Comments on: What Matthew Johns should do

By: Ailie Bruins

Ailie Bruins — Thu, 14 May 2009 02:52:12 +0000

Another very important lesson that needs to be learnt from this scandal is the massive damage caused by spin doctors and media minders. The spin implicitly condones the behaviour of these very immature young men, encouraging the worst excesses, and worst of all it entrenches these behaviours in young immature minds. Without the spin, media minders, and legal protection this behaviour would have been nipped in the bud and everyone would have benefited. There is too much money involved in rugby league to enable the truth to be told, so we owe a great thanks to our national broadcaster for this expose because no commercial would have the guts to stand up against the advertising dollars, the media minders, and the legal teams. The spin doctors have hijacked the fourth estate, once the guardians of our free speech and democracy.

By: davidisbutler

davidisbutler — Wed, 13 May 2009 23:08:47 +0000

“Because we all stuff up, what you do afterwards is what matters.”

We all stuff up? Yeah, we lose our car keys and say insensitive things and forget appointments. Do we cheat on our wives in a group sex act with 10 men on one woman with only the greyest possible notion of consent?

mmm. yep, it’s what you do afterwards that matters. Say you’re sorry and give her some cash and it’ll be sweet mate.

By: Lynn Anderson

Lynn Anderson — Wed, 13 May 2009 07:14:21 +0000

We should only require Johns to be sincerely sorry when the consenting adult at the centre of this story apologises for dragging his family through the media circus again.

this is not a s*x crime and Johns is not a criminal. Don’t let your dislike of group s*x confuse the issue

public figures like Johns only need to dance with the press because the press loves exploiting wowsers like marym and other voyeurs

By: Melissa Sweet

Melissa Sweet — Wed, 13 May 2009 06:16:47 +0000

It’s bizarre how the story seems to have morphed into being all about the future of Johns’ career. I’d rather be hearing much more about the woman and what she needs to rebuild her life, and more broadly what can help other women in such situations. I also find the cynicism of the suggestions above a tad sickening. Rather than just suggesting Johns do something that is seen to help the woman, what about a genuine attempt to help her? This would mean asking her and those who’ve been caring for her what might really help, or what she’d really like. Not some slick, empty gesture of “restitution”. Of course, it’s highly likely that what might really help her might prove quite confronting and difficult for Johns and his ilk to muster.

By: marym

marym — Wed, 13 May 2009 04:48:27 +0000

Does Johns have to be sincere in actioning the above 3 point plan –or is it expert opinion that just a bit of cynical spin, a bit of motor mouth,a few dollars and a charity gig will do the trick?