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tony barnhill

tony barnhill

Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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So, I'm watching the news & they're discussing the murder of the student in Chapel Hill...they've arrested a guy for it & are looking for his partner....the national newscaster is interviewing a local Durham reporter who insists on calling the 'arrestee' & his partner <span style="font-style: italic">"gentlemen"</span>....I've noticed that other times also - even convicted killers & rapists are called <span style="font-style: italic">"gentlemen"</span> by the press.....<span style="font-weight: bold">WHY?</span>
 
Bending over backwards not to offend....so darn scared of being accused of trial by the press maybe? No claims of a witch-hunt?

Beats the heck out of me but that's the only logical explanation. I'm an ex-cop so I have plenty of perfectly good terms for these people. Can't use a'one of them!
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That might be a weak explanation a TV station might require that their reporters use for somebody who's not yet been tried, found guilty & convicted - but the scumbags who've been found guilty & sentenced for their crimes? Gentlemen?

....& I'm trying to keep this one non-political & generic - it just seems strange that journalists would use <span style="font-style: italic">"gentlemen"</span> to describe criminals!
 
You have a point. Once someone is tried and convicted, the term "criminal" is the one that is most apt. "Gentleman" should not be used, even before trial. "Accused" should be used then.....
 
Steve said:
You have a point. Once someone is tried and convicted, the term "criminal" is the one that is most apt. "Gentleman" should not be used, even before trial. "Accused" should be used then.....
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Agreed!!!!
 
hmmm - maybe they just use "gentlemen" more frequently in some areas of the country.

Here in Connecticut those folks are usually referred to as "the accused" or "the suspect".

Interesting sidelight: in Britain about 1000 years ago, "gentlemen" often just meant you could trace their lineage :blush:

T.
 
NutmegCT said:
Interesting sidelight: in Britain about 1000 years ago, "gentlemen" often just meant you could trace their lineage :blush:

T.
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Maybe THAT'S the clue...trace their lineage...local hoosgow, county jail, state pen, federal prison!! How much more PC can you get! :devilgrin:
 
Tony, you're attempting to apply something that's foreign to the news media: LOGIC!

Trust me, many of the talking heads on local TV who write the copy are not rocket scientists. Their main aim is to sell advertising, also, not necessarily report the news in an objective, truthful manner.

Stop making sense, Tony! :crazyeyes: :cryin: :laugh:
 
You could of course look at it slightly differently.

I've heard the description "the gentlemen of the press" on numerous occasions. Grouping reporters with murderers, rapists and the dregs of society doesn't seem ~that~ far out of line to me.

If one considers it in that light, then it becomes a perfectly reasonable appelation :wink:
 
vagt6 said:
Tony, you're attempting to apply something that's foreign to the news media: LOGIC!

Trust me, many of the talking heads on local TV who write the copy are not rocket scientists. Their main aim is to sell advertising, also, not necessarily report the news in an objective, truthful manner.

Stop making sense, Tony! :crazyeyes: :cryin: :laugh:
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I hear ya.
 
vagt6 said:
Trust me, many of the talking heads on local TV who write the copy are not rocket scientists. Their main aim is to sell advertising, also, not necessarily report the news in an objective, truthful manner.
Click to expand...

Don't know how it is in your neck o' the woods, but around here, the talking heads don't have a thing to do with writing the copy. It's the folks in the back room who do that. The "heads" just read it - usually cold with no prep at all.

Those writers have to churn out what they're told, to "keep people watching". So we start the local evening news with "Schools were in LOCK DOWN today", or "Crews raced to the ARSON site" or "Six people were SHOT downtown". Those key words - always emphasized - with video of the school's closed front doors, or billowing flames, or blood spots on the sidewalk, are carefully calculated.

And of course, viewers complain to each other - but hardly ever to the sponsors (advertisers) of the news itself.

Wheeeee!
T.
 
alana said:
I've heard the description "the gentlemen of the press" on numerous occasions. Grouping reporters with murderers, rapists and the dregs of society doesn't seem ~that~ far out of line to me.

If one considers it in that light, then it becomes a perfectly reasonable appelation :wink:
Click to expand...

I think you are on to something here!!
 
DART said:
Then why aren't female scumbags "Gentlewomen"?
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They actually call them "ladies", I kid you not - I've been watching specifically!
 
Thank the lord for stupidy, {thiers} or these thugs may have never been apprehended. Hopefuly evidence and justice will prevail in this case and the prepatrators will get what they deserve. {Hopefuly not the typical "you can`t do that to them it is cruel and unusual punishment"} Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm HELLOOOOOO, What about the cruel and unusual things they did to thier victim? There was nothing gentle about her murder!
and for what? A couple of hours joyriding her car and a lame attempt at abscounding with a daily maximum of $500.00 from her ATM. How STUPID is it not to know that here are cameras at EVERY ATM in the land.
It`s just too bad that his case will not be tried in TEXAS!
{those familiar with the Texas justice system know what i`m eluding to.
Gentlemen? I think NOT!
 
It's all just an allusion! :devilgrin:

(now don't get me going...I LOVE word-play
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)
 
The gentlemen alluded to are now the accused.The gentlemen of the press are now the excused. :jester: :devilgrin:
How's that for word play Mike??


Stuart. :cheers:
 
:thumbsup:That doesn't elude me! That alledged allusion works, it illustrates the illusion of PCness!
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