Comments on: Dragon*Con founder arrested at motel with young boy http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/09/14/dragoncon-founder-arrested-at-motel-with-young-boy/ The Blog@ Team and prominent comics personalities share what’s on their minds. Sat, 25 May 2013 03:49:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: anon http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/09/14/dragoncon-founder-arrested-at-motel-with-young-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-788945 anon Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:20:25 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=28850#comment-788945 So, I am amazed no one has pointed out that his 'breathing apparatus' is just his sleeping CPAP that he drug out for a photo opportunity. My husband has that exact mask. It's certainly not something you wear just out and about. I can't help but think 'breathing apparatus' is just more bullshit. So, I am amazed no one has pointed out that his ‘breathing apparatus’ is just his sleeping CPAP that he drug out for a photo opportunity. My husband has that exact mask. It’s certainly not something you wear just out and about. I can’t help but think ‘breathing apparatus’ is just more bullshit.

]]> By: Mary http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/09/14/dragoncon-founder-arrested-at-motel-with-young-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-689056 Mary Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:37:19 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=28850#comment-689056 He was not on a Breathing apparatus, cane, or wheelchair, back then. He was caving, camping, hiking, even though he was fat as a whale. He almost got stuck crawling through a hole in the cave, on his back. Oh, Did you know, he also claims to have a bad spine. Yeah, right. He is a very good manipulator. He fooled a lot of people. He still has a lot of educated, smart, well meaning people fooled. Ed is not dumb, I'll give him that. But that is all I will give him. He's not worth the dirt under my feet. He was not on a Breathing apparatus, cane, or wheelchair, back then. He was caving, camping, hiking, even though he was fat as a whale. He almost got stuck crawling through a hole in the cave, on his back. Oh, Did you know, he also claims to have a bad spine. Yeah, right. He is a very good manipulator. He fooled a lot of people. He still has a lot of educated, smart, well meaning people fooled. Ed is not dumb, I’ll give him that. But that is all I will give him. He’s not worth the dirt under my feet.

]]> By: Mary http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/09/14/dragoncon-founder-arrested-at-motel-with-young-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-689055 Mary Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:28:15 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=28850#comment-689055 I think Ed's being arrested for being in the presents of a young boy is really funny. What a stupid Idiot!!! I feel really bad for the young boy. I hope Ed did nothing to him. I have known deep down that Ed was exaggerating his conditions. He knows what he did to my children and other children. It is very un-christian of me, but I was glad that he was suffering, since he was doing everything in his power not stand trial. Despite of him, these children are now men. They have not forgotten and neither have I. He has done great damage to our family. We have worked hard to overcome and have. We want him to stand trial, be found guilty and be put where he can hurt no other child again. I had a lot of hate inside of me for what he had done. Through my faith in Jesus Christ, I do not hate, any longer. Hating was only hurting me, but I DO want this monster to get what he deserves. I think Ed’s being arrested for being in the presents of a young boy is really funny. What a stupid Idiot!!! I feel really bad for the young boy. I hope Ed did nothing to him. I have known deep down that Ed was exaggerating his conditions. He knows what he did to my children and other children. It is very un-christian of me, but I was glad that he was suffering, since he was doing everything in his power not stand trial. Despite of him, these children are now men. They have not forgotten and neither have I. He has done great damage to our family. We have worked hard to overcome and have. We want him to stand trial, be found guilty and be put where he can hurt no other child again. I had a lot of hate inside of me for what he had done. Through my faith in Jesus Christ, I do not hate, any longer. Hating was only hurting me, but I DO want this monster to get what he deserves.

]]> By: Nancy A. Collins http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/09/14/dragoncon-founder-arrested-at-motel-with-young-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-679694 Nancy A. Collins Mon, 26 Sep 2011 21:49:50 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=28850#comment-679694 When people get their knickers in a bigger wad over the fact Dragoncon is mentioned in regard to a legitimate news story than the information that Kramer supposedly used the convention to locate & groom children in order to sexually assault, it is more suggestive of a problem with the readers' priorities than the reporter's. When people get their knickers in a bigger wad over the fact Dragoncon is mentioned in regard to a legitimate news story than the information that Kramer supposedly used the convention to locate & groom children in order to sexually assault, it is more suggestive of a problem with the readers’ priorities than the reporter’s.

]]> By: Peter David http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/09/14/dragoncon-founder-arrested-at-motel-with-young-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-676317 Peter David Sun, 18 Sep 2011 09:41:52 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=28850#comment-676317 "Consider too — when an NFL football player is reported having been arrested on a DUI, for example, nobody except maybe a butt-kissing local columnist needs to add that “the team owner, GM and coach didn’t buy the guy drinks and hand him the keys to the car.”" Actually you've just made my point for me. The latter part of your statement is pretty much irrelevant, since columnists write opinion pieces. News reporters, however, write news articles, and when a news article is written about an NFL football player arrested in a DUI, you will typically see either quotes from the team he plays for, or an NFL publicist. At the VERY least, there will be a "Management had no comment" line. Some of the local Atlanta papers seem to enjoy insinuating that Dragon*Con is not someplace you can comfortably bring your children by repeatedly allowing readers to infer that pedophiles stalk the convention. It would have been nice if a comics-related website had taken the additional extra step and contacted D*Con for a comment--a courtesy that mainline news sources provide for those same drunk football players, but never for a comics convention--especially since Dragon*Con is the fourth word in the article. PAD “Consider too — when an NFL football player is reported having been arrested on a DUI, for example, nobody except maybe a butt-kissing local columnist needs to add that “the team owner, GM and coach didn’t buy the guy drinks and hand him the keys to the car.””

Actually you’ve just made my point for me. The latter part of your statement is pretty much irrelevant, since columnists write opinion pieces. News reporters, however, write news articles, and when a news article is written about an NFL football player arrested in a DUI, you will typically see either quotes from the team he plays for, or an NFL publicist. At the VERY least, there will be a “Management had no comment” line.

Some of the local Atlanta papers seem to enjoy insinuating that Dragon*Con is not someplace you can comfortably bring your children by repeatedly allowing readers to infer that pedophiles stalk the convention. It would have been nice if a comics-related website had taken the additional extra step and contacted D*Con for a comment–a courtesy that mainline news sources provide for those same drunk football players, but never for a comics convention–especially since Dragon*Con is the fourth word in the article.

PAD

]]> By: Paul http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/09/14/dragoncon-founder-arrested-at-motel-with-young-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-675769 Paul Sat, 17 Sep 2011 15:45:57 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=28850#comment-675769 Wheelchair? Breathing apparatus? Action figures and sci-fi memorabilia? How is that dude hooking up with teenagers? Wheelchair? Breathing apparatus? Action figures and sci-fi memorabilia? How is that dude hooking up with teenagers?

]]> By: zanocriminal http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/09/14/dragoncon-founder-arrested-at-motel-with-young-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-675441 zanocriminal Fri, 16 Sep 2011 20:39:36 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=28850#comment-675441 The fact that Dragon*Con released a statement about Kramer's arrest is news. It is news that was appropriately added to this article. The fact that Dragon*Con released a statement about Kramer’s arrest is news. It is news that was appropriately added to this article.

]]> By: Mike Glyer http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/09/14/dragoncon-founder-arrested-at-motel-with-young-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-675410 Mike Glyer Fri, 16 Sep 2011 19:18:01 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=28850#comment-675410 Everybody understands the reason for running the story is Ed Kramer's history with Dragon*Con -- genre news sites don't cover crime news that has no genre connection. But some commenters here evidently think a genre news site has a duty to shield Dragon*Con's current management in its own post about this public news story. Nowhere in this story is it said or suggested that Dragon*Con's current management has any connection with the story, or that what occurred is attributable to the convention in any way. Really, to say something gratuitous in their behalf under the circumstances would be a case of "protesting too much." Consider too -- when an NFL football player is reported having been arrested on a DUI, for example, nobody except maybe a butt-kissing local columnist needs to add that "the team owner, GM and coach didn't buy the guy drinks and hand him the keys to the car." Everybody understands the reason for running the story is Ed Kramer’s history with Dragon*Con — genre news sites don’t cover crime news that has no genre connection. But some commenters here evidently think a genre news site has a duty to shield Dragon*Con’s current management in its own post about this public news story.

Nowhere in this story is it said or suggested that Dragon*Con’s current management has any connection with the story, or that what occurred is attributable to the convention in any way. Really, to say something gratuitous in their behalf under the circumstances would be a case of “protesting too much.”

Consider too — when an NFL football player is reported having been arrested on a DUI, for example, nobody except maybe a butt-kissing local columnist needs to add that “the team owner, GM and coach didn’t buy the guy drinks and hand him the keys to the car.”

]]> By: Peter David http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/09/14/dragoncon-founder-arrested-at-motel-with-young-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-675287 Peter David Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:22:21 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=28850#comment-675287 And yes, I know that Newsarama was simply reporting what the local news service reported. Here's the thing: one doesn't expect accuracy or detail from "outside" journalists. All they've been doing is saying "Dragon*Con" and "child molester" together as many times as possible. If you're going to cover the story from the POV of a comic book site, then one might have hoped for a bit more due diligence when it came to the comics-related aspects. That's my take on it, in any event. And yes, I know that Newsarama was simply reporting what the local news service reported. Here’s the thing: one doesn’t expect accuracy or detail from “outside” journalists. All they’ve been doing is saying “Dragon*Con” and “child molester” together as many times as possible. If you’re going to cover the story from the POV of a comic book site, then one might have hoped for a bit more due diligence when it came to the comics-related aspects. That’s my take on it, in any event.

]]> By: Peter David http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/09/14/dragoncon-founder-arrested-at-motel-with-young-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-675284 Peter David Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:14:59 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=28850#comment-675284 As distasteful as the story is, referring to him simply as "founder" is technically correct, although more correct would have been "co-founder." You can't be a "former co-founder." You can be a "former co-chairman," but if you were there at the beginning, you were there. A rank or an office, once held and then left behind, is former, but not an accomplishment. In his obit, John Adams could be referred to as a former President, but not as a former Founding Father. The problem is that, without qualifiers, readers could infer that Ed is still connected with Dragon*Con, which he isn't and hasn't been for quite some time. Considering the incendiary nature of the original charges and the implications of the new ones, and the fact that D*Con has lots of kids attending, I think it behooved Newsarama to make explicit that he was no longer attached to the convention. Newsarama did not. That may be why Pat Henry felt the need to make that explicit on his Facebook page. As distasteful as the story is, referring to him simply as “founder” is technically correct, although more correct would have been “co-founder.” You can’t be a “former co-founder.” You can be a “former co-chairman,” but if you were there at the beginning, you were there. A rank or an office, once held and then left behind, is former, but not an accomplishment. In his obit, John Adams could be referred to as a former President, but not as a former Founding Father.

The problem is that, without qualifiers, readers could infer that Ed is still connected with Dragon*Con, which he isn’t and hasn’t been for quite some time. Considering the incendiary nature of the original charges and the implications of the new ones, and the fact that D*Con has lots of kids attending, I think it behooved Newsarama to make explicit that he was no longer attached to the convention. Newsarama did not. That may be why Pat Henry felt the need to make that explicit on his Facebook page.

]]> By: Shannon http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/09/14/dragoncon-founder-arrested-at-motel-with-young-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-675042 Shannon Thu, 15 Sep 2011 23:20:04 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=28850#comment-675042 Ok, thanks Comics for screwing up the youth. :) I know the Avengers took away Hulk's "founder" status and gave it to Captain America. But that isn't the way it works in real life. You are never a "former founder." Ok, thanks Comics for screwing up the youth. :)

I know the Avengers took away Hulk’s “founder” status and gave it to Captain America. But that isn’t the way it works in real life. You are never a “former founder.”

]]> By: JillPantozzi http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/09/14/dragoncon-founder-arrested-at-motel-with-young-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-674971 JillPantozzi Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:30:33 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=28850#comment-674971 NIL8, when celebrities or other notable people pass away or do something new, the news stories talk about what they were most known for (their famous movies, accomplishments, scandals etc.). Kramer being the founder of Dracon*Con will always be a part of his life. That's part of being a public figure and facts about their lives are part of reporting about them. Sorry you see it differently. NIL8, when celebrities or other notable people pass away or do something new, the news stories talk about what they were most known for (their famous movies, accomplishments, scandals etc.). Kramer being the founder of Dracon*Con will always be a part of his life. That’s part of being a public figure and facts about their lives are part of reporting about them. Sorry you see it differently.

]]> By: NIL8 http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/09/14/dragoncon-founder-arrested-at-motel-with-young-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-674949 NIL8 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:52:25 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=28850#comment-674949 So in your rush do defend yourself you completely missed my point. By your own rationale as long as this person is alive, and probably long afterwards, any piece of news related to him however horrid are worthy of reporting since he was a former founder of a convention whose remaining founders were tripping over themselves to get a statement out disassociating themselves from him? So in your rush do defend yourself you completely missed my point. By your own rationale as long as this person is alive, and probably long afterwards, any piece of news related to him however horrid are worthy of reporting since he was a former founder of a convention whose remaining founders were tripping over themselves to get a statement out disassociating themselves from him?

]]> By: Rick Rottman http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/09/14/dragoncon-founder-arrested-at-motel-with-young-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-674848 Rick Rottman Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:01:36 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=28850#comment-674848 I thought he was still a minority owner of Dragon*Con? I thought he was still a minority owner of Dragon*Con?

]]> By: BANE http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/09/14/dragoncon-founder-arrested-at-motel-with-young-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-674725 BANE Thu, 15 Sep 2011 06:16:53 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=28850#comment-674725 I know Ed. We met when I too was 15. Never laid a hand on me but I was not around him more than a couple of hours once. My friend Aaron Ford slept over at his house and we would joke how Ed appeared to be gay. Where are you Aaron? Did he molest you too? I know Ed. We met when I too was 15. Never laid a hand on me but I was not around him more than a couple of hours once. My friend Aaron Ford slept over at his house and we would joke how Ed appeared to be gay. Where are you Aaron? Did he molest you too?

]]> By: Darkstar http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/09/14/dragoncon-founder-arrested-at-motel-with-young-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-674721 Darkstar Thu, 15 Sep 2011 05:38:07 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=28850#comment-674721 Um, no. He is the founder of the Con. A founder is not a temporary position. It could say "former chairman", but not former founder. You are clearly not a journalism major. Um, no. He is the founder of the Con. A founder is not a temporary position. It could say “former chairman”, but not former founder. You are clearly not a journalism major.

]]> By: NIL8 http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/09/14/dragoncon-founder-arrested-at-motel-with-young-boy/comment-page-1/#comment-674712 NIL8 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 04:54:06 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=28850#comment-674712 I'm sorry, did the blog link redirect me to TMZ's website? What does this story have to do with comic books or anything related to comic books? An individual that has had nothing to do with Dragon Con for almost as long as he was part of it is accused of a heinous crime and your headline reads "Dragon*Con founder arrested at motel with young boy"? Should your head line not read FORMER Dragon Con founder arrested at motel? I'm no journalism major, but apparently neither are you. I’m sorry, did the blog link redirect me to TMZ’s website? What does this story have to do with comic books or anything related to comic books? An individual that has had nothing to do with Dragon Con for almost as long as he was part of it is accused of a heinous crime and your headline reads “Dragon*Con founder arrested at motel with young boy”? Should your head line not read FORMER Dragon Con founder arrested at motel? I’m no journalism major, but apparently neither are you.

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