# If you were arrested for a high-profile crime, what about you would the media have a field day with? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 22, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050 "2012-07-22T16:32:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/1 "2012-07-22T16:32:10Z")
Okay, I realized this is probably too soon given the Aurora shootings, but it popped into my head so I figured I’d share it. Let me tone it down a bit in the interests of taste, though. Suppose you were arrested for some sort of high-profile crime (let’s even say you didn’t do it, but evidence points strongly at you anyway). The kind of crime that gets on the news all over the country. So naturally the media is going to be digging into your life to try to come up with “justification” for why you did it. And as usual, they will probably get it wrong by settling on some irrelevant part of your life (like the fact that you favor black trench coats, or you have an extensive death-metal collection). For me, it would be my large collection of roleplaying games, including things like Shadowrun (which is a game that involves magic, big guns, a dystopian near-future society, and a generally pretty nihilistic attitude about the world), my collection of pointy things (fantasy swords and daggers), my MMORPG habits (WoW, SWTOR, and The Secret World, which obviously make me a loner with no friends who spends my time coming up with ways to kill people), and almost certainly the fact that I write fiction that includes some pretty gory and violent stuff. How about you? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/2 "2012-07-22T16:40:39Z")
I work in the financial services industry. ---
**Author:** ![florez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@florez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/florez)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/3 "2012-07-22T16:48:33Z")
That my ancestors were probably blood thirsty Aztecs. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/4 "2012-07-22T16:52:04Z")
Crazed vet with PTSD. I don’t have it btw. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/5 "2012-07-22T16:55:33Z")
I own multiple firearms, thus I have “an arsenal with thousands of rounds”, and one of them is a 10mm loaded with hollow-point ammunition, thus I have “a powerful weapon which proves that I wanted to kill someone”. Lest you think I am kidding about the second one, look up “Harold Fish”. I’d link to it myself but an iPad is useless for citations. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/6 "2012-07-22T16:57:26Z")
Not roleplaying games, but my extensive collection of violent video games, movies, and TV shows. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/7 "2012-07-22T16:58:45Z")
I’m that nice, quiet guy who lives next door and never causes any trouble. Always willing to help out the neighbors, family man, mows his lawn and… Shit! I should just turn myself in now. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/8 "2012-07-22T17:00:33Z")
World’s most eligible bachelor indited for… Well, the media gets everything wrong, why not my description too? ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/9 "2012-07-22T17:00:55Z")
That I once worked for a US intelligence agency. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/10 "2012-07-22T17:26:54Z")
Probably my psych history. Honestly they’d be too busy having a field day with the rest of my family to focus on the comparatively boring me. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/11 "2012-07-22T17:31:31Z")
So much to choose from: 1. Quiet, keeps to self 2. Pagan 3. Plays RPGs, MMORPGs, etc. 4. Unpopular/bullied in school as a child 5. Not on Facebook ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/12 "2012-07-22T17:32:25Z")
That I saw a psychologist in the past [dealing with grief issues after losing my daughter covienently redacted by the media] ---
**Author:** ![Imago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85e7bf/32.png) [@Imago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imago)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/13 "2012-07-22T18:14:45Z")
Huh. Either the history of mental illness, or the fact that I’m a full-grown woman who hasn’t shaved her legs in 4 years. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/14 "2012-07-22T18:26:40Z")
That I’m quiet, shy, and semi-reclusive, I’m sure will be made much of. Apparently, it means you’re weird now, judging by the reports on James Holmes. Also that I’m estranged from several members of my family. Of course, they won’t report that the people I’m estranged from are assholes or perverts- I’ll be made to look like the asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/15 "2012-07-22T18:28:54Z")
Hmm. Good question. I’d say probably the prostitutes I have buried underneath my floorboards. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/16 "2012-07-22T18:39:40Z")
They might have a field day with the fact that I don’t have a Facebook account. I have a Colombian wife… and everybody knows that means there _must_ be a drug connection. :rolleyes: That I am the quiet, really smart guy, but don’t have many close friends. The neighbors would say that I keep to myself. Yadda. Yadda. Yadda. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/17 "2012-07-22T18:52:24Z")
that i post on the sdmb?! ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/18 "2012-07-22T19:35:00Z")
Ooh ooh, yes, mental illness. That dastardly **Malleus** has been on heavy psychiatric medication for years, and yet no one stopped her from \_\_\_\_\_. (Because a person with anxiety and depression is totally the same as a paranoid schizophrenic who’s been off her meds for a while). And she’s never had any kind of romantic relationship. As far as we know, she hasn’t even even gone on a date. Clearly she blew her stack because of all those repressed sexual desires. And she spends way too much time with her cats. She talks to them with _actual cat noises_. She certainly seems to care more about them than she does about the humans she knows. Clearly, **Malleus** is a sick, sad individual. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/19 "2012-07-22T20:10:00Z")
That I served as an SDMB moderator for 3+ years. Guess I will have finally snapped. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050/20 "2012-07-22T20:23:34Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > And she spends way too much time with her cats. Are you kidding? If you ever go postal, the _first_ thing the media will latch on to, is how it’s really the lion’s fault for biting you that time! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-arrested-for-a-high-profile-crime-what-about-you-would-the-media-have-a-field-day-with/629050.md?page=2)