O.J. Simpson Semantics  

Just what do you mean by that, PsychoDude?

Innocent is actually being innocent, as in having nothing to do with it. Guilty and not guilty is simply what a judge or jury said you were, they can say you're guilty whilst in reality you're innocent but also speak out not guilty whilst you're not innocent at all.

So, is it fair to say that you regard 'guilty or not guilty' as a legal term, whilst 'innocent' is more a moral term, PsychoDude?

I just wonder if people see a difference between 'innocence' and being 'not guilty'? And if people do see a difference in these two words, would they please explain the differences that they see.

okay I think I understand now, don't tax my brain like that.! I would have to say not guilty. The man is so far from innocent, perhaps he is not guilty of the crime in which it was portrayed in the court room, or not guilty of the crime the way it was described. Not guilty by way of the lack of evidence, but certianly not innocent of the crime.

Is that what you are asking?

That is exactly what I am asking, Angelwhispers. I appreciate you taking the time to explain how you feel about it. :)

But who really is innocent? Don't say children because they aren't either. Children are some of the meanest and cruelest beings on the planet as anyone who ever went to school can attest to.

yes children can be "the real Booger Monsters" that is a fact!

The actual meaning of words may be as you describe, filmbuff, however when applied in the real world instead of just theoretically they can take on different meanings to different people. I wonder how people feel (yes, this is an emotional question more than an intellectual one) about the meaning of these words in this context.

Do you remember the movie, A Time to Kill? Remember the dude who killed the dudes who abused his daughter? When the verdict was read it was, 'Innocent' (at least I remember it being that way.) Do you think it possible that a man who had killed men who abused his daughter could truly be innocent? You may, and that's fine. The purpose of the discussion is not for me to defend a particular point of view, but to hear what others think and how they arrive at their conclusions. Why do we think the way we think?

I think what Fimbuff just said is what was a boggle in mind when I read it and asked for clarification. I had to reach in and think about it.

Thanks for sharing your thanking on this matter, gabs. It makes sense to me.

Well, emeraldisle, the question did assume that he was acquitted, and I am surprised that more people haven't said what they actually think about him. I don't know if I really was wondering what people think about Mr. Simpson, as much as how people think about how these words are used. I appreciate your candor on the subject, and must say that I'm not even sure that I know what I believe about it.

The wording itself doesn't matter insofar as legalities. But I wondered if people thought about the way we use words.

Thanks for your thoughts. :)

You are quite welcome. Well to me innocent and not guilty aren't always the same mainly because to me innocent entails being without knowledge. I don't know if he fit into that or not so I'm more then willing to say he was not guilty but innocent I don't know on. They can be two different things depends on ones view point. Words can be tricky that way.

I like the way you define innocent, emeraldisle. Yes, words can be tricky, thus this Discussion. Thank! :)

Thank you for that. Innocent to me just seems to mean without knowledge. Isn't that why we say "innocent as a newborn baby"? They have no knowledge.

I read the link that you provided, eaforeman6.

Keeping with the spirit of the discussion, do you see any difference in the words, 'not guilty' or 'innocent' and if so, what are the differences that you see?

not guilty means that there is not enough evidence to convict you but innocent means that you are totaly innocent....thats what I think. What do you think?

That pretty much sums up what I think, eaforeman6. Innocence presumes a certain lack of knowledge, as emerald says. In a way, I tend to look at not guilty as a legal term while innocence has more of a moral resonance to it.

What does IMO mean?

In My Opinion

Thank you. I've often wondered what it meant.

No problem. :) I'm full of all kinds of useless knowledge. (among other things ;) )

Don't forget IMHO which is 'in my humble opinion' ;-)

That's a good way to explain things, teapotmommommerced. Thank you. :)

So for you one term is more a moral term while the other is a legal term. I tend to look at it the same way, someonesmom. Thank. :)

I see you'r point dragonryder. I'm guessing that the difference between 'not guilty' and 'innocent' for you is that one is a legal term and the other a moral term?