News and Current Events - 2012

[killersmom]

Commenting on the psychology of a bully:

ABC News Blog:

Romney, apparently, did forget it.

“I don’t recall the incident myself, but I’ve seen the reports and I’m not going to argue with that,” Romney said in a Fox News interview on Thursday.

It might seem incredible that an episode of bullying that was remembered by so many other people in the room has been forgotten by the Republican candidate for president. In fairness, a lot has happened to Romney since his senior year at Cranbrook — he married, served on Mormon missions, ran a private-equity firm, ran the 2002 Winter Olympics, was the governor of Massachusetts, ran for Senate, and ran for president — twice.

But the science of memory retention suggests that Romney would remember parading his classmates into a room with Lauber to clip his hair, if the experience were significant enough for Romney himself.

“One would think that such an action, if it did occur, would be laden with strong emotions, making it less likely that he would not remember it,” said Steven Lynn, a psychology professor at Binghamton University whose area of expertise is human memory.

“However, people do forget things,” Lynn said.

The complete article:

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/how-could-romney-not-remember-cutting-a-kids-hair/

[doodler]

Perhaps it was not that unusual an activity for him. It's easy to forget the mundane.

[bubba]

Being Canadian, I am not up on who the Presidential candidates even are  - so I don't know "anything" about this man.   But they did a blurb about it on the news tonight  - there was no mention at all of the victim being gay.


And although I believe he probably did it, I just wonder how many of us would want to be accountable for something we did in High School?  I don't think I would and I know for sure my husband wouldn't.

People change and grow, I think you are about your most immature in High School.


Having said all that, I despise bullies...  It showed scenes from a documentary I guess it was on bullying and I know I would never even be able to watch it..

[killersmom]

Perhaps it was not that unusual an activity for him. It's easy to forget the mundane.

Good point, Sherry. I think that is what the second article is pointing out.

[killersmom]

Being Canadian, I am not up on who the Presidential candidates even are  - so I don't know "anything" about this man.   But they did a blurb about it on the news tonight  - there was no mention at all of the victim being gay.


And although I believe he probably did it, I just wonder how many of us would want to be accountable for something we did in High School?  I don't think I would and I know for sure my husband wouldn't.

People change and grow, I think you are about your most immature in High School.


Having said all that, I despise bullies...  It showed scenes from a documentary I guess it was on bullying and I know I would never even be able to watch it..

The victim did come out as being gay, (victim being the key word here), but not when he was attending high school. When asked about it 30 years later, being recognized by one of the witnesses to the attack, HE, (the victim) remembered it very well. It had been an extremely traumatic experience for him, being held down and having his hair cut with scissors, because the attacker perceived him to be different.

This attacker belongs to the Mormon church, handled millions of dollars in investments, has held numerous public offices, and is now seeking the highest office in this country. He is saying he "does not remember this incident" when he was about 17 years old?? Most states will hold a 17 year old responsible for their criminal actions as adults. So in my mind, something that happened in high school, when 17, one SHOULD be held accountable for their actions.

[kathy]

Didn't they have to leave Italy because of the bigamy situation?

Yes.  There was a big thing regarding their marriage because Ponti was (or wasn't) still married to his first wife.  And the Church got into it too by also questioning the marriage. 

[Tony_]

  Thanks, for the links, Linda !  My GOP computer is acting up, so will have to wait to post more  .

[huntinbuddy]

So this is what the election in November is coming down to?   First the incumbent now, finally, says he is in favor of gay marriage in the hopes it will garner him a few thousand votes in certain states.   While at the same time, whatever forces come up with some ancient, relic that the opposing party's hopeful candidate was a bully in high school?

Give me a fuckin break.   There are huge issues in this country that need to be addressed, and gay marriage and bullying are not part of them!    Just today, it was revealed JP Morgan/Chase was involved in a derivatives deal gone bad, that cost them, well not really them, but their shareholders, the ones who put their money and trust in them, $2B!    This is just one of several derivatives deals gone bad that will be revealed in the weeks ahead.

What about Medicare, or Social Security.....both which have been robbed of their funds in the past few years.   Anyone want to address that?  What about basically 10% of the population still unemployed, why isn't the media all over this fact?

[brokebacktom]

What about Medicare, or Social Security.....both which have been robbed of their funds in the past few years.

SS has been robbed a lot longer than a few years. Try more like 50. Ever since LBJ was in office, Congress has been raiding the SS trust fund.

[janjo]

So this is what the election in November is coming down to?   First the incumbent now, finally, says he is in favor of gay marriage in the hopes it will garner him a few thousand votes in certain states.   While at the same time, whatever forces come up with some ancient, relic that the opposing party's hopeful candidate was a bully in high school?

Give me a fuckin break.   There are huge issues in this country that need to be addressed, and gay marriage and bullying are not part of them!    Just today, it was revealed JP Morgan/Chase was involved in a derivatives deal gone bad, that cost them, well not really them, but their shareholders, the ones who put their money and trust in them, $2B!    This is just one of several derivatives deals gone bad that will be revealed in the weeks ahead.

What about Medicare, or Social Security.....both which have been robbed of their funds in the past few years.   Anyone want to address that?  What about basically 10% of the population still unemployed, why isn't the media all over this fact?

It is possible that Obama really is in favour of gay marriage you know? Maybe rather than being told to say so now, he was told not to say so before?
A good liberal president who knows what persecution feels like could have easily come to this conclusion.

Romney, well the man was obviously a bully in high school, but we all do stupid things in our teenage years.

Of course the economy is paramount, but that doesn't mean it is not important to gauge the temper of candidates putting themselves forward for election.

[bubba]

And this happened in 1965, am I correct?   WOW maybe he really doesn't remember..  what was I doing in 65, oh yea I was 6   

[doodler]

Do you remember what you were doing 10 years later?

[Lyle (Mooska)]

At least five others remember the incident vividly.  Romney says he doesn't
or he's willfully saying he doesn't.  Either way it tells you something about a
person's character.  (He remembers tying his dog to the roof, at least.)

To say "we all did things in high school we regret" or "I don't remember everything
I did" is simply an excuse.  News people are also providing examples of things Obama
did when he was young that were not so nice.  There is a difference, though.  Obama
wrote about them himself in his books.  I take it he learned from these mistakes. Romney's
approach indicates he didn't learn much from his past actions if he doesn't even remember
them.  I can assure the guy who was bullied always remembered it.

[Lyle (Mooska)]

Really?   What a waste of internet server space.   When the chips are down, he's gonna take a stand that will get him the most votes, and here's a news flash, that doesn't include supporting gay marriage.

First the incumbent now, finally, says he is in favor of gay marriage in the hopes it will garner him a few thousand votes in certain states.

Is this a flip-flop, or are you just being cynical?

[Lyle (Mooska)]

Give me a fuckin break.   There are huge issues in this country that need to be addressed,
and gay marriage and bullying are not part of them!

I don't know why you are so dismissive of GLBT issues, expecially on a forum dedicated to
a gay themed film.  I would think this forum is at least one place where those issues
could be discussed.  And to be honest, I don't think you'd vote for Obama no matter what
issue is being discussed because you won't even give him an iota of credit for standing up for
your own rights and interests as a GAY person.