[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

So that's the legal definition and not a particular prosecutor's definition?

As the trial is concerned, you're right that the point wasn't to prove she was really sexually abused. But, that doesn't make the abuse not an accusation.

More that 'alleged' is only a legal term. A victim, any victim, is treated like a victim and not an 'alleged' victim. An investigation will obviously look at a victim's story and whether or not there is dishonesty, but we as society rarely say that someone suffered alleged armed robbery and only cast doubt on (generally women's but men's too) sexual abuse/assault claims.

But outside of the media using it to cover their asses for lawsuits, there's not really a reason to use it other than to cast doubt. (The suspect would be the alleged abuser/rapist/etc. though, that's where it matters.)

Originally Posted by BluPhire

There isn't anything else you can do. The moment the media became a money making ratings gathering entity, you are subject to the bottom dollar. Unfortunately these cases fall into legislating the heart. You can do things like this and bring up the fact that we all have biases that affect us, but it will take time and a wait and see approach because just as much as it took time to get us here, it will take time to get us out of it. So the media will continue to feed the masses what they want.

So, how do we as the masses change that?

Originally Posted by DrPhil

This thread wasn't supposed to be entertaining. It isn't my fault.

Drolefille, as for what can be done, there are already people working tirelessly. That includes those of us who are doing things. This won't stop the media from only covering the cases that the public wants to see. However, without people who work tirelessly locally, nationally, and internationally, shows like Nancy Grace's (I acknowledge the positive things she has done) that cover the missing and killed who aren't covered in other media outlets, would not exist. All is not lost, there is enough compassion to go around.

I don't think all is lost, this is more of a practical 'what can be done' as well as a 'what other news sources are out there' to change up the message that goes out. And what would the ideal message that went out be?