Tidal wave of sexual assault-misconduct allegations list

[Guest]

One concern I have about so much of this coming out now is that many will become desensitized to it and start to regard such behavior as just something to be expected and not necessarily particularly egregious or remarkable. Take the case of Donald J. Trump, for example. His much publicized self admitted deplorable behavior towards women didn't prevent him from being elected. In fact, it almost seems to have enhanced his popularity among many of his core supporters, especially the types most likely to have voted for him in the first place. I have little doubt that those who have been guilty of such behavior in the past are among the most likely to vote for someone like Trump, and were encouraged by Trump's successful election to feel or hope that they can continue to get away with it in the future.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

I just read an article about a kid who killed himself over a false allegation. His mom killed herself a year later due to her loss.

- Doc

[_Gunnar]

I just read an article about a kid who killed himself over a false allegation. His mom killed herself a year later due to her loss.

- Doc

I think that is a legitimate concern, Dr. Cam. Can there be any reasonable doubt that in this avalanche of sexual assault-misconduct allegations that are now coming out that some of them (hopefully a small percentage) are bogus, exaggerated, misremembered, vindictive, misinterpreted or motivated by aspirations to gain some measure of fame and notoriety?

There are undoubtedly a lot of villains here who deserve to be exposed, but how can we best minimize the number of unjustly accused who don't deserve to have their lives ruined. And what about those who are genuinely repentant and could still make great contributions to mankind if not prevented from doing so by widespread, unforgiving bias towards them because of past peccadillos?

[_Chap]

I just read an article about a kid who killed himself over a false allegation. His mom killed herself a year later due to her loss.

- Doc

I think that is a legitimate concern, Dr. Cam. Can there be any reasonable doubt that in this avalanche of sexual assault-misconduct allegations that are now coming out that some of them (hopefully a small percentage) are bogus, exaggerated, misremembered, vindictive, misinterpreted or motivated by aspirations to gain some measure of fame and notoriety?

There are undoubtedly a lot of villains here who deserve to be exposed, but how can we best minimize the number of unjustly accused who don't deserve to have their lives ruined. And what about those who are genuinely repentant and could still make great contributions to mankind if not prevented from doing so by widespread, unforgiving bias towards them because of past peccadillos?

There is no certainty in such matters, and any way of handling allegations about what often happened in private will carry downside risks of injustice to some people, sometime.

Up to now, however, it is clear that the overwhelming downside risk has been for molested (or sometimes just plain raped) women, and the male gender has borne so little risk that large numbers of men have taken the Trump 'you can do what you want' line. So many, many women felt that they did not dare to speak up, for fear of losing their jobs or being shamed publicly as tramps who gave sexual favors for career advantage, or just plain liars.

Now the balance is changing: that will inevitably increase the number of men who suffer injustice. But I suspect there is a long way to go before the downside for men begins to approach the huge downside that women have suffered for many, many years, and still continue to suffer in many cases. By and large, and on the whole, current changes are making the world a better and fairer place. We must just do our best to avoid injustice, whoever suffers it.

[_MeDotOrg]

I think we are experiencing a sociological sea change. I think most people are a little taken aback at the depth and breadth of the problem. I don't think the problem is new and I don't think the problem is getting more prevalent. It's just never been reported before like this.

There a 1920's Hollywood star named Fatty Arbuckle who was arrested for murdering a girl at a gin-fueled party. The case was a huge salacious scandal that helped precipitate the formation of the Motion Picture Production Code. The purpose of the code was to convince people that Hollywood was making clean, moral entertainment. (Pre-code movies were a lot racier.)

While the movies got a little less racy, nothing really changed in Hollywood. The same power dynamics were in play. Fatty Arbuckle had murdered a girl, but the same parties and the same casting couches existed. The difference today is that women are finally being believed, and because they are being believed, more and more women are coming forward.

I think the Cosby case was probably the watershed case. It took a long, long time. But finally the number of women, and the similarity of their stories began to put a crack in the public persona of one of the most-loved American Celebrities. I think Cosby is where many Americans started looking at the equation of accuser and celebrity predator in a different light. People began to see that just because a person is unknown doesn't mean they has ulterior motivations for accusing someone famous of misbehavior.

If the Cosby case forever changed the way we look at celebrity accusations, the response to the Harvey Weinstein case is becoming the new template. The image of Harvey Weinstein was a lot easier and quicker to crack, because Weinstein's persona was something of a dick. Add to the fact that many of Weinstein's accusers were celebrities, and the importance of the case increases exponentially. Ironically I think some of the same dynamics are in play here. People believe celebrities, even if they happen to be women. So they celebrity status of Weinstein's accusers helped made quick work of any protestations from Weinstein.

[_Jersey Girl]

I think we are experiencing a sociological sea change. I think most people are a little taken aback at the depth and breadth of the problem. I don't think the problem is new and I don't think the problem is getting more prevalent. It's just never been reported before like this.

There a 1920's Hollywood star named Fatty Arbuckle who was arrested for murdering a girl at a gin-fueled party. The case was a huge salacious scandal that helped precipitate the formation of the Motion Picture Production Code. The purpose of the code was to convince people that Hollywood was making clean, moral entertainment. (Pre-code movies were a lot racier.)

While the movies got a little less racy, nothing really changed in Hollywood. The same power dynamics were in play. Fatty Arbuckle had murdered a girl, but the same parties and the same casting couches existed. The difference today is that women are finally being believed, and because they are being believed, more and more women are coming forward.

Fatty Arbuckle stood trial 3 times, was ultimately acquitted of the murder and his career was ruined.

So whether he did or didn't actually murder the girl, I don't think we can know that with any amount of certainty, which fits with comments up thread to the effect that some of these current allegations may be false. Take Cosby for example, do I think he sexually assaulted a number of women? Yes, I do. Do I think every single allegation made against him is true? I tend to doubt that, because there are women (and men) whose character is such that they will level false allegations if they think there's something in it (settlement money) for them.

Human nature.

[_The CCC]

Lots depends on what state they are in. Most states have a statute of limitations for violations of laws and time limits for lawsuits.

[_Jersey Girl]

John Conyers (politician)

[_Jersey Girl]

Richard Branson (business)

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Richard Branson (entertainment)

Lol. "entertainment". Lol... Gawd.

- Doc