[BC] KDND Verdict

[Dave Dunsmoor]

> No, it really doesn't Dave. She was publicly coerced into drinking the
> water,

    How so? She wasn't dragged out into public with spotlights and
"coerced". She made the decision, and actively participated.

> ... both by the promise of a reward and the 'save face' aspect of
competition.

    Enticements, yes but NOT coercion. BIG difference there. And again, here
is where many people become confused, especially those who are not well
grounded. She decided to participate in something that turned out
tragically. No argument there. Bone-headed contest, yes. But SHE made the
conscious decision to try to get something for nothing and go along with the
contest.

> ...The radio station staff supplied the coercion-and should pay the price.

No, they supplied the ENTICEMENT, no coercion that I heard any evidence of.

> ..If you and I make a bet, it's just that-a dare between two people. It's
> a bit different when said 'bet' is being broadcast live on the radio-and
with
> the staff and listeners/callers of the radio station egging you on. I'm
sure
> it's easy to get caught up in the moment-and I believe that's what
> unfortunately happened here.

    Yes, but until she decided to step out of the crowd and into the
spotlight, there was no "egging on", there was no peer pressure, just her
desire to get something for little or nothing.

> The radio station is and should be liable. Period.

    No more so than McDonalds should have been when that woman put VERY hot
coffee in her lap and was then surprised when:

1)    it spilled, and

2)     it was hot enough to burn.

   I believe in "think before you do", and then accept the consequences,
whatever they may be. In this case that applies to both parties. The contest
was ill-conceived, and yes, the station should *share* the responsibility,
primarily due to the fact that they were warned (if indeed this occured),
and they ignored it, and that seems to be the case.

    The responsible thing for the announcers to do at that point would have
been to call to confirm the warning, then call off the contest, and announce
that there would be some replacement contest later.

    But this a long way from being entirely responsible for her death as if
they held her head under water.

    That is my opinion.

Dave Dunsmoor