# John Walsh, Shut The Fuck Up! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 7, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734 "2003-03-07T16:18:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![coyasicanbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bcef8e/32.png) [@coyasicanbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coyasicanbe)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/21 "2003-03-07T23:22:54Z")
As the proud father of a 3 year old son ("Hi, coy jr.), I’m willing to give a lifetime “creep pass” to John Walsh for what he went through. There are very few people out there that know what it’s like to lose a child that way. If you don’t like him, just ignore him and his show. Personally, I just feel sorry for the guy. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/22 "2003-03-07T23:35:00Z")
> [@](#): > > . . . she listed his many affairs. An irony in this is that in that when the “Adam” case was under investigation, one person who kept getting interviewed over and over was [some friend whose name I do not recall], because the investigators found that Walsh’s wife had been having an affair with this guy, so they thought there might be some link. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/23 "2003-03-07T23:59:26Z")
When I lived in Maryland I was a friend with a girl who worked on the show. She said Walsh was the biggest womanizer she’d ever seen… ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/24 "2003-03-08T00:07:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kevja \* > \*\*Did you see AMW a few weeks back? He was at a police training site, and took something like an AK47 and just started firing away at a (training/target) car. I’ll never forget that image. He was WAY into it. \*\* I own an AK-47 and am “way into it” so what of it? I wish _I_ were a “sex addict”, but that takes two(or more)… ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/25 "2003-03-08T00:11:13Z")
Ok, I said in the OP he does good on AMW, and he has gone through hell. But do you not agree that he should watch what he says? He sounded like some idiot CNN anchor trying to stir up RATINGS with that “kill her and bury her in the desert remark.” He should not have said that and he should know better after having been in the media all these years. He did not have to be that graphic. It was unnecessary and very weird. I would hate to think that he said it so we’d watch AMC this Saturday. If I was the father of that girl, I would have called him immediately and respectfully asked him not to say that again. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/26 "2003-03-08T00:49:17Z")
AMW and John Walsh are over the top as far as I am concerned. Whenever a big case comes up, he’s **right there** spouting off judgement and speculation. He’s a schmuck. Sam ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/27 "2003-03-08T00:50:46Z")
What kills me about Walsh is that on AMW he’s always saying, “Don’t take the law into your own hands!” but then on his talk show, he’s featured people _who did exactly that!_ And I’m not talking about the guy who jumps a bank robber who’s about to shoot a teller, nope, I’m talking about people who’ve kidnapped their own kids because they felt the child welfare people were totally wrong when they said that the spouse who had custody of the children was a fit parent. Walsh has even had people on his talk show naming folks as criminals, even though police investigations had shown that the person hadn’t committed a crime. Walsh has done a lot of good, but he’s also done some bad things as well. Better that he’s reminded of those things, than for people to make him a saint. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/28 "2003-03-08T00:52:30Z")
If I were the father of the girl I would encouraged him to say just what he did. The idea is to encourage people to get involved by making it painfully obvious what could happen. Most people prefer not to think of such things, and not get involved. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/29 "2003-03-08T01:00:48Z")
Wade Boggs and now John Walsh. I think we need a foundation to address this disease. I’ve watched AMW fairly regularly for some years now. I don’t see it as glorifying vigilantism or antisocial values. It’s an entertainment program following in a long tradition of engaging public support to find notorious bad guys. It’s done some good (John List would probably disagree) and it’s sort of fun. Walsh sounds like he got a bit carried away according to the OP. Not the world’s biggest deal. I’d love to riddle a car with bullets from an automatic weapon (tailgaters take note). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/30 "2003-03-08T01:08:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tony Montana \* > \*\*I own an AK-47 and am “way into it” so what of it? > > I wish _I_ were a “sex addict”, but that takes two(or more)… \*\* Wait a minute. I didn’t mean anything negative by it. In fact it was kind of…never mind, it was just quite an image. That’s all – really. ---
**Author:** ![cleops](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@cleops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cleops)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/31 "2003-03-08T02:59:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*Well pander the fuck away then, because the show has bagged 745 captures. \*\* Oh, and none of those would ever have been “bagged” had it not been for what’s his name’s show? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/32 "2003-03-08T04:38:26Z")
To paraphrase Dylan Thomas, a sex addict is someone you don’t like who gets laid more than you do. ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/33 "2003-03-08T05:05:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cleops \* > \*\*Oh, and none of those would ever have been “bagged” had it not been for what’s his name’s show? \*\* IMO not _all_ of them and most certainly not so soon. BTW whats wrong with utilizing a powerful (most powerful?)medium to catch bad guys? Some of the fugitives profiled were on the run for _decades_ until AMW came along. I see nothing “digusting” about that… ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/34 "2003-03-08T07:51:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by djf750 \* > \*\*Last night, on Hannity and Colmes, America’s Most Wanted JOHN WALSH, makes an appearance to talk about the 14 year old girl who is with some 56 year old asshole (another freak released on parole by our injustice system). > > \*\* I missed all of this. Where did this happen? Could someone provide a link to this story please? I too think Walsh is a hero. I read his autobiography years ago and found it fascinating. He’s very honest about his faults and foibles. He’s just this guy, you know? who got caught up in a situation not of his making and has used it for good. He’d give up everything to have his son back and be joe blow again. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/35 "2003-03-08T12:33:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cleops \* > \*\*Oh, and none of those would ever have been “bagged” had it not been for what’s his name’s show? \*\* IIRC, Fox wanted to cancel AMW. The governors of all 50 states begged Fox to keep the show on. He provides a valuable service, and although I do not condone his cheating on his wife, I think a little dramatization to get people off their butts and thinking about the kidnapped girl are justified. I think it behooves us to think the worst is going to happen in kidnapping cases. It motivates law enforcement to put all resources to bear to rescue the child. Thinking, “Oh, he’s just taking her to Disney World and then he’ll bring her home” is dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/36 "2003-03-08T16:13:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ivylass \* > \*\*The governors of all 50 states begged Fox to keep the show on. > \*\* _And_ the International Association of Sheriffs (Deputies? well _something_ like that) As well as many other law enforcement agencies/unions I dont recall… ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/37 "2003-03-08T16:43:20Z")
I think it’s safe to separate AMW, which is made with cooperation from various law-enforcement agencies, and which presumably gets its facts straight, from the steaming, fetid pile of shit called _The John Walsh Show_. AMW has done an incredible service by profiling crimes and asking for the assistance of the American public in finding the people wanted for those crimes. They’ve also helped solve at least one “cold case”, the [List family murders](http://www.crimelibrary.com/classics/list/). Had it not been for the resources available to the show, John List might still be walking around, unpunished for the murders of his family. _The John Walsh Show_, on the other hand, thrives on paranoia and the Boogey Man. I’ve watched the show, and I could not believe the levels of paranoia and fear that emanated from it. According to Mr. Walsh (at least according to my take on it; YMMV, of course), anyone a child meets on the Internet could be a predator. Children should never talk to a stranger on the street; the stranger could be a predator. Predator predator predator. Apparently, children must be watched at all times, or else they’ll become the victims of predators or bullies, his other fave. I can understand why he’d feel this way; losing a child is a very difficult event, and no one emerges from that unscathed. I just think that he needs to deal with that before he should be unleashed on an unsuspecting American public. Robin ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/38 "2003-03-08T17:10:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MsRobyn \* > \*\* > _The John Walsh Show_, on the other hand, thrives on paranoia and the Boogey Man. I’ve watched the show, and I could not believe the levels of paranoia and fear that emanated from it. According to Mr. Walsh (at least according to my take on it; YMMV, of course), anyone a child meets on the Internet could be a predator. Children should never talk to a stranger on the street; the stranger could be a predator. Predator predator predator. Apparently, children must be watched at all times, or else they’ll become the victims of predators or bullies, his other fave. > > \*\* This isn’t something new or groundbreaking, didn’t your parents ever tell you when you were little “Don’t talk to strangers” or “Don’t accept candy from strangers”, etc?? Sounds like good common sense to me. Children ARE at great risk to predators, AND bullies!! Haven’t you ever seen the lists of missing children at stores, on TV, etc. Turning a blind eye to this reality is just plain stupid, not to mention irresponsible. Were you ever bullied as a child? If not, great for you. Bullying is not a laughing matter and should be something that parents and caregivers are aware of, it is devastating to the victims. If Walsh gets people to wise up and stop living in the fantasy world of “it would never happen to ME”, then more power to him. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/39 "2003-03-08T17:36:00Z")
for a second there i thought you were gonna say: > [@](#): > > Were you ever bullied as a child? If not, **bully** for you. heheheheh ---
**Author:** ![The\_Calculus\_of\_Logic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@The\_Calculus\_of\_Logic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Calculus_of_Logic)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734/40 "2003-03-08T20:09:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MsRobyn \* > \*\* > _The John Walsh Show_, on the other hand, thrives on paranoia and the Boogey Man. I’ve watched the show, and I could not believe the levels of paranoia and fear that emanated from it. According to Mr. Walsh (at least according to my take on it; YMMV, of course), anyone a child meets on the Internet could be a predator. Children should never talk to a stranger on the street; the stranger could be a predator. Predator predator predator. Apparently, children must be watched at all times, or else they’ll become the victims of predators or bullies, his other fave. > > I can understand why he’d feel this way; losing a child is a very difficult event, and no one emerges from that unscathed. I just think that he needs to deal with that before he should be unleashed on an unsuspecting American public. > > Robin \*\* His new show sometimes does a disservice to parents, as does his stance on child kidnapping. According to ‘the culture of fear’, only about 200-300 kids are kidnapped & killed each year. thats only 2x as many people who are killed by lightning each year. By focusing solely on child kidnapping & portraying child abusers as ‘icky, weird looking strangers’ he is doing a disservice because if anyone ends up abusing your kids it won’t be a weird stranger, it will probably be someone you trust. I will try to dig up the stats to back that up, but it might take a while. People want to believe the people who pose a threat to them are weird looking, disgusting strangers because it makes it easier to hate, punish & segregate them. They don’t want to accept that its probably going to be their friends or family who end up hurting their kids as that would create a mental quandary. By endorsing isolated incidents where good & evil are written in black & white terms so people won’t have to face uncomfortable facts about child abuse, Walsh misleads a public which is begging him to mislead them so neither will have to accept the sad, painful reality of child abuse. His new show isn’t all bad though. When it tries to help people with eating disorders or mental problems that is ok. Good for him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-walsh-shut-the-fuck-up/159734.md?page=3)