I think Dehlin shouldn't have called the cops on this childish meme. I don't think there is any real danger to Dehlin from this and I suspect reporting this to the cops is a way to bring attention to the video so Dehlin can play victim. It makes him look weak and plays a little bit into Kwaku's fantasy that somehow Dehlin is on the run.
Over at the Great and Specious board, Cinepro made the point that the video used the real-life names John Dehlin and Jeremy Runnells in showing their deaths at the hands of FAIRMormon and Kwaku, rather than Mormon Stories and the CES Letter. How would you respond to a character bearing your real-life name getting snuffed out? How would one craft the correct response? Obviously, you are not going to bitch slap Honorentheos, so wouldn't the next logical step be to call the Cache Valley 911 number?
This was a childish video and so I would send FAIR a nasty letter demanding it be taken down and demand a public apology. I would have Dehlin do what he did calling it out publicly and then see what happened. Calling the police and FBI seemed an overreaction at this point and gave the video more than what it deserved.
Obviously, if it escalated the police could be called at that point. However, the danger is that some crazy will see the video and act. Publicly exposing the video and having it taken down will probably be enough to stop any reaction.
Myth is misused by the powerful to subjugate the masses all too often.
I just finished the latest Dehlin video. He says he just had the largest live audience he has ever had. I liked the tears at the end. It reminded me of an assistant to the president on my mission and how he could tear up on cue. It was effective in converting Brazilians to join for the few weeks most ended up doing.
Last edited by Dr Exiled on Mon Dec 07, 2020 6:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Myth is misused by the powerful to subjugate the masses all too often.
The more I think about it, if it were me in the cross-hairs of Kwaku and his band of fellow thespians, I would try a back channel approach first prior to taking it public. I wonder how many saw the inglorious basterds video in the first place? Perhaps going public immediately only gave it more currency and I assume FAIR/The Church is adult enough to put a leash on its actors and writers it hired to appeal to the youth. Perhaps then making the issue public, if FAIR/The Church refused to act, would have a bigger splash as it would allow Dehlin to make a better case that FAIR/The Church are tacitly approving this sort of thing?
Myth is misused by the powerful to subjugate the masses all too often.
I just finished the latest Dehlin video. He says he just had the largest live audience he has ever had.
It does sound FAIR-esque to put out a plan to defeats its enemies only to empower them.
“Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another.”
― Carl Sagan, Cosmos
I just finished the latest Dehlin video. He says he just had the largest live audience he has ever had.
It does sound FAIR-esque to put out a plan to defeats its enemies only to empower them.
Yes, but these black and white events have a tendency to force one to choose sides. Sure, Dehlin gets a pop in the ratings but so does Kwaku with his edginess. It's why WWE wrestling makes money for all involved with their drama behind the wrestling. Even so, Kwaku crossed a line that should not be tolerated or condoned, even if it was something I would expect a high school kid to do and should be viewed in that light at this point.
Myth is misused by the powerful to subjugate the masses all too often.
The more I think about it, if it were me in the cross-hairs of Kwaku and his band of fellow thespians, I would try a back channel approach first prior to taking it public. I wonder how many saw the inglorious basterds video in the first place? Perhaps going public immediately only gave it more currency and I assume FAIR/The Church is adult enough to put a leash on its actors and writers it hired to appeal to the youth. Perhaps then making the issue public, if FAIR/The Church refused to act, would have a bigger splash as it would allow Dehlin to make a better case that FAIR/The Church are tacitly approving this sort of thing?
That's generally my style as well. Which back channel would you use in this case? I'm completely out of touch with who runs FAIR. It was a surprise to me that Peterson was no longer on the board.
he/him we all just have to live through it,
holding each other’s hands.
The more I think about it, if it were me in the cross-hairs of Kwaku and his band of fellow thespians, I would try a back channel approach first prior to taking it public. I wonder how many saw the inglorious basterds video in the first place? Perhaps going public immediately only gave it more currency and I assume FAIR/The Church is adult enough to put a leash on its actors and writers it hired to appeal to the youth. Perhaps then making the issue public, if FAIR/The Church refused to act, would have a bigger splash as it would allow Dehlin to make a better case that FAIR/The Church are tacitly approving this sort of thing?
That's generally my style as well. Which back channel would you use in this case? I'm completely out of touch with who runs FAIR. It was a surprise to me that Peterson was no longer on the board.
Dehlin seems to know these guys, knows Scott Gordon the head of FAIR. He also knows some of the brethren. So, I think he would have their contact information. It just seems to me that if Dehlin didn't want to generate publicity and wanted to lessen the supposed threat that the video created, then go about it quietly, letting the adults know that one of their children made a stupid offensive video that should immediately be taken down to lessen its reach. Now, more will look at it and it will get more currency. But publicity is what Dehlin wants and this is why I have to look on this with a little skepticism as far as his true level of fear over this.
Myth is misused by the powerful to subjugate the masses all too often.
Yes, but these black and white events have a tendency to force one to choose sides. Sure, Dehlin gets a pop in the ratings but so does Kwaku with his edginess. It's why WWE wrestling makes money for all involved with their drama behind the wrestling. Even so, Kwaku crossed a line that should not be tolerated or condoned, even if it was something I would expect a high school kid to do and should be viewed in that light at this point.
No doubt, Kwaku benefitted from FAIR's miscalculation and probably from Dehlin's reaction.
“Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another.”
― Carl Sagan, Cosmos
There are degrees of response, right? I think kwaku is childish and too obvious of a media hound and he doesn't strike me as violent. Obviously, one never knows but there isn't the emotional tie to a relationship that is breaking up to warrant any action by the police without more, or the FBI. We are only talking about a borish video without more here. My guess is that nothing will come of the police and FBI reports. Now if it escalates, perhaps there might be something.
Let me ask you this as a fellow attorney that deals in domestic violence cases and criminal cases. There is a difference in making a police report and making a request for a restraining order as we know. One is more likely to get a restraining order granted at least temporarily on videos such as this than having the police do something. I'm not even sure what crime was committed by the obvious parody done in poor taste but an obvious parody nonetheless. Do you think the police will investigate Dehlin's claims? Will the FBI? Where I live, a place comparable to SLC in size, there is no chance the police will do anything and so this looks like a publicity stunt by Dehlin, a public spat that may take both he and Kwaku to a little more notariety.
It's Utah. I doubt they take the report seriously. But they should. The potential crime is a threat of violence. If whoever is in charge of investigating or adjudicating it believes it reasonably made John Dehlin fear for his safety. If the post was not a threat of violence, what was it?
I'm not so sure it's a publicity stunt by Dehlin so much as a way of making a public record. if things escalate, it will provide evidence in the investigation of any subsequent incidents. If something actually happens to John or his family, then it will provide a potential suspect and motive.
