I saw Slingblade, years ago. Didn’t he actually kill someone? After being pushed to do it? That still makes him a murderer, so no, I wouldn’t trust my kids with him.

You’re right that taking anything to the extreme is wrong- like my idea to shun the different. But I don’t want to shun the different- I want people to not make excuses for behavior that alarms them. If the guy next door to you did all the weird shit Michael Jackson did, you’d have nothing to do with him. But because Michael Jackson was a “star” and so talented, people make excuses for him, and ignore his alarming behavior. That’s stupid.

as for Jesus… uh, what? Yes, he was crucified. Yes, the crowds ignored the truth. What is your point?

And no, I would never willingly be in any mob. I’m NOT one of the sheeple, too lazy to think for myself.

Your words : Maybe society would be wrong, but better to shun and mock an innocent person than let one child be molested.

Shun and mock, with no proof or validation to rightly do so. By your evaluations, I may use the same approach and “shun and mock” you and your church (if so) to protect my children from such behavior rubbing off on them. Get the point ?

You don’t know if MJ was “evil”…….but it’s easy to label what is not “normal” to your beliefs. That’s society, yes, but not me nor the God I believe in. The difference lies in the fact that I never idolized MJ, but yes, he changed music. Some good; some bad. What’s more wrong is our society which promotes such attitudes; same as the attitude of playing God like it’s a deck of cards to draw upon.

We should shun every other person we know, live in a damn cave……they may eventually become a child molester, of course unless they are just like me ?

Oh, yes, lastly and most importantly : you must !!! shun me, because I am not like society, therefore I cannot be “normal” !
Jesus was crucified regardless of the “facts”….debate it all your life and you will still be wrong. If they knew the facts, they’d never have sent Him there, but you sound like a good candidate for the mob crowd.
If you’ve never watched SlingBlade….PLEASE !!! go rent the movie. Then ask yourself if you would trust your child with that very un-”normal” person ? Or do you feel safer with the church peoples that end up being molesters, because they seem to be “normal” ?

Sorry Dick, I didn’t mean to credit Mel…but, Mel probably wrote it…anyway, it’s your voice in my head, Dick. Thanks.

Okay, first normal isn’t what you or I say, it’s what society deems; average or standard.

Secondly, no one is talking about convicting and imprisoning MJ; that would require absolute proof, beyond a reasonable doubt. What I am saying is that we, society, should not gamble when it comes to things like possible child molesters. They should be shunned, not deified, as an example to others who would do the same. Maybe society would be wrong, but better to shun and mock an innocent person than let one child be molested. Worshipping Michael puts a stamp of approval on his behavior that some nutjob at home might use to justify their actions.

Jesus? Oh, boy, here we go… Jesus got crucified because he “broke” the Jewish laws, offending the priests of the time. They didn’t believe it was His place to make new laws. so they whipped the crowds up into a frenzy, saying he was blasphemous.

Again, I’m going to reiterate, MJ was a music icon, who turned evil. Sad but true. Worshipping him, and overlooking behavior he had no intention of changing, is plain wrong.

They crucified Jesus regardless of the real “facts”…….so what “facts” do you speak of ? The ones issued to the public for His demise or the ones that really existed ?

I am not trying to pick a fight, just help you see our side/opinion.
MJ was not a “normal” person. But “normal” is defined by personal prejudice. Being not “normal” does not qualify one for automatic expulsion. But, they persecuted Jesus, Joan of Arc, William Wallace, and the many peoples released from prison wrongly accused by some “legal” stretch due to DNA evidence. It is quite easy to invalidate a witness’ sworn statement by digging up dirt on them. Creating a bad character trait creates a monster out of a “different” person. I don’t know if MJ was a monster or a “different” person, but I’ll not accuse him of being a monster. I’ll give him credit for wanting the children to be loved. I love my dog and sleep with him but …….oh, yeah, my wife is right there also. MJ did something that is not “socially-acceptable” because yes, there are creeps out there.

So, who is normal ?
Jesus or those who crucified Him ? JdeA or the HRCE who burnt her at the stake ? The defendant or the lawyer who is “wiser” and more cunning and sly to bring about a victory in judgement? Some of these , we know, have been released due to real “evidence/proof” in today’s technology providing a reversal of verdict.

J: “Could it be that it’s you who overreacted with emotion, forgetting all about logic?”
R: No.
I maintain you employed feelings over logic.

J: “It’s ironic that while you categorize people who have a different opinion of MJ than yours as jumping to conclusions, you just jumped the gun about me.”
R: You are absolutely correct. My opinion of MJ is the only correct one, minus a few select entities (including God). I stated, “I admit that I don’t know the truth about Michael, and I never will.” If you garner a different opinion, you are either ethereal or lying.

Non-sequitur.
The essence of my statement was that while you clamored other people judged MJ unfairly due to their biases, you turned around and attributed those same prejudices to me, without any ground.
In your own words: “People thought MJ was weird, so logic would tell you that he had to have had sinister intentions, right? So, yes, your perception of MJ directly leads you to believe he was guilty.”

An egregious inference between what others think of MJ and me. Faulty reasoning, at best.
A friend of mine likes to say, “Don’t assume, ask.”

J: “My ‘perceptions’ as you like to label them are a product of deductive thinking based on knowledge.”
R: Your past experience is not knowledge, but is based solely on probability and not absolutes. Having no “real” knowledge of the facts in this matter, you could never accurately deduce anything about Micheal’s innocence or guilt.

Time and again, Ron, you predicate opinions about me without foundation. Where did I mention my “past experience”? I formed my opinion of MJ after having gathered the facts, plus using logic, plus common sense.
People (the smart ones) do that all day long (processing information) with the best data they have available. Naturally, imperfect beings in an imperfect world are apt to err, now and then, but listening to you and Dave , no one should be able to judge anything or anyone, because only God knows EVERYTHING.. No one, except you and Dave. Because, despite the posturing both you and Dave have through your comments prejudged the “dissenters.”

Hey look, it is round. It could be a plant or an animal.

Hey look, it has limbs. It could be a plant or an animal.

Hey look, it has eyes. Could it be a plant or an animal?

Hey look, it eats. Could it be a plant or an animal?

Hey look, it moves. Could it be a plant or an animal?

Hey look, it is a turtle. Could it be a plant or an animal?

MJ- how many factors indicate innocent, how many freak?