Laci Peterson, Why the Hype??

2/11/03 | myself - el_texicano

[vikingchick]

Thanks for the heads up.

[aruanan]

I don't know what Angel is. I assume that by Buffy, you mean Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I have never watched either show, although I would if they interested me.

They're well-written and humorous. All things considered, they're pretty traditionally moral in their outlook on life (the lesbian relationship of Willow and Tara notwithstanding--but Tara got murdered and Willow was almost destroyed by her magic and almost destroyed the world through it).

[Devil_Anse]

When someone disappears, it's true that people in general often don't know the details of what has happened to that person, or of where s/he is at the moment.

But very, very often, at least those closest to the person can make a VERY educated guess. Was the person doing risky things, such as doing drugs? Was the person a prostitute? (Very risky line of work.) Did the person have any connections at all to the criminal element? Surprisingly, some CHILDREN who disappear have connections to the criminal element--through their negligent PARENTS. For example, there was a criminal step-father in Jahi Turner's life. Similar case with Ashley Pond. Was the person suicidal? Was the person being physically abused by someone? Did the person, for whatever reason, live in a very unsafe neighborhood? Was the person not entirely able to care for his or her own safety? Had the person sometimes gone on one-night stands? Was the person too trusting of strangers?

None of the above appears to have applied to Laci Peterson--that we know of. In the great majority of missing person or foul play cases, one of the above applies.

If seeing people follow a crime mystery, which this is, offends you, and you want to put a stop to it, I suggest that you go down to your local bookstore and stop everyone who heads towards the true crime book rack, and tell them not to waste their time. You may need to take a few other people with you, or perhaps carry a placard, as there will be quite a number of people whom you will need to warn. I suggest the placard say, "Don't give your attention to what interests you! Give your attention only to what interests ME!"

[Devil_Anse]

Yes. That's why there was so little attention given to the murders of 8 Filipino nurses in Chicago, 5 dirt-poor, drunken prostitutes in London's Whitechapel district, approximately 20 young black males in the Atlanta area, a Laotian boy and numerous black men (who were into one-night stands) in Milwaukee, and between 10-20 homeless men of Mexican extraction (the victims of Juan Corona) in California.

[Devil_Anse]

the control freaks

You said it all, there!

Great, great post!

[vikingchick]

LOL. And here I was, laughing at your deeply sarcastic post 124.

[Devil_Anse]

Well, why don't you write to the publishers of "Ebony" magazine, and ask them why their magazine is pretty much filled only with stories about black people?

If you'd like to see a group of people who probably haven't even heard about the Laci Peterson matter and are certainly not following it closely, I can suggest several demographic groups: one is high schoolers, another is black people, and another one is probably single people under the age of 30 who don't live in/near Modesto. Let's see...I can't imagine that most men over the age of 60 are paying much attention. Come to think of it, most women I know aren't familiar with the case, either.

You know what? I think we're only imagining that so many people are all keyed up about Laci Peterson. I mean, when I go to work, no one there ever says a word about it.

I think we should all calm down. The world isn't going down the toilet. People's minds are not being forever distracted from higher pursuits. The majority of people seem to me to be going along just the same as usual--doing what they always do, which is (more than we'd like to admit) mostly thinking about themselves.

[Devil_Anse]

Hmmm...obviously I'm missing some good dish here!

[wizzler]

But what I am sick of hearing about is: those who are sick of hearing about it.

While I know I can't speak for everyone else, I will postulate that this isn't about people being "sick of hearing about it." It's about people genuinely wondering WHY this story gets so much attention. What you're seeing is not an emotional reaction but merely an intellectual curiosity.

Many here have responded by saying "it has all the classic elements of a mystery, etc. ..." But that still doesn't really answer the question, because LOTS of missing-persons cases have "all the classic elements." I sense that this case was chosen arbitrarily for the spotlight by a news director somewhere, or Greta Van-Whatever's producer, and it went from there. Any number of similar stories could have been placed in that position, and a certain segment of the population would have been just as hooked.

I don't usually buy into the elitist notion that the masses are "sheep." But this really does feel like a case where people are just eating what they're being fed.

[Devil_Anse]

What you're seeing is not an emotional reaction but merely an intellectual curiosity.

As one curious intellectual to another, are you sure about that? Take a look at what was written by our host, who began this thread. Notice the frequent use of double and even triple question marks. Such devices are used for emphasis, to convey an eagerness or plaintiveness, and a bit of impatience, in asking a question.

Look at the use of bold print. Again, emphatic speech. That conveys emotion. Then look at some of the expressions: "without a freeking update on Laci," "Sheesh enough already," "God knows how many of our brave military may have to lay down their lives to protect us." All of the above are pitches to emotion. Yes, the part about the military is true, but it is presented in a rather maudlin, emotional way.

It would be a textbook mistake in logic for an intellectual such as yourself to assume that b/c I critiqued the emotional appeal regarding our military, that I don't care about our military. It would also be such a mistake if you were to extrapolate, from our interest in the Peterson case, that we therefore are not interested in other news or other people.

I don't usually buy into the elitist notion that the masses are "sheep." But this really does feel like a case where people are just eating what they're being fed.

I don't usually buy into that notion, either. But now that I am brimful of other people's opinions about the most talked-over war in history (JMO), I really think that we are seen only as receptacles for such propaganda as propagandists wish to hurl at us. Although I voted for W, and feel great relief that he (not Gore) is in the White House, I prefer to at least attempt to reach my own conclusions on the Iraq situation. One problem with trying to do this is that there is precious little hard news about what is the real, complete set of reasons for this war which we are told is about to begin.

So I'm in the position of wishing that there were more frank, straight talk about the real reasons--all of them--for the current focus on Iraq. Such frankness is not given to us, the masses, however. So all a person like me can do is to wait, and let our elected officials perform their functions. Since I am not part of the process, I am tired of, and baffled by, the continual repetitious coverage of the subject by the national media. What will be done, will be done. It is not my decision to make, so why am I required (by the 24/7 coverage) to receive yet another blast of formal talk about it every time I turn on a news channel? I might as well sit around teaching a stranger all about my tax situation. Why should he know about it? He's not going to make my decisions on that subject.

You going to tell me to change the channel, or turn off the TV? Hey, that might not be a bad idea for you, either!

Notice that I didn't answer the question of why the Peterson story gets so much attention. That's because I honestly don't feel the need to answer it or explain it any more. When I cease to be amused by the words of those who just don't get the "why," I will stop reading them.

The story has my attention. That's enough for me.

[Porterville]

It happened in Modesto, very close to the center of the universe "Porterville" everything happens there.

[homeschool mama]

Goodness sake. Someone's got their panties in a bunch.

[blondee123]

I believe the evasiveness of Scott the husband is driving the story, without him there wouldn't be much to cover.

Absolutely, the husbands actions are keeping the story going with his odd behavior! (that is, for a supposedly grieving spouse)

[RGSpincich]

Here is your chance to bring attention to a different case. Do your part and help this under publicized case along.

Missing Child

[tessalu]

Every day I check all of the news sources to see if anyone has found Laci. I have lived in the Modesto area, and I feel something personal about this case. I think that everyone needs to know that she is missing, so if she turns up, the world can know that she has been found. many of us do care, very much so. The greatest joy of my life was when my son was born, and I really dislike knowing that Laci may have missed out on this. I am concerned about the police handling of the case, and I think that the longer the police let this case slide with no arrest, the less likely that justice will ever be done. I think of the DC murder of Chandra Levy, and how they police played around with Gary Condit, while his apartment was a house of "inordinate semen", according to the DC police themselves. I do not think that justice was done, and I think that God will probably have to despense that justice, for the murderer is getting away with it here.

[f.Christian]

bttt

[HairOfTheDog]

Laci Peterson, Why the Hype??

Because the Roving Media Hype Team that was formed during the OJ trial and signed on permenantly during the Jon Benet Ramsey tragedy were all standing around waiting for the next assignment, and Peterson won the lottery.