# Michael Jackson Tosses Babies Out of Window! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 19, 2002, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611 "2002-11-19T20:55:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/21 "2002-11-19T23:52:38Z")
chula - I wouldn’t go so far as to say that money can make up for bad parenting, but it depends on what “bad parenting” means. To take the extreme example, which baby is better off: The one whose parents love him, but dies of dehydration during a drought in an impoverished country; or his twin brother who is adopted by rich parents (who don’t love him and only wanted a status symbol to show off to the neighbours), and survives to old age? For the sake of argument we will assume that child B has unresolved issues that last all through his life, caused by the lack of love in his childhood. ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/22 "2002-11-20T00:52:16Z")
Ummm… how come that kid is as white as I am? ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/23 "2002-11-20T01:03:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Iteki \* > \*\*Ummm… how come that kid is as white as I am? \*\* This came up a bunch of times in the pit thread on MJ. I don’t understand why people think that having one black parent means you’ll have dark skin. Especiall since nearly all black Americans have a significant number of European ancestors. ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/24 "2002-11-20T01:06:25Z")
I am still going to guess that there is a significant chance that even if Michael Jackson were to have a genetic baby with my own transparent self, the babby would at least be a slightly darker shade than me? Given the general oddness surrounding this man I am thinking that ain’t so much the “fruit of his loins”. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/25 "2002-11-20T01:10:10Z")
I don’t see how your example works, **Arnold**. If you could know in advance that a particular child was going to die young, and another was going to live a long life, you would probably choose to be the second child. But being rich is no guarantee of a long life. A more realistic example would be: if you could chose to live happily for 75 years or miserably for 85 years, which would you choose? ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/26 "2002-11-20T01:17:34Z")
**Iteki** , I had a friend in high school who I thought was white, and it turned out that his dad was as black as MJ used to be. That’s not at all atypical. That said, maybe I’ll introduce a bizarre, unsupportable theory my friends and I came up with years ago to explain Michael Jackson. His abusive, psycho father didn’t want to lose his money-maker when Michael’s voice changed. So he had a _procedure_ done to ensure that wouldn’t happen. That explains MJ’s high voice and bizarre behavior. And his supposed kids are to make him feel less weird and to cover up any suspicions. Like I said, it’s bizarre and unsupportable. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/27 "2002-11-20T01:19:19Z")
I don’t care if he’s been Parent of the Year for the past five years, dangling a kid over a freaking fourth-story balcony is contemptible. Plus the infant was kicking its legs, perhaps out of fear? Trying to get away from the psycho having a little fun at its expense? ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/28 "2002-11-20T01:22:30Z")
OK chula my example probably wasn’t be best. But the fact is that a lot of money can make a significant difference in your life. It can mean working in the fields picking strawberries vs. graduating from Harvard. It can mean living in a small apartment in a bad part of town vs. a large multi-bedroom house with a view of the ocean. When you balance mental anguish vs. a luxuriant lifestyle, I’m saying that there are some parental deficiencies I would be willing to put up with in exchange for an easier life later on. Not everyone that is raised in a loveless environment turns out to be incapacitated by their mental problems. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/29 "2002-11-20T01:30:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Iteki \* > \*\*Ummm… how come that kid is as white as I am? \*\* Because Michael had it sequenced _out_ of his DNA before they cloned him. They also sequenced _in_ Michael’s new face so that his clone wouldn’t have to spend valuable time out of the “fast grow” machine for plastic surgery. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/30 "2002-11-20T01:31:17Z")
Jackson’s own childhood was less than ideal, or so it has been said… ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/31 "2002-11-20T01:33:10Z")
Sorry Arnold, I’m not with you this time. I’ve seen eough erratic and plain bizarre behaviour by Jackson to be freaked out by this. This man arguably shouldn’t be raising any kids at all, let alone dangling them from balconies. I hope the Germans sick their version of CPS on his ass. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/32 "2002-11-20T01:33:22Z")
fruit picker + love = happy Harvard grad + no love = not happy small apartment + love = happy big house + no love = not happy It may be _possible_ to overcome a loveless childhood to the extent necessary to be a functioning human being, but it will always cause severe emotional scars. Methinks you take your parents for granted. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/33 "2002-11-20T01:59:57Z")
Coldfire - social services is not my field, but what bizarre behaviour of Michael Jackson have you seen? All I know of is a fetish for plastic surgery, a reclusive lifestyle, and of curse the pedophilia accusations. Supposing the pedophilia accusations are not true, does the rest justify removing his children from him? chula - I think the reasoning “If your parents loved you, you’ll be happy in life; if they didn’t, you won’t” is much too simplistic, or, since we’re in a Michael Jackson thread, much too black or white, ignoring all the levels of gray and brown in-between. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/34 "2002-11-20T02:29:27Z")
But **Arnold** , you seem to be saying that having a financially privileged life is preferable to a less wealthy life, even if it means alienation, psychological problems, etc. It will all be worth it, because you’ll have the best that money can buy. Who’s being simplistic now? My parents weren’t wealthy, by any means, but I’ll take the stable home life I and my siblings grew up with over all of Michael Jackson’s money, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/35 "2002-11-20T03:09:10Z")
I don’t believe money is even a contributing factor in a child’s happiness. Obviously we see things differently. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/36 "2002-11-20T05:44:43Z")
DAVEW0071, I’m saying that growing up in a wealthy family / part of the world has advantages that can compensate for growing up with the problems that result from not having the best parents. For example, let’s say I want to learn a profession (such as M.D., university teacher) that requires a large initial investment, but I’m only of average capability in that field. If my family is wealthy I can achieve that ambition. If my father is a janitor my chances are much less. I didn’t say that money is going to solve all your problems. And just because Michael Jackson is unstable, does that mean his children can’t be happy? Then to repeat my point from above, what does that say about the children whose parents are mentally ill? And those whose parents are only moderately interested in their well-being? How about the children raised in an orphanage? Are they all hopelessly screwed up? What I seem to be hearing is that “if you grow up without loving parents, you’re doomed.” chula - some children in Pakistan grow up in families so poor that they are forced at a young age to forgo school and work in factories making soccer balls. Why would I even bother sending money to a charity that helps those people? Money is not even a contributing factor in their happiness, after all. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/37 "2002-11-20T06:00:00Z")
When you make strong statements like I did, it’s easy to get backed in a corner. I have a response, but unless you’re going to start a new thread, I’ll let you win that one. ---
**Author:** ![Bubba\_Ray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bubba\_Ray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bubba_Ray)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/38 "2002-11-20T06:00:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Arnold Winkelried \* > \*\*After seeing the picture, I’m not very shocked. If someone thinks he has a good grip on his kid he probably wouldn’t think twice about holding him over a ledge. Shows poor judgment, perhaps, but then I’ve seen parents throw tiny kids up in the air and then catch them. I could easily imagine some immature parents holding a baby in a scary position and saying “Oooh, scary”. > Of course, since it’s Michael Jackson, it makes front page news. \*\* What he said, saves me from typing it out and maybe get a bit too offensive for MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/39 "2002-11-20T11:45:29Z")
Yep, I’m with Bubba Ray and Arnold. He was holding his child. When it began to kick, he moved it inside. As for covering the boy’s face, have you seen the number of threads _just on this board_ about Jackson’s face? And the posts in this thread speculating about the child given the tiny glimpses of the colour of its skin? In those circumstances, would you want your child’s face plastered over the tabloids for a million celebrity tittle-obsessed people to gossip about? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611/40 "2002-11-20T12:45:09Z")
Holding a kid over a balcony is odd and scary behavior, and I wouldn’t do it myself, but it’s not unique to Michael Jackson. Heck, supposedly loving parents have done worse. According to David McCullough’s biography of Harry S Truman, Truman was dropped out of an upper story window into the arms of an uncle below. Many years ago, I saw someone do exactly the same thing. Scared the hell out of me. At least Jackson covered the kid’s head and he couldn’t see where he was. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-tosses-babies-out-of-window/137611.md?page=3)