What Made you Smile/What Ticked you off Today?

[dsheinem]

fondling, whatever you might call it — I’m not sure what the term would be

Again, there's a lot of room for interpretation here. Per the stupid question, there's no clear explanation of exactly what he was told. "I saw Jerry touching a boy" vs. "I saw Jerry ass-raping a boy" vs "I saw Jerry doing something inappropriate" etc. Are all heinous and unforgivable? Of course. Do they all warrant him doing more than reporting it to the police? No. If someone told me that a former employee was seen doing something wrong in a bathroom at my office, I'd report it to the proper authorities. Would I continually pursue what happens afterward in the investigation? No, not if I trusted those in authority to do the right thing. THAT is what he is guilty of - trusting the wrong people to do what was their job to do...not "covering up a crime to protect his legacy/football"

So I don’t know whether I did it Saturday or did it early the next week.

I’m not sure when, but I did it within the week.

Again, there's ambiguity in the quote. An 85 year old man can't remember what day he told someone something 5 years or more after the fact, and people just assume the worst.

What irks me above everything about the way that Paterno was treated in all of this is that everyone jumped to the absolute worst conclusions without a shred of actual evidence to do so. They saw nothing but the truth they wanted to see in testimony that was ambiguous at best. The man's life of service and citizenship speaks to a high character that was just thrown away in a moment of sensationalistic reporting and lack of verifiable information. He was railroaded out of the job, he has been unfairly denigrated in the national media, and it is hard not to think that all of this helped kill him. He had earned the benefit of the doubt and deserved far more deference.

[YoshiEgg25]

What irks me above everything about the way that Paterno was treated in all of this is that everyone jumped to the absolute worst conclusions without a shred of actual evidence to do so. They saw nothing but the truth they wanted to see in testimony that was ambiguous at best. The man's life of service and citizenship speaks to a high character that was just thrown away in a moment of sensationalistic reporting and lack of verifiable information. He was railroaded out of the job, he has been unfairly denigrated in the national media, and it is hard not to think that all of this helped kill him. He had earned the benefit of the doubt and deserved far more deference.

I could not have put it any better. Great post dsh.

[spiritplx]

There's not a shred of evidence for this. There is evidence that he was told on one occasion about "inappropriate conduct" (and that he wasn't given the full details), reported it to one of his superiors who was the head of police at Penn State, and was give assurances it would be investigated.

Well, King already beat me to it, but I was going to just mention the grand jury report:

"Joseph V. Paterno testified to receiving the graduate assistant's report at his home on a Saturday morning Paterno testified that the graduate assistant was very upset. Paterno called Tim Curley ("Curley"), Penn State Athletic Director and Paterno's immediate superior, to his home the very next day, a Sunday, and reported to him that the graduate assistant had seen Jerry Sandusky in the Lasch Building showers fondling or doing something of a sexual nature to a young boy."

I don't believe he reported to anyone else, and I don't believe that Curley was the head of "Penn State police", however, I could very well be wrong. Regardless, I don't think that someone comes to your home to tell you they saw "inappropriate conduct" in the locker room. I'm sure he had more specifics (just look at the report). He knew that something illegal had happened.

As far as holding him responsible, I think a lot of people fucked up in this case. As far as their motivations, it's always hard to say, but it cannot be too far-fetched that every single person involved had their careers in mind. Ultimately, the people that are held accountable for reporting this to the police failed, and should be punished by law. While Paterno did not have a legal obligation to do so, he had a moral responsibility to do so. Donating money doesn't make one moral, but standing up for what you believe in, no matter the consequences, is what truly tests your morals.

With all of that being said, there are people who did much worse in this specific scandal, as well as other atrocities that are committed every single day. He made a huge mistake in a personal decision, but that doesn't take away the fact that he was a great football coach. However, just because he was a great football coach doesn't mean I have to respect him as a person, in life, or in death.

[dsheinem]

I was going to just mention the grand jury report

I have read all the relevant court documents, interviews, etc. so none of this is new to me...

I don't believe he reported to anyone else, and I don't believe that Curley was the head of "Penn State police", however, I could very well be wrong.

Not Curley, but Gary Shultz, who has been indicted, is who had oversight over University Police. Paterno told him.

Regardless, I don't think that someone comes to your home to tell you they saw "inappropriate conduct" in the locker room. I'm sure he had more specifics (just look at the report). He knew that something illegal had happened.

McQueary has testified that he didn't use any graphic language "out of respect" for Paterno when he told him. But yeah, he knew it was illegal, which is why he reported it to the highest authorities at the University.

it cannot be too far-fetched that every single person involved had their careers in mind

You can believe that all you want, but there's no factual evidence that this had anything to do with how Paterno responded.

[Luke]

With all respect, I think all the accusations and legal speak can wait for at least a day, no?

He literally helped tens of thousands of kids. A little showing of respect on the day of his death would be nice.

[harper]

So apparently my Super Nintendo is mad at me for wanting to get rid of it. I cleaned and tested a game on it not 20 minutes ago and it worked perfectly. Then about 5 minutes ago, I went to put in another game, watched the tv waiting for it to pop up...nothing...then I looked down at my Super Nintendo and the power light wasn't on. And yes it was plugged in, tried it a couple more times and still nothing. I have no idea what to do about it now. It doesn't even piss me off because it gives me even more of a reason to get rid of the games. haha But I can't really sell it if it's messed up, well I could...maybe...but wouldn't be able to get much for it.

[Ziggy]

I'll buy it from you for $1 !

Try this: Plug everything in, set it up correctly. Turn it on. If the power light doesn't come on, try jiggling the power cable around and see if you can get the power light to come on (even if it flashes on and off). Pay close attention to the first foot of the cable coming out the back of the SNES. It's very common to get breaks inside the wire. I suspect this might be your problem. You can try testing with another power adapter too, if possible.

[hashiriya1]

I am in a cafe right now in San Francisco's beautiful Richmond district. Some lady came in with her son and she wants to take pictures of her son in the cafe but she doesn't want people in the background. She is asking my girlfriend and I to move. She is also asking other people to move. She is not even asking nicely. Nobody is moving. You can tell she is one of those spoiled rich women to whom no one has ever told her "no". File this under "ticked"

[harper]

I'll buy it from you for $1 !

Try this: Plug everything in, set it up correctly. Turn it on. If the power light doesn't come on, try jiggling the power cable around and see if you can get the power light to come on (even if it flashes on and off). Pay close attention to the first foot of the cable coming out the back of the SNES. It's very common to get breaks inside the wire. I suspect this might be your problem. You can try testing with another power adapter too, if possible.

Haha yeah I thought it might have something to do with the power adapter, and I actually did try wiggling it around and nothing happened but I will give it another shot. Unfortunately I don't have another power adapter to try.

[Hobie-wan]

I am in a cafe right now in San Francisco's beautiful Richmond district. Some lady came in with her son and she wants to take pictures of her son in the cafe but she doesn't want people in the background. She is asking my girlfriend and I to move. She is also asking other people to move. She is not even asking nicely. Nobody is moving. You can tell she is one of those spoiled rich women to whom no one has ever told her "no". File this under "ticked"

You or someone else told her that asking nicely would have solved her problem, right?