[Jacob]

Notorious child rapist? Oddball 'peter pan' obsessive grown man? Fame filled/brain drained loonie? Or is this just your everyday normal (and innocent) black-guy-gone-white who sleeps with kids, talks like a 3 year old and lives in a place called neverland? What's your opinion?

[as2]

He's MESSED UP - But I don't think he screws kids

[loki74]

I'm not sure if he is guilty or not, but I know the family or families who are bringing the charges are guilty. They just want to get some money outta him and everyone knows that.

BTW, you mean guilty or not guilty--a person cannot be judged innocent or not innocent in the court of law. Not that it matters here of course, just though I'd point it out.

[besson3c]

There is no way we'll ever know for sure. We can only answer based on our personal instincts. I never understood those people crowding around the court house, and taking time out of their lives to do this. They really seemed to feel that they knew either way whether Michael was innocent or guilty.

[Angus_D]

Originally Posted by loki74

BTW, you mean guilty or not guilty--a person cannot be judged innocent or not innocent in the court of law. Not that it matters here of course, just though I'd point it out.

Except that "innocent" means "not guilty". And you are presumed to be not guilty untily you are proven guilty in a court of law. At least, that's how it used to be.

[budster101]

He should change his name to "Whacko Jacko".

I heard he is buying something in the middle of the desert...

[lavar78]

Originally Posted by Angus_D

Except that "innocent" means "not guilty".

No, it doesn't. A "not guilty" verdict is supposed to mean that guilt wasn't shown beyond a reasonable doubt. The system is designed to free people if the charges against them aren't proven—even people who aren't innocent of the crime(s) in question.

[Doofy]

No idea about his kiddie fiddling. But he's definitely seriously screwy.

[Randman]

Who's Micheal Jackson? Has Michael Jackson changed his name now as well?

[Scandalous Ion Cannon]

So your evidence on him is based purely on the way he looks.

Or do you have some solid proof that they haven't shown on Hard Copy.

[Millennium]

I'm not sure if he was actually guilty of the most recent charge brought against him; the defense did a very good job of setting up reasonable doubt in that one case. However, I'm convinced that even if he did not do it that one time, he has done so in the past. The evidence of past acts is simply too compelling.

[OldManMac]

None of us have any more info to go on than what we're presented with in the media. The defense did an excellent job of presenting doubt, and, with the way our system is set up, that's what counted in this case. I personally think he's a 46 y/o child, who's never needed to grow up and confront reality, and, now that his star is fading and he's being sued for gazillions of dollars, the time for a reality check is rapidly approaching, and it isn't going to be pretty, emotionally, for Michael.

[Angus_D]

Originally Posted by lavar78

No, it doesn't.

innocent |ˌɪnəs(ə)nt| adjective
1. not guilty of a crime or offense : the arbitrary execution of an innocent man | he was innocent of any fraud.

Yes, it does. Obviously the jury didn't find him "innocent", but that's not what this poll is about. You can't have a poll about the outcome of his trial, he was found not guilty. The question is whether or not people believe he is innocent, which is different entirely.

[Adam Betts]

Two facts that bothered me:

He left Playboy, Hustler and few other porn magazines on table with children around.

Two victims knew exactly what his private part looked like

[lavar78]

Originally Posted by Angus_D

innocent |ˌɪnəs(ə)nt| adjective
1. not guilty of a crime or offense : the arbitrary execution of an innocent man | he was innocent of any fraud.

"USAGE Innocent properly means 'harmless,' but it has long been extended in general language to mean 'not guilty.' The jury (or judge) in a criminal trial does not, strictly speaking, find a defendant 'innocent.' Rather, a defendant may be: guilty or | not guilty of the charges brought. In common use, however, owing perhaps to the concept of the | presumption of innocence, which instructs a jury to consider a defendant free of wrongdoing until proven guilty on the basis of evidence, 'not guilty' and 'innocent' have come to be thought of as synonymous. See also usage at plead ."

Obviously the jury didn't find him "innocent", but that's not what this poll is about. You can't have a poll about the outcome of his trial, he was found not guilty. The question is whether or not people believe he is innocent, which is different entirely.

I never said anything to the contrary. The poll choices of "innocent" and "not innocent" are appropriate. Anyway, you quoted the dictionary to support the idea that "not guilty" means "innocent," but then you said that the jury found him "not guilty" and not "innocent."

[turtle777]

Jacko might not be guilty, but he is DEFINITELY NOT INNOCENT.

-t

[Angus_D]

Originally Posted by lavar78

I never said anything to the contrary. The poll choices of "innocent" and "not innocent" are appropriate. Anyway, you quoted the dictionary to support the idea that "not guilty" means "innocent," but then you said that the jury found him "not guilty" and not "innocent."

I don't think this poll was talking about the legal technicalities. Your assertion was that the poll title was wrong. It isn't.

[budster101]

I think he's a fsucking scumbag.

[lavar78]

Originally Posted by Angus_D

I don't think this poll was talking about the legal technicalities. Your assertion was that the poll title was wrong. It isn't.

Read it again. That was never my assertion—it was loki74's. My only assertion is that a "not guilty" verdict is not the same as "innocent." As I said before, I think the poll title is correct whether we're talking about legal technicalities or not.

[Kevin]

Regardless of what he has done. He is just like you and me.

Responding to our past happenings, trying to deal with life and get by as we can.

We all make poor choices in life.

What is important is, if he has, he own up to them.