June 1, 2006

11:26 AM

I think this post is really inappropriate - the poster has cobbled together some news stories to make a horrible, unsupported inference about a non-public figure who is, in all likelihood, totally innocent. Such speculation, especially with no available facts to support it, may be entertaining but is also extremely insensitive to the survivor and her family. Is this what we want to do now?
posted by BigLankyBastard to etiquette/policy at 11:26 AM (28 comments total)

What do you mean, "we", paleface?
posted by sonofsamiam at 11:28 AM on June 1, 2006

Err, the poster, if anything, just related a horrible, unsupported inference about a non-public figure. Your objection is overruled.
posted by xmutex at 11:30 AM on June 1, 2006

This is exactly what I was trying to get at early in the thread. One poorly phrased statement from a police lieutenant does not a murder investigation make. Maybe they really do suspect her, and maybe it'll come out she really did do it, but we have no reason to think so from these links.
posted by BackwardsCity at 11:30 AM on June 1, 2006

The lede of the link in question makes it pretty clear what police think happened: A cancer doctor from Godfrey celebrating his wedding anniversary threw his two young sons off the 15th-story balcony of a South Beach hotel Saturday before jumping to his death, police say. They don't think this woman killed her children and husband.
posted by BackwardsCity at 11:32 AM on June 1, 2006

One poorly phrased statement from a police lieutenant does not a murder investigation make

Especially when it comes from the original first-day story, when cops always have to say they are probing every possibility.
posted by CunningLinguist at 11:32 AM on June 1, 2006

Is this a joke?
posted by Jairus at 11:40 AM on June 1, 2006

Well, at least the post gave pracowity the opportunity to crack a great gag.

And before anyone gets their knickers in a twist, yes it is very sad that these people died in such tragic circumstances. Still a funny joke.
posted by jack_mo at 11:41 AM on June 1, 2006

Oh, and the insensitivity to the family isn't why this post is shit, by the way.
posted by jack_mo at 11:43 AM on June 1, 2006

It's always the one you least suspect.

Unless it's the one who threw the other two off the roof before jumping.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:44 AM on June 1, 2006

I agree that it's a waste of Blueness.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 11:44 AM on June 1, 2006

Just to clarify - I have no problem with making horrible inferences about innocent people. I do have a problem with an FPP written as if there were new information suggesting evidence of murder when there isn't any.
posted by CunningLinguist at 11:46 AM on June 1, 2006

What CunningLinguist said.
posted by BackwardsCity at 11:46 AM on June 1, 2006

It was a post where the main link went to a Google news search. Flagged, removed.
posted by jessamyn at 11:54 AM on June 1, 2006

Someone must've hacked into my mefi account and posted this terrible, wretched FPP. I'm imposing a moratorium on all mefi-related posts originating from my username for a good long while... starting now. That's the last time I browse mefi at a public library!

And yes, I used the <ellipsis> tag for that one.

sorry.
posted by bjork24 at 11:54 AM on June 1, 2006

Happy ending, and on to the next pitchfork party!
posted by LarryC at 11:56 AM on June 1, 2006

I imagine the first kid tied himself to his sibling and father then threw himself off the balcony, dragging the two others with him. On the way down he untied the rope and threw it on to a passing balcony, thereby ensuring the suicide-murder-murder became a murder-murder-suicide. And no one was any wiser.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:59 AM on June 1, 2006

Very nice response, bjork24.
posted by JanetLand at 12:03 PM on June 1, 2006

CunningLinguist writes "Just to clarify - I have no problem with making horrible inferences about innocent people. "

In fact, I demand more!
posted by mullacc at 12:18 PM on June 1, 2006

mullacc eats babies.
posted by jack_mo at 12:26 PM on June 1, 2006

After jack_mo cooks them.
posted by scody at 12:42 PM on June 1, 2006

And after scody traps them.
posted by mullacc at 12:44 PM on June 1, 2006

and still after mullacc births them.
posted by nitsuj at 1:40 PM on June 1, 2006

And you don't even want to know what nitsuj had to do with the whole thing. He should be ashamed of himself.
posted by Plutor at 1:54 PM on June 1, 2006

He should be ashamed of himself.

This is true. He should've stopped me from posting the FPP that sparked this MeTa.
posted by bjork24 at 2:09 PM on June 1, 2006

:(
posted by nitsuj at 2:16 PM on June 1, 2006

thank you.

i'm just thinking, "we" should say thank you for a good delete.

just so you know.
posted by 3.2.3 at 9:21 PM on June 1, 2006

MOMO BALLS
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 9:52 PM on June 1, 2006

I liked meatbomb's comment.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 10:01 PM on June 1, 2006