Bill O’Reilly and Shawn Hornbeck: The Massacre!
Bill O’Reilly has his friends and definitely his enemies, but one thing for sure is, he is the most disrespectful news program host in all of cable TV. Even though I cannot stand a single fiber of what this so-called man is made of, I will keep this article as neutral as possible. Now, I usually try to ignore anything this guy says, but with recent comments of his, I can no longer contain myself. My intention is to have people understand that this guy is really not the moderate traditionalist that he claims to be, and is not to be trusted in many aspects of his “journalism”.
As I was going through my daily news gatherings, I noticed Bill O’Reilly ranting again on a certain issue that made me “fly off the handle”. Although his rantings are usually about politics or history for which he has been well educated, his information can get a little manipulative in order to fit his topic of the day like the whole Malmedy issue. But, for the most part, I give him the benefit of the doubt. Yet this particular horrifying, tyrannical verbiage was of a special kind. Now, this self-proclaimed third most powerful person in America, is all of a sudden stepping out of his comfort zone and into child psychology and traumatic stress syndromes. This verbal massacre was just unacceptable by me and my usually bitten tongue.
The O’Reilly issue that got me so infuriated is that of Shawn Hornbeck. On the O’Reilly Factor a couple of days ago, Bill said that he doesn’t believe in the Stockholm Syndrome and that Hornbeck, Smart and some other kidnapping victims were choosing to stay with their captors because “the situation was more exciting than their regular lives”. Here is some of the transcript:
Bill O’Reilly: You know the Stockholm syndrome thing, I don’t buy it, I never bought it, I don’t think It happened in the Patty Hearst Case. I don’t think it happened here…
Greta van Susteren: Woah, Can I just say something?
Bill O’Reilly: Yeah go ahead and jump in.
GVS: First of all, we don’t know all the facts, Don’t forget that Elizabeth Smart likewise had an opportunity to leave and she did not. She was on the public street for some reason when young people are picked up and taken under the influence of adults they are very receptive of what adults do. So I would not dismiss the Stockholm syndrome –
BOR: The difference in the Smart case, and correct me if I am wrong, was this guy was always around the little girl and she wasn’t gone for the long period of time as this guy was. Now what we have learned — and this is why I don’t believe in Stockholm — this guy Shawn Hornbeck gone four years from 11-15. Authorities actually say that he taunted his own parents on his website. He’s got these piercings — this is a troubled kid in my opinion –
GVS: The piercings, a lot of kids do the piercings. As far as the taunting goes on the website, I think what can be established is that someone on this particular login taunted the parents. Was it done from this particular computer? If it was done from this particular computer that means that Michael Devlin did it, or Shawn did it or someone with access to the computer… let’s not forget he is a kid…. He may be 15 now…
BOR: No, I am not buying this. If you’re 11 years old or 12 years old or 13 and you have a strong bond with your family. Even if the guy threatens you this and that. You’re riding your bike around, you got friends — the kid didn’t go to school. There’s all kinds of stuff, if you can get away, you get away. If you’re 11 –BOR: I didn’t buy that Patti Hearst story for a second.
GVS: Why was she so willing to sign up with her kidnappers and likewise Elizabeth Smart, she had opportunity — nice kid, nice family, why was she unwilling to run…?
BOR: Let me answer your question. This is what I believe in the Hearst case and in this case. The situation that Hearst found herself in was exciting. She had a boring life, child of privilege. All of a sudden she’s in with a bunch of charismatic thugs and she enjoyed it. The situation here with this kid is, looks to me to be a lot more fun than what he had under his own parents. He didn’t have to go to school, He could run around and do what he wanted.
Let me educate Bill and the rest of his followers. The Stockholm Syndrome is real and after reading a book by Natalie Angier called 
Woman: An Intimate Geography, I have a deeper understanding of the workings of the mind and it’s neurotransmitters during traumatic situations.
There are neurotransmitters called oxytocin and vasopressin that are related to high levels of stress and/or pain. These two hormones are mostly related to the process of child birth and are attributed to creating the bonding of the mother to the child among other things. In general, when a mammal is in an extreme situation that causes high levels of stress or pain, the body releases oxytocin and vasopresin to help regulate blood pressure, reduce cortisol levels, increase tolerance for pain and reduce anxiety. A side effect of this is an unusual bonding of the person experiencing the pain (mother or victim) and the person causing the pain/stress (baby or perpetrator). Although there is still research on the relationship of these neural hormones and their actions on the brain, I think this qualifies for serious consideration when we discuss people reacting to traumic situations. Here is what Wikipedia had to say about oxytocin and vasopressin:
“…oxytocin is involved in social recognition and bonding, and might be involved in the formation of trust between people.
In people, plasma concentrations of oxytocin have been reported to be higher amongst people who claim to be falling in love.
Various anti-stress functions. Oxytocin reduces blood pressure and cortisol levels, increasing tolerance to pain, and reducing anxiety. Oxytocin may play a role in encouraging “tend and befriend”, as opposed to “fight or flight”, behavior, in response to stress.
Increasing trust and reducing fear. In a risky investment game, experimental subjects given nasally administered oxytocin, displayed “the highest level of trust” twice as often as the control group.” - Wikipedia.com
So, does this sound so “off-the-wall” anymore? Considering this is not Bill’s expertise, real science and all, he probably does not know of this neural hormone. Which is fine, I do not expect Bill to know everything. I just want him to shut his mouth when he steps outside his expertise, and leave the psychology and its science to the professionals. if you are going to tell everyone how it is, you need to do a little research before you start your verbal ranting like diarrhea of the mouth. I also feel that when someone takes a stand on an issue, especially one as controversial as this one, they should either apologize or stand by what they say and own up to it. But, of course, Bill will always do what Bill has always done — deny he ever said it.
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Bill O’Reilly is a moron and a demon spawn. I hope his show gets cancelled.
From Stan Nodvik:
My turn, Mr. O’Reilly: MY VIEWS on Shawn Hombeck and why he couldn’t escape and which may explain why others are so baffled by this when he was allowed, as they believe, so much freedom are based upon, what I would call, the Carrot AND Stick Treatment.
Everyone is familiar with the traditional carrot or stick motivational tool used widely to get someone to do something or used to reinforce behavior. Okay, consider the “AND” in Carrot AND Stick. Some of the carrots for Shawn were a new bike, a cell phone, computer access, friends, a girl, and the freedom to roam. The stick? Shawn did tell Oprah that he was always terrified. And Devlin’s one big stick was the promise to kill him and his family members. Considering Michael Devlin’s profile, for Shawn, it was the Gospel truth!
The following made-up possible scenario can help explain this Carrot AND Stick concept or treatment:
Devlin’s question: “Would you like to have a new bike?”
And the 11-year-old’s response: “Sure. Cool!”
Immediately, surfaces the big stick, which is always there in Shawn’s mind, drummed into the boy right after being taken: “Do it or I will kill you, and I will kill your Mom and Dad.” By acccepting the bike (a carrot), the boy at the same time has had evoked in his mind Devlin’s raised ready-to-strike stick. Hence, Shawn must deal with two contradictory messages simultaneously which short-circuit everything in him, especially his freewill. I believe anyone who has a Jekell/Hyde type of character can succcessfully work the Carrot AND Stick treatment to keep another person unbalanced and powerless. One can also surmise how much guilt plays a role and builds up from acceping more carrots.
Again, this is not simple Carrot OR Stick; it’s Carrot AND Stick. It works for Michael Devlin because he has such behavior, which willingly or unwilling, switches him from an ordinary guy — the nicest guy ever — into a raging non-stopable beast of terror. And at a split moment’s notice, too! And Shawn knows this, really knows this, and that learned knowledge has “chained” him to Michael Devlin. The kid has had daily evidence of this in Devlin’s confrontations with his neighbors and the fact that Devlin always follows through and always gets his revenge. For example, there’s the news report where Devlin on the next day key-scratched the car body of a neighbor’s that he had argued with about parking in Devlin’s space. Kids understand revenge. And Shawn was conditioned to believe that his keeper would follow through with the death treats if Shawn wasn’t a “good boy.” More carrots, stick still there, and the boy stays “good” and stays terrified. And this linkage is invisible and is strong enough to keep a free-range Shawn around.
Do you understand now, Mr. O’Reilly, that there’s more views than just your “take” on the Hombeck kid? I think mine is a better “take” on why Shawn was able to live in what seemed a carefree lifestyle with its usual teenage doings and teenage stuff. And this was possible in the manner he was treated with Carrots AND Stick by Michael Devlin.
One documented fact that has been overlooked: Shawn was presented with his first real chance to escape and he took it without hesitation and without conscious thought. When the FBI announced themselves upon entering Devlin’s apartment, the Ben Ownby kid said, “Are you here to take me home?” And Immediately Shawn said, “I’m Sawn HOMBECK.” There is unvoiced but definitely included here by this structurally- and contextually-implied statement the 15-year-old Shawn’s plea: “TAKE ME HOME TOO!”
Trapped by Michael Devlin’s Carrot AND Stick treatment of Shawn Hombeck into a keeper-and-captive relationship where escape was never an option, it had to be by the FBI that Shawn could finally make his escape and be rescued — not by a neighbor, not by the local cops. For Shawn, only the FBI could rescue him from someone like Michael Devlin.
It was the mercurial behavior of Michael Devlin that made what I call, the Carrot AND Stick Treatment, work so well for four years with Shawn Hombeck.
Thank you for the opportunity to present my view on Shawn Hombeck. I don’t buy Bill O’Reilly’s.
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Bill O’Reilly–
Please read the above comment.
Thanks.
That was an interesting comment Stan. I too agree with what you say as I believe there are many, many variables to contemplate when dealing with these situations. The human psyche is never a simple, one dimensional processor, especially when it comes to traumatic situations. Thanks for your interaction.
Unbelievable - the crazy thing is that there are people in this country that agree with this guys enough to keep him on the air! Bill O’Reilly is a perfect example of what is wrong with this country - I honestly believe (and I am not making a joke here)that he is pure evil, along with the rest of his fanatical right wing buddies!
Here, here! Talder, I totally agree with you. Thanks for reaffirming my faith in people. I am glad there are still some people that can see the world without the media and the government screwing up their objectivity.
I think Bill O’Reilly is an arrogant, smug, self-righteous S.O.B. and a pig. I also think he is perverted and is simply resentful and jealous that this did not happen to him when he was a little child. He apparently had fantasies about something like this, and maybe this is why he has it in his head that it was an enjoyable experience. And since he came out with the notion that Patty Hearst was just bored and enjoyed what she went through, I have a feeling that old “Bill” has a lot of repressed,sick fantasies. It seems like he really put a lot into his analyzation of the mindset of these poor souls. I really believe he might have a serious mental problem as well as being a huge “ASS!” I wonder if Bill had anything to say about one of his fellow party members going around making arrangements for other members of the G.O.P. for accommodations for young children. What is even scarier, is maybe , just maybe, Bill might have been one of those party members that was being accommodated. Apparently this is what his mind-site has going on in it. Instead of asking if there should be questions about Shawn, shouldn’t the “real” question be why Bill thinks this was such a pleasurable experience, and how he seems to be so knowledgable about these subjects? I would love to ask him and am even more curious about his answers to these questions. And the most important question I would like to ask of the network who sponsers him is, “Why does “Bill” still have a show? He should have been “FIRED” in zero-point 10 seconds after his slanderous, dispicable, and insensitive comments. If you ask me, it really shows what kind of “CHARACTER” “Bill” has, and that would be NONE. And character is one of the most important things you can have. I think “Bill” and all the “Bill” cronies should really pray for their soul’s. And I hope Shawn and all of the other surviving victims’ of predators are able to ignore such embarrassing ignorance, and will be able to heal, and eventually be happy.
Bill O’Rally’s - that pompous, arrogant ass - molested Shawn Hornbeck all over again when he accused Hornbeck of enjoying his captivitiy with a sick monster.
I can’t find words to say how much I hate ORally. THe guy is a nut case that gets his own show. Another example of the demise of decency in America.
Mr. O’Reilly you are a fool, a shame and YOU SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED AROUND CHILDREN. THe Fact that you propose to PROTECT children on your show is a big farce. That was made clear after you attacked the victim Shawn Hornbeck.
Fox Still won’t apologize for O’Reilly’s statement
10-6-2007 Kidnapper Michael Delvin to plead guilty to taking these two boys. Doesn’t that mean if Delvin pleads guilty, there will be no public trial, no need to drag both little guys thru the news/talk shows media mud again! But!! Oh but, the media bitch, trial or no trial, must be served. Trial by media again, again, again. Ha! by Gawk. The media bitch!
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Turn off the TV, walk away. We don’t have to listen to Bill O’Reilly on the second time around giving us his lowdown slant on these kidnappings. Why push your adrenaline, why raise your blood pressure? A Reilly is a Reilly is a Reilly. Tune out O’Reilly and his like. Take the dog for a walk. Take yourself for a walk.
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You little guys are swift enough to write a book about your experiences. Why let the media bitch make all that money off you. “Our policy is not to reveal names; however, since the parties are well-known we make an exception….” What a way to rein in the crowd for the text-and-photos media circus! Barkers, indeed!
Seriously, you don’t need a ghost writer or an as-told-to author. Get Mom to buy you guys two dictaphone machines. //that’s how Earl Stanley Gardner of Perry Mason fame “wrote’// Hey, hey…we’re talking mega-million-bucks here after the book, the movie, then the play. Come, you two little guys. Hustle them for the big bucks. You can do it. And, by doing it this way, making a book, you will self-heal (vent) yourselves. That’s a double guarantee! God is with you/Somebody is with you. Good luck.
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Has anyone yet told M.D. what happens to Short Eyes in prison?
Short Eyes (play)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Short Eyes)
For the Curtis Mayfield soundtrack album from the 1977 film of the play see Short Eyes (album)
Short Eyes is a theatre drama written in 1972 by playwright Miguel Piñero, which was later made into a movie. The title is prison slang for a pedophile. Piñero wrote the play for a prisoner’s writing workshop when during his incarceration for armed robbery.
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Don’t either of you two little guys sign anything or let your parents sign anything re a book publishing deal unless you consult first with the right lawyer, and you must do as the lawyer advises. What kind of lawyer do you need? You need an entertainment lawyer. Not a literary lawyer. Certainly not the family lawyer. An entertainment lawyer is very expensive and the kind who works deals with singers, musicians, A&R men, TV actors, movie directors and producers and, yes, book publishers…and he packages combo deals. He is a lawyer who knows the entertainment industry and has been in it for years. He may charge as high as $500 a minute.
It will be the best deal you ever made in your lives. It will be returned to you 1,000,000 tenfold. Try to talk the lawyer into taking on you little guys and your parents on a layaway basis. Which means a deposit and pay later. He should agree to it because you have a great product.
Once you have the book published, you’re out of it completely if you want to be out of it. Your lawyer will handle everything and act as your lawyer and agent, for about 20 to 25 per cent of the take.
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