Welcome to the Melbourne Community Daily Discussion Thread.

  • NathA
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    1 year ago

    43 years ago, there was a tragedy in the Northern Territory - a Dingo stole a baby from under a mother’s eye in a tent in the middle of nowhere. It was a formative event for me in my childhood.

    For months after that event, the media and every talking head in the country spun out a narrative that the mother had done this evil thing, despite having no first-hand knowledge of events. It was repeated and discussed enough that this narrative managed to cement itself into everyone’s minds. I remember being really confused - why would a mother kill a baby? By the time she went to court, she was guilty in the eyes of the nation and the trial was almost a formality.

    Only, it later turned out that the mother was telling the truth. That tiny baby’s coat was found in a dingo’s den years later. Much hand wringing ensued. ‘Oh that poor lady, she and her husband went through so much’ (as though those same people weren’t damning them years prior).

    Anyway: from that tragic event, I learned never to assume I know all the facts. Never assume the media has any more idea of the truth than I do. Let the justice run its course, and may the truth come out before we pass judgement.

    I don’t know what happened with the mushroom case. And neither does anyone else currently talking about it. Rampant speculation is harmful.

    • CEOofmyhouse56
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      1 year ago

      Um that’s a bit different because this woman has poisoned people. The question is whether it was an accident or intentional.

      • NathA
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        1 year ago

        You’re zooming in on the wrong part. My point wasn’t about the case at all. It was about our reaction to it and the ensuing trial by media.

        • CEOofmyhouse56
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          1 year ago

          Yeah maybe but it’s an usual case. People are curious and want to know what the hell happened.