# I pit the Peterson trial! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 24, 2004, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-peterson-trial/261235 "2004-08-24T06:11:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-peterson-trial/261235/41 "2004-08-25T16:23:53Z")
P.S.- We should really just start calling ourselves people, it’d make matters much easier. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-peterson-trial/261235/42 "2004-08-25T17:47:20Z")
> [@Maureen](#): > > My point was that it shouldn’t matter what the victim’s social standing was, or what she looked like. Anyone who is brutally murdered, as she was, deserves to have their murderer brought to justice. Bring 'em to justice, fine by me, just do it in a closed court with gag orders all around. As to anyone that would possibly care about this stupid case, GET A LIFE! How’s that? ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-peterson-trial/261235/43 "2004-08-25T17:53:48Z")
That would be fine by me, **World Eater**. The problem, as I see it, is one of momentum. There are shows that work with the press and law enforcement agencies to ask the public to help bring this criminals in. Once the ball starts rolling, it’s hard to get it to stop. Especially if the crime is particularly gristly. Because it sells, obviously. So, where to stop? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-peterson-trial/261235/44 "2004-08-25T18:30:20Z")
> [@Maureen](#): > > That would be fine by me, **World Eater**. The problem, as I see it, is one of momentum. There are shows that work with the press and law enforcement agencies to ask the public to help bring this criminals in. Once the ball starts rolling, it’s hard to get it to stop. How many of the cases from America’s most wanted have become media circuses? There seems to be a difference between asking the public for assistance in finding a fugitive, and whipping up some story into national news. > [@](#): > > Especially if the crime is particularly gristly. Because it sells, obviously. So, where to stop? First let’s figure out who’s buying, and why. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-peterson-trial/261235/45 "2004-08-25T18:55:35Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > There seems to be a difference between asking the public for assistance in finding a fugitive, and whipping up some story into national news. Not just National News. It’s national news, international news, continuing coverage, leaked bits of information, and 2 fucking movies of the week to date. In my opinion, it’s outrageous. You can’t gag it, but they shouldn’t be able to turn it into the three-ringed circus that they have. Sam ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-peterson-trial/261235/46 "2004-08-25T19:06:18Z")
The why is fairly simple; as a culture we seem to be obsessed with high melodrama (and no, I didn’t mean our country specifically, I mean the current prevailing average joe blow anywhere). I’m not sure if it’s because we can point and say “at least my life isn’t THAT bad,” or because we’re bored, or because it’s an honest-to-goodness “REAL LIFE” drama taking place _right here!_, or it’s a vicarious thrill, but this type of story just appeals to the part of the human psyche that just can’t get enough of train wrecks. I am not saying everyone has this morbid fascination, just the majority. The who is much harder. Do you mean the newspapers? Because I read the paper every day. It’s one story in a hundred or so. Also, to get the story dropped from the papers would be going up against the first ammendment. A gag order only stops those involved in the case from talking. Movie studios? If they see dollar signs, they ain’t stoppin’. But it would have been nice if they had at least waited til the trial was over before making their opus on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-peterson-trial/261235/47 "2004-08-25T19:08:09Z")
**GaWd** - International? Seriously? :rolleyes: Dear lord, I had no idea, really. That’s obscene. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-peterson-trial/261235/48 "2004-08-25T19:13:47Z")
> [@Maureen](#): > > **GaWd** - International? Seriously? :rolleyes: Dear lord, I had no idea, really. That’s obscene. I recall a poster recently saying they were in Siberia during the OJ trial, and it was even nonstop coverage over there. Nice to know we’re polluting the world with our bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-peterson-trial/261235/49 "2004-08-25T20:43:50Z")
When this case first broke a few knee-jerking whiners in the pit here got a hold of it, I decided to step in and defend Scott Peterson’s right to due process(y’know, that little ‘innocent until proven guilty thing’). In that thread, one of our posters from Australia posted inquiring as to the details of the case because his local news station had carried a story on it. Sam ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-peterson-trial/261235/50 "2004-08-25T21:35:36Z")
Y’know, I remember that. You’re right. I did know. I’d forgotten. I just can’t fathom it. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-peterson-trial/261235/51 "2004-08-25T22:15:40Z")
I’ve seen very few articles in the local media about this case, and what I have seen is mainly focused on the fact that America is currently obsessed by this case as in [this](http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/23/1093113128828.html?from=storylhs&oneclick=true) August 23rd story entitled “‘Love Triangle’ Murder Trial Captivates US”. I’ve been following it from American news sites as I hoped from the first that she was going to be found alive, and then later became convinced that the husband was involved and wanted to see him found guilty. I have five news sites bookmarked that I visit daily just to keep up with what’s happening in the world because they all focus on different stories - two are Australian, two are from the UK and one is in the US (CNN). I’ve never been to the US so I don’t know this firsthand, but my husband tells me that one of the things he found interesting in Australia was the amount of news coverage on international events; he claims that in the US almost the entire broadcast was devoted to national news, while as much as a third of the broadcast in Australia focuses on the rest of the world. Perhaps one of our most travelled dopers can confirm or deny that? Anyway, if what he says is true then those of you who are horrified that this story has been broadcast internationally need to be aware that Australian news typically includes the top stories from other countries and so it’s not unusual to hear murders and trials in the US or the UK. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-peterson-trial/261235/52 "2004-08-25T22:21:30Z")
> [@cazzle](#): > > I’ve seen very few articles in the local media about this case /moving to Australia ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-peterson-trial/261235/53 "2004-08-25T22:31:25Z")
> [@cazzle](#): > > Anyway, if what he says is true then those of you who are horrified that this story has been broadcast internationally need to be aware that Australian news typically includes the top stories from other countries and so it’s not unusual to hear murders and trials in the US or the UK. Well, that’s good to know. We certainly have international news, but apparently not the coverage you’re used to. Not so much horrified, **cazzle** , as horribly embarrassed. 😛 Akin to saying to one’s spouse “Oh, my dear lord, TELL me the neighbors did not walk in just now and see you sitting there in your underwear picking your nose with oreo crumbs all over your face.” (It’s a long, ugly story, just don’t even ask where I got that analogy) An aside to **World Eater** ; I am not sure how true this is, but someone once told me the population of Australia is something like 7-1 women. Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-peterson-trial/261235/54 "2004-08-25T22:32:42Z")
> [@Maureen](#): > > An aside to **World Eater** ; I am not sure how true this is, but someone once told me the population of Australia is something like 7-1 women. Enjoy! Uh oh, my girlfriend may not be too happy about that. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-peterson-trial/261235/55 "2004-08-25T22:45:27Z")
Your friend has misled you. [This link](http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/as.html) says the sex ratio is 0.99 male(s)/female. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-peterson-trial/261235.md?page=2)