[honorgal]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Then to me, at least, what is self-evident is that journalistic ineptitude (or journalistic recklessness) and/or exploitation of the effects of privacy laws by advocates is the problem. It sounds like you're saying that it's self-evident that the problem is attributable to the privacy laws themselves.

I don't think I've made myself very clear - sorry. I'm not saying that privacy laws are "the problem". I'm saying its self-evident (to me) that we do have them (and should) and that journalists and advocates and even some who claim to be victims are exploiting those privacy laws and presenting a very narrow one-sided view of some of the high profile cases, and not making it at all clear to the public that the schools are constrained.

Count me as one not following this logic. Even if the problem were as some claim, it would still be quite possible for a newspaper or magazine to publish a story with no basis in fact.

. I agree it would still be possible, but logically it would be much less likely. Look at the damage and fallout this has caused. As I made clear, I don't think RS or Eardly intentionally set out to create a hoax. But as she describes it:

"Erdely said she was searching for a single, emblematic college rape case that would show “what it’s like to be on campus now … where not only is rape so prevalent but also that there’s this pervasive culture of sexual harassment/rape culture,” according to Erdely’s notes of the conversation."

From the Washington Post:

"So, for six weeks starting in June, Erdely interviewed students from across the country. She talked to people at Harvard, Yale, Princeton and her alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania. None of those schools felt quite right. But one did: the University of Virginia, a public school, Southern and genteel, brimming with what Erdely calls “super-smart kids” and steeped in the legacy of its founder, Thomas Jefferson."

My point was that if there truly was the crisis and the pervasive rape culture that has been described over and over for the last few years, with 1 in 4 college women as victims, it would not have been hard to find actual real but "emblematic" examples of it, instead of getting taken by a hoax. It wouldn't be impossible, but it would be much less likely.

ETA - as further illustrative of the logic, the report makes clear that Erdely and RS had moments when they could have and should have become very skeptical of Jackie's story but chose to abandon basic journalism 101 practices instead. Why not just go find another "emblematic" but true story, if they are so prevelant.

Fair enough. Sorry for any mistaken inferences.

No problem.