Manning's Imaginary Evidence about Beavis & Butthead
In seeking to explain why two five-year olds made the kind of graphic spontaneous utterances that were made in this case, Ms. Manning claimed it was "noteworthy" that the television program Beavis and Butthead "may well have influenced some children in the Lanesboro Elementary school yard." Here is the entire quote with the same active link that Ms. Manning employed:
"[The mother] testified that when they got out of the bath, they would bend over, spread their buttocks, and say "see my butt hole." (It's worth noting at this juncture that the television program "Beavis and Butthead" debuted on MTV in the fall of 1992, four months before the twins made their accusations and may well have influenced some children in the Lanesboro Elementary school yard.)"
Source: http://members.shaw.ca.imaginarycrimes/halseycheit4.htm (accessed May 28, 2002)
What Ms. Manning calls "noteworthy" is actually a total fabrication.
"Beavis & Butthead" did not debut "in the fall of 1992." It first aired on March 4, 1993 - more than a month after the initial disclosures and Halsey's arrest.
Ms. Manning's error is readily apparent through authoritative Internet sources. See, for example, the Beavis and Butthead entry at www.museumtv. This original airdate can also be confirmed through readily available newspaper stories from 1993. See, for example, Kloe, "Fox has 'Class,' but it loses it in 'Key West'," Atlanta Constitution (January 19, 1993), B1 ("MTV debuts an animated series, 'Beavis & Butthead,'on March 4").
Note: the
link that Ms. Manning provided, to Dan Tobin's article in the December 1,
1997 Boston Phoenix says nothing about when the program first aired.
It says only that the program was leaving the air after 200 shows. Click on
the link in the quote above and read the would-be "source" that
does not, in fact, document Ms. Manning's claim.