I too have some red flags about this latest case. There are some similarities, but the TB case was absolutely radioactive.
Wait and see.
I'm sure Duncan is a good, honest, hard working American, but his rhetoric is the reason I left the republican party. It was always there but I was too naive to recognize it. Incedentally, this occured around the time of althouses libertarian cruise.
We had a "noose" incident on our campus. The usual suspects demanded that the FBI be called in, blah, blah. The campus declined, said "we can handle this ourselves." End of story. Perpetrator never found, never talked of again. I suspect they know who it is, it was a hoax, but don't want to reveal for PC reasons. Orwellian...
The concern that a McCain bumper sticker will lead to vandalism is held by one of my neighbors. Another neighbor has McCain-Palin stickerson his truck, which he keeps parked on the street. We're in a college neighborhood. I'll let you know if anything happens, but it's been a few weeks, and nothing has happened to the truck.
Express yourself. Try not to be boring. And, really, don't comment to say I should be blogging about some other subject.
Hey, I just noticed this atop the comment window. Please tell me this is new, and not that I've been half-blind all morning.
"That is pure capitalism in action."
Freder, this demonstrates complete and utter ignorance regarding capitalism in specific and economics as a whole.
Hi Drill Sgt.,
She shouldn't have hedged at all. Her answer should have been clear and unequivocal. Those who would use violence to advance their political or moral agendas are terrorists. The reason for bombing an abortion clinic, or an animal-testing facility, or a military recruitment center, is to make people afraid. The people who do these things are terrorists. No hedging. Anyone would ask for our vote to be our highest in leadership must not hedge on such a thing.
Drill Sgt. - I see we agree on that; sorry, I"m reading from the bottom up!
The people who do these things are terrorists.
Beth is right on this point.
I am not surprised at your even handedness regarding the Duke rape case, your calm reasoned observations have always been one of the reasons that I have been a reader of yours for years.
The defensiveness and "anger"? that came through on this post about the "b" girl doesn't fit the Ann that I am used to.
I keep coming back to, why not an "O"? It would have been easier and made more sense.
The stories I've read quote police, quoting the young woman, quoting her assailant: "You are one of those McCain people!" and then "You are going to be a Barack supporter."
That just sounds weird and stilted.
She's confessed to making it up.
Now can we move on?
This woman needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
The people who do this type of thing need to pay consequences and people who are thinking about similar acts need to be deterred.
I hope her family or friends get her into counseling, or that it's a condition of whatever charges she pleads to. Maybe McCain or Palin can call her - again - and encourage that.
"She's confessed to making it up.
Now can we move on?"
Um, DUH!!!
And now, of course, the people who ran with this stupid story look STUPID. As I said.
Can we go back to some real issues now, Simon?
Or are we going to adopt this story as our own "fake but accurate" and say that even though the psycho attention whore made it up, it's symbolic about a larger truth about violent Obama supporters?
Looks like my Colonel Mustard-in the Library-with the candlestick theory is shot all to hell.
which confirms my initial reaction to wait until an investigation by competent people is completed before jumping to conclusions.
Gee, the case of the "Carved B" was most obviously self-inflicted.
Except, who caused this to happen? Some poor besotted woman on her own or with help from Acorn, et al? My view is more to the latter than the former. This incident still carries a strong stench.
OldGrouchy, ACORN is not SPECTRE. Enough with the conspiracy theories. You're embarrassing yourself.
ACORN is the new ROVE!!!
And, having assigned neither guilt nor innocence here, I am absolved of eating the words Archeopteryx, conquistador, and lichenification.
On completion of today's work, however, I will down some chianti, and a small handful of peanut M&Ms.
Why? Because that's the way I roll.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
What have you got left now...an Osama bin Laden tape? More robocalls?
Good luck!
"What have you got left now...an Osama bin Laden tape? More robocalls?
Good luck!"
Good luck to you too, my little unemployed cocksucker! At least on this issue we could find agreement. I wonder if Simon will apologize for comparing this stupid woman to Matthew Shepard?
And I thought I had a pretty plausible theory as to who the alleged assailant might have been, oh well.
It's the celebration of victimhood, and the allure of instant celebrity that drives these crazy folks, I suspect.
I miss stoic resolve in the face of a crisis, where did that go?
"And, having assigned neither guilt nor innocence here, I am absolved of eating the words Archeopteryx, conquistador, and lichenification"
Archeopteryx is delicious if you sauté it correctly.
TJ, Really? Do you base everyone on old James Bond movies? Please do note, old chappy, that your lovely Acorn is engaged in many shady activities involving voting or influencing votes. Get a life, if that's at all possible.
OTBW: Maybe the "Carved B" was done by a dyslexic Obama supporter, eh?
XWL said...
And I thought I had a pretty plausible theory as to who the alleged assailant might have been, oh well.
It's the celebration of victimhood, and the allure of instant celebrity that drives these crazy folks, I suspect.
I miss stoic resolve in the face of a crisis, where did that go?
You mean Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama.
Gobama!!
integrity, here, we say GeauxBama, on se peut!
I wonder if Simon will apologize for comparing this stupid woman to Matthew Shepard?
That was beyond the pale, and I'm hoping it's a temporary derangement for Simon. It's a pretty good rule that if you find yourself typing things that would involve a raised fist and an octave-plus jump if yelled in a public square, you're probably unraveling. I say this from experience, not as a judgment.
Good luck to you too, my little unemployed cocksucker!
You say that as if it's a bad thing?!
Hahaha!
Joe The Plumber-Ashley Todd 2012!
"Get a life, if that's at all possible."
LOL. Says the guy who still suspects Obama/ACORN is behind this girl's "attack."
I'm done talking about this. You wanna blame somebody, blame Drudge for pushing this race-baiting bullshit.
"Good luck to you too, my little unemployed cocksucker!
You say that as if it's a bad thing?!"
It's terrible to see unemployed cocksuckers! I've got a lead on a great job for you. Send me your resume.
Judging by the trippy conspiracy theories floating about recently, I think it's going to be a long, LONG 8 yrs.
She confessed to a hoax?
Crap!
And I just spent the better part of this afternoon carving the letter "A" into my face.
What am I going to do now?
** gets copy of local Yellowpages® **
** looks up "make up artist" **
Tawana Brawley with a soupcon of Charles Stuart and Susan Smith.
Well, I knew it stank from the first whiff. I told you all.
Simon: "Yet those who resist the story have not posited an alternative explanation beyond the frankly incredible idea that she carved this into her own face (did Tawana Brawley self-mutilate? Just how dedicated to the hoax do you have to be to cut yourself up?), or any serious reason to doubt the story"
Tawana Brawley -- you can read at the link I posted -- "was found lying conscious but unresponsive in a garbage bag several feet from an apartment where she had once lived. Her clothing was torn and burned, her body smeared with feces. She was taken to the emergency room, where various slurs and epithets were discovered written on her torso with a black substance described as charcoal."
I dare say that's a hell of a lot harder to do than lightly scratching a letter into your face (and declining to go to the hospital).
I don't know about you, but I'd rather scratch the entire alphabet on my face than smear myself with dog shit and lie around outdoors in a bag.
***
Reader I Am: "Please tell me [the comment advice 'Express yourself," etc., is new, and not that I've been half-blind all morning."
Yes, it's new and you noticed it immediately. I put it up because I am sick of people putting up comments -- sometimes the first comment -- saying I should be blogging about something else. I have my idiosyncratic reasons for picking what I pick, and I don't just note the stories because they are important. I am tired of dealing with that sort of thing and will be deleting comments of that kind from now on. But email me if you want to call something to my attention.
"Tawana Brawley with a soupcon of Charles Stuart and Susan Smith."
Making the fake attacker black shows a really ugly streak. Throwing in a sexual assault? Ugh. Terrible!
So many stories like this really do tend to be hoaxes, or at least not as they appear. But it's hard to convince people of that if they're invested, especially politically.
Of course, part of the reason for the massive coverage of the Tawana Brawley hoax had to do with the involvement of The Rev. Al Sharpton.
Making the fake attacker black shows a really ugly streak. Throwing in a sexual assault? Ugh. Terrible!
Racist, even.
Post a Comment