Melbourne

43 years ago, there was a tragedy in the Northern Territory - a Dingo stole a baby from under a mother's eye in a tent in the middle of nowhere. It was a formative event for me in my childhood.

For months after that event, the media and every talking head in the country spun out a narrative that the mother had done this evil thing, despite having no first-hand knowledge of events. It was repeated and discussed enough that this narrative managed to cement itself into everyone's minds. I remember being really confused - why would a mother kill a baby? By the time she went to court, she was guilty in the eyes of the nation and the trial was almost a formality.

Only, it later turned out that the mother was telling the truth. That tiny baby's coat was found in a dingo's den years later. Much hand wringing ensued. 'Oh that poor lady, she and her husband went through so much' (as though those same people weren't damning them years prior).

Anyway: from that tragic event, I learned never to assume I know all the facts. Never assume the media has any more idea of the truth than I do. Let the justice run its course, and may the truth come out before we pass judgement.

I don't know what happened with the mushroom case. And neither does anyone else currently talking about it. Rampant speculation is harmful.