DeaconBlues (imported) wrote: Mon Dec 04, 2017 4:47 pm
Not to hijack the thread or get too far off the topic of discussion.... But I must strongly agree with you on that point! When I consider the recent spate of sexual harassment cases, and some of the "victims" who had on the surface at least appeared to be very friendly with their harassing "predators," women who had continued to be friendly, sent "selfies" and letters and such to these "harassers" and then out of the blue claim that "thirty some odd years ago, that pervert touched my breast!" Oh MY GOD! I don't EVER want to be alone with anyone, male, female, or ambiguous, unless I have my own security cameras and audio recording of all the events. I am not (and never will be) a "high profile" sort, not a senator, not a major media mogul, but everyone who has even a meager income is a target for a law suit these days. Your sister is right, "don't trust anyone these days."
Sorry but since the thread is already hijacked...
I have to strongly DISAGREE with the sentiment expressed here. None of the recent cases are "sexual harassment" -- they are sexual assault. This isn't about some construction workers whistling as a girl walks by but about guys forceably restraining, unezpectedly exposing themselves, drugging girls, coercing with implied threats to employment, and even actual rape. Calling it sexual harassment is seriously underplaying it.
While I also believe that there are women who will falsely accuse, and others who will regret what they did and change their tune, all of the cases in the news are extremely credible -- you don't have 50+ professional women come forward with consistent stories without a strong likelihood of truth to them.
If you don't understand why victims don't come forward until years later, you need to think about it harder (no pun intended). Even guys have been victimized. Imagine growing up acting and getting a chance to be in a movie and the producer calls you to dinner to give you acting advice and then he corners you in a hall and makes you watch him masturbate into a flower pot... first of all you know it is his word versus yours, secondly you know the guy is immensely rich and has all sorts of lawyers, further you know he can single-handedly ruin all your dreams, and lastly you know there are people who will question whether you were somehow leading him on... It is entirely normal and fully expected that most sexual assault victims don't come forward until decades later. I personally don't understand it because I'm never victimized, frankly if a guy did that to me he'd literally be dead on the spot (I hate predators of all kinds, don't think they have the right to live); however I understand that I have a lot of power (I'm physically intimidating, quite wealthy, and very good at getting my way) whereas there are lots of people who are meek, poor, physically small, etc. who simply don't have the wherewithal to stand up for themselves.
Geraldo made a lame comment about "criminalizing courtship" and you guys are hinting that you're at risk of your intentions being mis-interpreted but honestly the things these guys did (and by the way they've mostly admitted it) is not even remotely connected to "courtship". Have you ever worked in an office where a senior member (no pun intended) might be fully naked when you walked in? Charlie Rose admits this (claims he had to change in his office or some BS). Have you ever worked in an office where the guy was masturbating under the table during meetings?
I have several women who work for me, and I of course take care to never spend time alone with them that isn't on camera. I'm not stupid to think that false claims can't happen.
But please do not lump in these serial sexual predators with the guys that might tell a crude joke after a couple drinks at an office path. These situations are not even close.
And again, most of these guys have admitted it. Trump is on record with his own voice talking about being a peeping Tom at Miss Universe pageants, kissing women without asking, and grabbing girls UNEXPECTEDLY by the p*ssy; CK Lous admitted it. Spacey admitted it. Charlie Rose admitted it. Weinstein sort of admitted it. Lauer admitted it. This ain't no case of false accusations.
We all know that guys are/can be perverts. Heck half the guys here want castration to free themselves from their urges. We all know that some fetishes are predatory -- I'm glad that mine are related to self-harm but if I had the same compulsions to expose myself or force myself on others then I know I would be a real danger. The force of these sexual compulsions is super strong and you know that some number of guys given enough wealth and power are going to act out.