Payments to be investigated

[Gunn]

Originally posted by Charlie
These articles are the lowest form of gutter journalism I've seen.

Using words like "dark past", "murky" (which were in The Age) etc are intended only to drag ****'s name through the muck. They KNOW he didn't do anything, and they say as much, probably to please their lawyers. For the rest of it, though, it's quite clear what they're trying to do; potentially ruin a man's life over a crime they know he didn't commit, so that they can sell maybe an extra 2% today.

SHAME ON YOU FAIRFAX!

I was a long time subscriber to both of the main Melbourne daily papers but several years ago cancelled both subscriptions. I just couldn't stand reading the beat up crap and high horse positions these "journalists" took just to sell papers.

Ayne Rand in his famous book "The Persuaders" said "the only duty of a newspaperman is to sell newspapers" They will pretend they have a higher moral purpose but they don't.

To demonstrate my point look at the heading of the story on the fron page of the news.com.au web site. It reads:

"O'Loughlin speaks up

SYDNEY Swans forward Michael O'Loughlin has admitted to being involved in a payoff for an alleged sexual assault"

It is only if you read all the story or buy the paper that you find out that the girl involved denies any claim against him.

They could have had an honest headline to the effect that O'Loughlin not blamed. Good news doesn't sell newpapers.

[Bron]

Originally posted by Charlie

SHAME ON YOU FAIRFAX!

Don't tell us, tell them.

[EMJ]

Told them both Bron and told them they were as dirty and slimey as the worms crawling through the grass of Subiaco oval.

Feel better now.

[Bron]

Originally posted by janpa
Told them both Bron and told them they were as dirty and slimey as the worms crawling through the grass of Subiaco oval.

Feel better now.

Good on you. C'mon everyone else. This should not be tolerated.

Also demand that retractions get the same profile as the accusations. I want to see the headline saying that the woman totally clears our player.

[Dudley]

Sorry, but if he was standing around and did nothing (as The Age today alleges) while the other two did the dirty deeds, it makes his lack of action even worse imho

[CureTheSane]

I don't read any papers, or watch the news, unless there is a newsbreak with something that seems interesting.

Life's too short for bad news all teh time, and I can get the weather forecast on the net

[Reggi]

Originally posted by Dudley
Sorry, but if he was standing around and did nothing (as The Age today alleges) while the other two did the dirty deeds, it makes his lack of action even worse imho

Seems unlikely though doesn't it - again it is innuendo - if he stood around, then he would be a witness.

In which case why was he never interviewed?

The case did not proceed for lack of evidence.

That scenario has never been implied over the years with this story before.

This is what makes this subject difficult it is so easy to imply wrong doing, partially because curious minds are apt to pick it up. It is after all those tantalising tidbits that sell newspapers, not factual analysis. Unfortunately

[Tooth Fairy]

Originally posted by floppinab
I've got enough parking fines to get through at the moment don't give me anything else please.

[sharp9]

Originally posted by CureTheSane

There is nothing in the allegations that media crap and now political gains.

Attitudes like yours are the ABSOLUTE PROBLEM, CTS! This is not media crap, it is stuff WHICH HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED. When will people learn to tell the truth, stop skirting around matters and pretending that if one says things in the "right" way, then everyone will ignore the ACTUAL FACTS.

[liz]

Originally posted by sharp9
Attitudes like yours are the ABSOLUTE PROBLEM, CTS! This is not media crap, it is stuff WHICH HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED. When will people learn to tell the truth, stop skirting around matters and pretending that if one says things in the "right" way, then everyone will ignore the ACTUAL FACTS.

But exactly what are the ACTUAL FACTS?

I suggest only 3 (possibly 4) people actually know, and because of a decision that was made 3 years ago, that's the way it will stay. In that context, CTS' comments aren't far off the mark. That doesn't belittle the seriousness of what might have happened, or what happens in other situations.

But the media don't really know, nor does the SA Premier who demanded an investigation into the payment. The innuendo and guesses dressed up as facts are "media crap".

[sharp9]

The facts are that a rape was alleged and payments were made by (among others) Michael O'Loughlin. It is also a fact that the woman in question has stated that she does not, and has never, accused Magic of assaulting her.

So, those are the facts. From there there is a whole host of important and relevant things which can be said about football players, sex, culture and all manner of things. These issues can be discussed without impinging on the rights of anyone.

For example; what would you do if a good friend of yours committed rape or a murder? And, is a person's answer to that question likely to be different if that person is a footballer, or, say, an accountant, or maybe, a woman?

Also does a young man living his life in an overwhelmingly male work and social life make it more or less likely that he will behave towards women in a way which society views as either immoral, illegal, or both?

The answer to that is a resounding "yes." What's interesting is that everyone has known this since the dawn of time, and yet everyone (pretty much) has said nothing about it for as long as possible.

I wish everyone would stop pretending, that's all. Not one man involved in football has, in the last week, said "I have seen, or know of, football players behaving appallingly towards women." Not one. Pathetic, really.

All those commentators, Watson, Newman, Malloy etc, etc, every single one of them has talked about how hard it is to be a young footballer, and how there are so many predatory people out there.

For once, Caroline Wilson has hit the nail right on the head with this one.

[Bear]

Originally posted by Dudley
Sorry, but if he was standing around and did nothing (as The Age today alleges) while the other two did the dirty deeds, it makes his lack of action even worse imho

So you would rather have had him join in?!? (assuming there was actually something inappropriate going on). You fool.

Of course none of us have ANY idea of what happened, so we should not judge.

AS AN EXAMPLE, he may well have been very drunk, etc and not really known what was happening other than a bit of action nearby, for all he knew between consenting adults. But just by being 'nearby' he is dragged into it by a media that now specialises in building people up so it can also rip them down, selling papers, etc via both actions.

WHO KNOWS??? So don't judge. Everyone is so bloody opinionated when they have absolutely NFA what happened. Absolutely pathetic.

Final thing is, did anyone mention or see Wilson's last line in The Age?

It was along the lines of... "that's like asking us to believe that a player has payed money when they have done nothing wrong". Clearly implying that MO has done something wrong.

[The Boot]

Originally posted by Bear
It was along the lines of... "that's like asking us to believe that a player has payed money when they have done nothing wrong". Clearly implying that MO has done something wrong.

You're right, Bear. The press love building and bashing. I also think there has to be some consideration for the unending pile of variables here (was tempted to say pile of something else).

MO paid up, yes. But let's be fair .. he was most probably acting on the ADVICE of some so-called minder or expert (lawyer??).

He also mentioned it was to avoid costly legal action in defending his innocence, and to also avoid dragging his family through the mud - a very important cultural aspect to this. And no, I'm not defending the "guilty", wherever, or whomsoever they are. I WILL believe MO's version of the story because of the person he is, has demonstrated to be, and continues to be.