Of course we know it was not her fault, but I would have asked the same question. Just to retain some sort of impartiality. I don't think he doubted her for a minute and she was probably primed for the question.
jem1964Foothills of Dandenongs, Victoria Australia2,441 posts
jem1964:
No female is responsible for any males actions, just like no male is responsible for any females actions. We all make our OWN decisions and to say otherwise is just an excuse, an easy way out of justifying something.
Obscuritan: Hi Jem, I completely agree with you that it wasn't her fault. However, I listened to part of the interview from the links above, (ideally one should listen to the whole thing,) and my impression wasn't that Laws was SUGGESTING it was her fault. Quite the contrary. She said "My mother just assumed it was all my fault." Laws said: "And was it your fault? Were you being provocative?" She: "I was 6 years old John, so no I don't think so."
I think Laws is a self-obsessed old fart and should retire gracefully, but he wasn't suggesting it was her fault. I also listened to the interview he gave after the furore and there his arrogance really showed through. Never liked him.
All these opinions based on very little information, I doubt more than 100 words exchanged in the whole interview. How do you know from such little information that the right steps weren’t taken by the lady in question?
Her line of answers pretty well controlled in which direction this particular scenario was played out.
“If she said yes to feeling guilty” how do we know John Laws wouldn’t have said NO its not your fault and directed her to a free psychologist at the expense of the network?
The problem with John Laws is that he comes across a the people's hero but whenever someone has a 'truth matter' to air, he quickly sides with the 'System' and either makes a mockery of the person or cut's them off.... he's just full of the stuff that polies are made of and we all know what that is .....
jem1964Foothills of Dandenongs, Victoria Australia2,441 posts
AgentAjax: After she told her story on free to air public radio, what question do you think he should have asked this person on a talk show?
I repeat The Abuser is the only guilty party, the only person at fault, and is the only person guilt or fault should be attributed.
Phrasing that attributes blame to the abused is wrong in any circumstance.
If he had asked how did this make you feel? Let her answer the question the way she wanted to, not into answering a question that helps manipulate the story in to something provocative. But of course provocative does get you added publicity.
Some history of John Laws who was involved in cash for comment back in 1999 from Wiki: John Laws had been paid to give favourable comment to companies including Qantas, Optus, Foxtel, Mirvac and major Australian banks, without disclosing this arrangement to listeners. Prior to giving favourable commentary to a group of banks, Laws had repeatedly criticised them for imposing unjustified fees on customers while cutting back on services
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Should John Laws be taken off the air after what he said yesterday?(Vote Below)
He asked her if she thought it could have been HER fault.
I am interested in people's reactions here. I shall add my very strong opinion at a later time.