Apparently, based on the evidence presented in court, (as opposed to that presented on TV) the jury felt that there was a reasonable doubt. {shrug}

Oh, I don't have anything to say about the verdict one way or another, since I didn't pay any attention to the trial. What mystifies me is the evident intense appeal of such a twisted freak to so many people.

It's like a car crash. I for one could never stand any of his music.

Mind you, the definition of "Rerasonable" is tied closely to the reasoning facilities of the jury.

Robert - you wrote:

"What mystifies me is the evident intense appeal of such a twisted freak to so many people."

Do you have any interest in hearing from someone who once loved Michael Jackson? Whether or not you do, here goes:

It's sheer nostalgia for me. I gave up on Michael Jackson a long time ago, but I grew up on his music, on Off the Wall, Thriller - he was a huge part of my life. You may just see a "twisted freak". Maybe you never listened to his stuff in the first place, maybe you didn't care about Off the Wall. That's fine. I also see him as a complete FREAK now, too (but remember: you can't convict someone just because they're a freak - you have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they did the crime. The prosecution did not do that.)

I think he's a sick individual and any parent who lets his or her kid near him should be taken out back and shot - but I also remember what a great performer he was. That part of it does make me sad.

Again: just because his face looks like a horror show, and just because he's a total weirdo who dresses like he's a member of Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band ... is not reason enough to convict him. I was unimpressed with the prosecution.

And I've been reading a lot of "this has been a travesty of justice" commentary - as though this is a re-tread of the OJ case. I completely disagree with that. I think the jury found reasonable doubt, not only because the witness and his mother were such sketchy people - but because the prosecution could not connect the dots.

This is not an apologia for Michael Jackson and his actions. Just answering a question you posed in your comment.

Oops, one last thing:

I also think the people camped out outside the courthouse (you know ... losing their jobs because of the time taken off, and releasing feckin' WHITE DOVES in the air when the verdicts were read) were loony tunes. Along the lines of the idiots lining the freeways to watch OJs slowspeed chase, holding up signs of support for OJ.

Like: peeps, you have lost the plot. This is obviously a sick man, who has a love for small boys ... no one denies that. What the hell are you cheering about???

I loved Off the Wall. I loved Thriller. But that love would never translate in to me losing my mental capabilities and thinking it's cool to release white doves into the air over the courthouse.

Absolutely insane.

'Preciate your thoughts and can, I suppose, see the nostalgia angle. If I were in your shoes, I'd probably be more sad about the Current State of Jacko than anything else.

As I say, I have no opinion about the trial one way or the other, since I didn't pay any attention to it. I'm just musing on general matters of aesthetics, not legalities. These people are insane crazy over the whole Michael Thing. That's what mystifies me.

Robert - I said I was sad about the current state. I have mixed feelings about it, because of how much I loved him as a child. I still have his albums and I still play them. BUT I also look at him now and think: Damn, boy, you are a sick mo-fo, and you need to be stopped.

It's a contradiction, whatever, I'm fine with that./

I loved one of the quotes from one of the people camped out outside the courthouse ... something like:

"We really do have lives, you know."

Uhm ... no. I really think you don't.

Heh.