Oroville (California) Mercury Register
October 2, 1943
(Scan of newspaper page bottom incomplete.)
Today in panty banditry
Category: Crime
Today in panty banditry
The Enid (Oklahoma) Daily Eagle
September 24, 1948
Today in panty banditry
The New London (Connecticut) Evening Day — September 2, 1955
Today in panty banditry
The (Scranton) Times-Tribune — August 22, 1956
Today in panty banditry
Austin American-Statesman — August 4, 1962
AP Stylebook and use of ‘prostitutes’
I queried AP Stylebook’s editor a few days ago about whether it’s preferred to discontinue “prostitute” in favor of “sex worker” or “escort.” Below is a screenshot of the response I received today. How do you think the AP should decide?
See my original post on this issue.
In defense of ‘prostitute’: A journalist’s perspective
I’ve been noticing something strange in the news lately. Many news stories about the Long Island Serial Killer no longer refer to some victims as prostitutes.
The media’s preferred term is becoming “escort” or “sex worker.”
But why is that? And why should journalists still write “prostitute”?
Forget about being politically correct. Yes, we should usually respect how people want to be identified and avoid using hurtful words.
But let’s be honest: Most prostitutes do it because they are desperate or forced. Saying “escort” or “sex worker” makes it sound like a regular job, which it sure as hell wasn’t for them.
Using the word “prostitute” reminds us of the harsh truth about sex work. It’s a trade in which people are taken advantage of, often in terrible ways. It tells us we must help those caught in this situation.
If we use nicer-sounding words, we forget how serious and urgent this problem is.
So, who wins when we change the words we use?
People who want us to see sex work as just another job like these new words. If we think of sex work as normal and not something terrible, it might help their cause. But that view forgets about all the people forced into prostitution because they’re poor, addicted to drugs, or because someone made them do it.
Also, as a society, we don’t like to face harsh truths. Using nicer words helps us feel better and keep a safe distance from real problems.
But here’s the thing: A journalist’s job is to tell the truth, not make people feel good.
Remember that we shouldn’t use the word “prostitute” in a mean way. The Long Island Serial Killer’s victims were real people with families and friends. Their lives mattered, and they died horribly.
Journalists must recognize the hard truths to tell their stories right and not hide behind more sociable words.
Journalists should keep writing and saying “prostitute” because it shows how bad things are for some people and reminds us we need to help.
Claude writes about Dillinger’s memorable member
Until a moment ago, my experience in working with Anthropic’s Claude bot left me cold. The AI bot didn’t want to help me write anything off-colored, in poor taste, or really nasty.
I felt like I was having to run everything past the Hays Office.
A few minutes ago, I submitted the following prompt to Claude: Write a fictional 250-word letter to J. Edgar Hoover from a woman, who, in 1932, claims to have been injured during sex with John Dillinger because he was “too big.”
The results surprised me. Now, not only does Claude like it a little nasty, it has a sense of humor. Betty Johnson? Hah!
Check it out . . .
Dear Mr. Hoover,
I am writing to you with an urgent plea to apprehend the notorious outlaw John Dillinger before he violates another woman with his enormous manhood.
My name is Betty Johnson. Last month, I had the misfortune of encountering Mr. Dillinger at a speakeasy in Chicago. After a few drinks, he convinced me to accompany him to a hotel room for an intimate encounter. I assumed a strapping man like him would show a lady a good time.
I was sorely mistaken.
As soon as we were alone, he tore off his pants, exposing himself in all his massive glory. I tell you, Mr. Hoover, I have been with many men, but none compared to his staggering size. He threw me on the bed and had his way with me, forcing his colossal member inside my delicate flower. The pain was excruciating – unlike anything I’d ever felt. I begged and pleaded for him to stop, but he would not relent.
When he finally finished, I was battered, bruised, and bleeding. I could barely walk for days. I fear that if he is not stopped, other women may experience the same suffering at the hands of his freakish phallus.
Please, Mr. Hoover, you must apprehend this criminal and his weapon of mass seduction before he strikes again! No woman should have to endure what I did.
Yours truly,
Betty Johnson
Shocking response deters blue-state crime
I’ve always maintained that if good fences make good neighbors, then good electric fences make great neighbors. Over on YouTube, the best viewer response to this report is: “On the farm you use electric fences to keep the animals in, in the city you use electric fences to keep the animals out.”
Hey, y’all! It’s real-life ‘GTA’ in Arkansas!
In an exciting example of the power of a positive public image, the Arkansas State Police have become online stars.
An assortment of YouTube videos features the state’s troopers immersed in law enforcement. These videos, offering an unfiltered perspective, provide a far more intricate view than popular TV programs such as “Cops.”
The videos, which seem to have been made accessible via Freedom of Information Act requests or, perhaps, a deliberate public communication plan, apparently are compiled and posted by YouTube channel owners, not Arkansas officials.
Among these videos, the high-speed pursuits grab viewers’ attention. Many conclude with a trooper skillfully executing a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) or a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI), successfully forcing fleeing vehicles off the road.
Trooper Jacob Byrd, affectionately known as “The Byrdman,” has earned praise from viewers for his impressive maneuvering. The guy’s an online phenomenon.
Naturally, the question arises: Why do drivers risk trying to evade law enforcement?
Outstanding warrants or legal issues — Individuals with existing warrants or legal issues might try to flee to avoid immediate apprehension.
Carrying illicit substances or objects — Those involved in unlawful activities or transporting illegal goods or substances might try to outrun law enforcement to avert detection and possible prosecution.
Lack of proper documentation — Drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle registration might try to escape, hoping to sidestep penalties for these infractions.
Impaired judgment — Substance abuse can lead to poor decision-making, and inebriated drivers may irrationally evade the police.
Fear or panic — Basic fear or a sudden panic response could cause a driver to flee the scene after spotting law enforcement.
They’re idiots — If you’re like me, you’ve long concluded that although people are basically good, they’re basically stupid. Don’t believe me? Just look around you. (I’ll wait.)
The world of high-speed police pursuits does carry a certain level of excitement. Who hasn’t been riveted while watching a car chase unfold in a film or broadcast live on TV? It’s akin to a high-stakes chess game on wheels, where every tactical move and countermove has immediate, real-world consequences.
It isn’t hard to believe that some police officers might even feel a grudging respect for the driving abilities of these audacious motorists, much like a seasoned athlete might respect a formidable adversary.
However, remember that while these situations might provide compelling action movie scenes or gripping news footage, they unfold on actual streets among real individuals. The risk factor is high, and law enforcement’s primary goal remains to ensure public safety.
In one Arkansas State Police video, after a suspect is pulled from his high-performance car, he declares: “I’m just saying I could’ve had y’all. Yeah, that was fun, though, wasn’t it?”
The troopers assure him it was not.
Suggested YouTube channels
L.T. Hanlon 