Posted by Isis at nas-200-230.rochester.navipath.net on August 01, 2001 at 20:21:38:
In Reply to: Ok, here's the issue posted by Neil on August 01, 2001 at 20:10:15:
with someone if he felt he were being blackmailed? Especially after the Dogma controversy? You honestly think a threat was being expressed in that conversation and that Kevin rolled over and took it in the ass by offering to pay them money? You think that Kevin, nice as he is and guilty as he might have felt in that moment, the Kevin who told Disney to fuck itself, perceived an unjust threat against him, when he believed he hadn't done anything wrong, and just PAID UP? I don't believe that. I think he honestly wanted to donate money to what he feels is a good cause.
Goddess...I have been accused so many times of not being a real fan of Kevin and not believing in him. But when people's faith is tested, look what happens. We'll see who'll be the bigger, GLAAD or Kevin's fans. Right now? GLAAD's winning hands down.
-- i
: : And GLAAD will look pretty damn bad for accepting money from people they claim not to approve of. Unless of course the story gets out (not that this is true, except in some fanboy's minds) that Kevin gave money on the presumption that he was bribing his way out of trouble.
: : Kevin offered the money; there's no getting around that. You cannot found a case for extortion on the basis of "veiled threat" -- your perception of what someone was trying to say is NOT court-admissable material, unless they were saying it in a very low tone while holding a very big gun two inches from your head.
: I've acknowledged that the case for an implied threat during a private conversation would be enormously difficult if not impossible. That doesn't make it not FACTUALLY the name for and truth of that act.
: That said, you can make a case on a veiled threat. A veiled threat is a very real thing and is considered so legally. It is, however - as I've stated repeatedly - an enormous challenge to prove that the threat was intended.
: Again, if Kevin's explanation is correct, than I find it nearly impossible to believe the threat wasn't intended. Can you prove to me in legal terms that the conversation took place as Kevin said it did? I mean, if I were on a jury right now, I'd be forced to acquit the guy myself, but that doesn't make him factually innocent of a criminal act.