Why Casey Anthony?

[Green Tea]

It is a tragic murder story, but sadly children are murdered by parents every day in America. Why is this trial getting gavel to gavel coverage on HLN? I am not heartless; it is not that I am not sorry for this child. I am curious, in a newshound sort of way, why THIS one?

 

[plutotek]

Biggest thing are the initial details of the case: child missing for a month before reported, then the web of lies that ensued as well as the mother's lifestyle during that month. In short, the details were nothing less than salacious, which set it apart from other cases. That was just the start of the snowball effect that continued w/the news focus.

 

[Mermaid02]

And I would add because she is an attractive white woman from a middle class family- who had an adorable little child.

The media thrives on this stuff. I've heard complaints from the African American community that missing white children and women get more media attention.

 

[torinsmom]

And I would add because she is an attractive white woman from a middle class family.

This would be my guess, as well. You see this in missing person and kidnapping cases as well. Just as many or more poor people and minorities are missing or kidnapped each year as white people, but the media focuses on some more than others.

 

[dakcp2001]

Because the details of this case are so horrific and were played out slowly in front of news cameras. We all think how could ANYONE do this? We are fascinated by her lack of humanity. And of course this little girl was so cute and seemed so loved by her grandparents. It started as a missing child case and got a LOT of media attention, we were all pulled right in. We want to see the culprit held accountable. I think any missing child case that got this much media attention and then played out this way would draw a big following regardless of the race of the child. I think it is because we saw all the steps taking place.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I wonder that every time something like this is front-and-center. So sad.

At this point, from what I've heard, I think her incredible ability to lie is (unfortunately) making for good TV. Which is why I can't watch it... the couple times I did, I found myself coming up with scenarios and wondering "what if" and losing sight of the fact that a real child was killed.

There's a part of me that wonders if she truly doesn't remember what happened, and I can't decide if that's because I watch so many movies and read so many books that I'm just looking for the twists and turns of a well-plotted story... or if I truly wonder because anything is possible.

If that makes any sense at all.

 

[diznygirl]

And I would add because she is an attractive white woman from a middle class family.

I wouldn't say so. I would agree that it's just the circumstances surrounding the case. Most - even the Susan Smith case - end with a confession pretty early on. The facts are usually pretty cut and dried. This one is sooooooo convoluted and keeps getting murkier. And because of Casey's continued lies, has managed to be dragged out for three years! There's a lot of material there for several crime novels!

 

[Mermaid02]

I wouldn't say so. I would agree that it's just the circumstances surrounding the case. Most - even the Susan Smith case - end with a confession pretty early on. The facts are usually pretty cut and dried. This one is sooooooo convoluted and keeps getting murkier. And because of Casey's continued lies, has managed to be dragged out for three years! There's a lot of material there for several crime novels!

I think you are giving the media and the public too much credit.

I really believe if Casey were a minority from a poor community- we never would have heard of her or Cayley.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I wouldn't say so. I would agree that it's just the circumstances surrounding the case. Most - even the Susan Smith case - end with a confession pretty early on. The facts are usually pretty cut and dried. This one is sooooooo convoluted and keeps getting murkier. And because of Casey's continued lies, has managed to be dragged out for three years! There's a lot of material there for several crime novels!

And the mother that drowned her 5 kids. Bizarre, sad news leads.

Then there was the mother that "wasn't white" that committed murder/suicide taking her kids with her in their van in the Hudson river. The 10 year old survived by getting out on his own. I read a great follow up story (as great as possible in this scenario) where some NFL players adopted him and are mentoring him. It really touched my heart.

 

[plutotek]

I think you are giving the media and the public too much credit.

I really believe if Casey were a minority from a poor community- we never would have heard of her or Cayley.

And I don't think you give the public enough credit. The initial facts would have created interest regardless of who the mother was and where she came from.

 

[ols386]

I really believe if Casey were a minority from a poor community- we never would have heard of her or Cayley.

I agree.

 

[Dr.Girlfriend]

Well...

Why Scott Peterson?

Why Susan Smith?

Why Andrea Yates?

Why Diane Downs?

Each of these crimes have their own horrific stories. Scott Peterson, Diane Downs and Casey Anthony WILL NOT ADMIT ANY WRONG DOING even though clues have proven otherwise.

I think that Casey Anthony is this decade's Diane Downs - even though there are sooo many things pretty much proving that Diane was lying, she still maintains that she did not shoot her children, it was a bushy haired stranger. Same thing with Casey Anthony - blaming others.

I think even if this was a "minority from a poor community" like another poster said, this case would have been just as sensationalized because the child was missing for an entire month before police were alerted. And the lies just continue to unfold.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I wouldn't say so. I would agree that it's just the circumstances surrounding the case. Most - even the Susan Smith case - end with a confession pretty early on. The facts are usually pretty cut and dried. This one is sooooooo convoluted and keeps getting murkier. And because of Casey's continued lies, has managed to be dragged out for three years! There's a lot of material there for several crime novels!

And I don't think you give the public enough credit. The initial facts would have created interest regardless of who the mother was and where she came from.

Agree with both.

Grandmother makes an hysterical call to 911, saying her daughter just told her that her grandchild has been missing for 31 days, and that it smells like there's been a dead body in the car. Mother gets on the phone acting like nonchalant about her 2 year old daughter missing.

INSTANT news story. Drew me in, as it did the media. NO, I would not have shrugged my shoulders and turned away if it wasn't a middle class white family. That's insulting. This is like some crazy crime novel, playing out before our eyes...the kind of story where we'd say "Are we supposed to believe that twist?" if we WERE reading fiction.

And then the story gets worse and crazier TO THIS DAY with wacky lawyers and bizarre courtroom antics.

Anyone NOT following the story is not aware of just how crazy it is. The CHILD is no more important than any other child. It's THE CASE we're watching now...watching to see the outcome of the trial of a mother who has shown NO emotion about her missing/dead child. Lying like no one can imagine is possible. No remorse about any of it.

Yup, I find it fascinating.

 

[Carly_Roach]

When I want drama I'll watch the professionals who are paid to produce drama.

I know literally nothing about this Casey Anthonly case (which, now that I think about it, would probably make me a good juror) and I don't WANT to know anything about it. It's a murder case, the authorities are working on it, and it has no impact on my daily life except when I see that ungodawful thread floating back to the top of the DISBoards.

If the 24/7 news about it is bothering you I suggest watching CNBC, BBC or getting your news from local outlets and Reuters. That's how I avoid all the ratings BS.

 

[torinsmom]

This article has some interesting statistics....

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_7711.shtml

"For a missing child to attract widespread publicity and improve the odds of being found, it helps if the child is white, wealthy, cute and under 12.

Experts agree that whites account for only half of the nation's missing children. But white children were the subjects of more than two-thirds of the dispatches appearing on the Associated Press' national wire during the last five years and for three-quarters of missing-children coverage on CNN, according to a first-of-its-kind study by Scripps Howard News Service."

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

When I want drama I'll watch the professionals who are paid to produce drama.

I know literally nothing about this Casey Anthonly case (which, now that I think about it, would probably make me a good juror) and I don't WANT to know anything about it. It's a murder case, the authorities are working on it, and it has no impact on my daily life except when I see that ungodawful thread floating back to the top of the DISBoards.

If the 24/7 news about it is bothering you I suggest watching CNBC, BBC or getting your news from local outlets and Reuters. That's how I avoid all the ratings BS.

Interesting take. The professionals who are paid to produce it? You mean directors/writers/producers? Hhmmm...OK. Fictional drama over actual drama is more "valid".

So sorry seeing the "ungodawful" thread has such an impact on your daily life! Do you have a trip to WDW planned? Scrapbooking to do? Because there are other boards, without the "ungodawful" thread. But I guess you want to continue to read all the other threads on the DIS CB that DO impact your daily life?

 

[Thundergod]

people that throw race and financial standing into the argument I just gotta roll my eyes.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Interesting take. The professionals who are paid to produce it? You mean directors/writers/producers? Hhmmm...OK. Fictional drama over actual drama is more "valid".

So sorry seeing the "ungodawful" thread has such an impact on your daily life! Do you have a trip to WDW planned? Scrapbooking to do? Because there are other boards, without the "ungodawful" thread. But I guess you want to continue to read all the other threads on the DIS CB that DO impact your daily life?

Yes, I'm referring to actors, directors, writers, etc when I'm referring to drama. I'm not making any distinction over what is "valid" though.

Based on the OP, however, I'm guessing that I'm not the only one who rolls their eyes and changes the channel when this case dominates the news.

As for the ungodawful (long) thread that keeps floating up here from time to time, no....that really doesn't impact me all that much. I note that it's there and move on to another thread. I never even open it. I don't know Casey Anthony or anyone else involved in this case, the outcome will not change my life one iota, therefore it is foolish to invest any of my time or emotion into it other than as some kind of entertainment.

Since I prefer my entertainment to be a bit more positive than a child-murder case, I'll rely on those who are professionally paid to produce entertainment that's more uplifting to me as opposed to 24 News outlets who are only trying to drum up advertising dollars with the most negative story they can find.

 

[torinsmom]

Nevermind.....it's not worth the points.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Nevermind.....it's not worth the points.

This type of response has always puzzled me but I believe I've got it catagorized as P/A sarcasm. If you don't want to say something that you might regret getting called on, then why say anything at all? I know in real-life, the banter seems to be:

"Never mind"

"No. What were you going to say?"

"It's sarcastic. Nevermind. Forget I said anything"

"No, really. I want to know what you're thinking"

And now the original person who used the "nevermind" ploy can say any derogatory, mean or spiteful thing they want to say because the person they've targetted has somehow given them 'permission' to say it. (??!?!)

This is similar to that weird rule that says as long as you preface a comment by saying, "I don't mean to be (fill in the blank), but..."

or

"With all due respect...."

then you (generic you) can now be as disrespectful, petty or mean as you want to be because you made that preface. (A rule I don't really agree with, BTW)

But thanks for helping me out. I'm getting these little human interraction rules down bit by bit and I think what you meant was that you were disagreeing with my opinion but didn't want to actually come out and say anything because you knew your opinion of my opinion would be something normal polite people would object to. But still you couldn't let my opinion slide by without saying SOMETHING snarky, so this is what you said instead.

Nevermind.....it's not worth the points.

Got it! You disagree with my opinion. Thanks! That's all I really need to know. I carry no illusions that everyone everywhere is going to agree with me all the time. We're cool!