Quote:
Originally Posted by valkyrie
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$10 says there will be a Law and Order episode of this in four weeks, one week after the episode featuring an NFL player being gunned down outside a club.
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I think you are right; let's time it.
I do expect something to happen with the civil suit. I kind of wonder if it will go to court or if the station will work hard to settle it because the potential for disaster is so great, not to mention that this isn't what they had in mind with their publicity stunt.
I want to preface this by saying that I'm sorry the woman is dead and that her death is tragic. I'm sympathic to her family. That said:
In a better world, the adult woman would be responsible for her own actions and it would be accepted by society that when an adult participates voluntarily in any organized activity, then you assume all the risks that went along with the activity as described. If you enter a water-drinking-not-going-to-the-restroom contest, then any risk related to excess water drinking are waived by you because you participated. It just seems reasonable.
I know it's not the world we live in.
In this present situation, I think it's going to be mess, but I don't expect criminal charges.
When you look at the hazing cases, it seems to me in my uniformed opinion, that more elements of a crime are present than are in the radio station contest.
With a fraternity, you might have some expectation that the group would look out for your welfare. Because people being hazed are drunk and/or tired and they fear punishment or exclusion if they do not participate, it's harder to make the claim that people are freely participating in the events. You also see an intent to cause pain or do harm, and you often see neglect to seek treatment when it becomes clear that an injury had occured.
In the radio station deal, you see bad judgment because they offered a reward for engaging in what turned out to be dangerous behavior. You see adults with time to consider their participation in the activity in advance and very little at stake for not participating. I haven't heard any reports that anyone at the contest knew the woman was in any distress.
I'd be surprised if any criminal charges get filed.