I start with stating that I love men. I helped make three more. I hate male bashing with a passion and I stand up for men in all situations where they get screwed.
But I still disagree with you on the timeline of abuse. This bursting forth of old stories is GOOD for victims everywhere, and for the innocent little girls today as potential future victims. I am sorry for men having to be bombarded with these old stories and apparently feeling put upon as if this were an attack on all friendly or flirtatious men. It’s really not.
Many of us have egregious old stories and many of us felt we could tell no one. It was a deeply painful thing that we had to do, both experiencing the attack, and having to deal with the powerful person afterwards. Secrets can burn.
And we women have done very well in spite. Men have a lot of trouble getting over being raped by older men when they were young. Can you imagine?
So these bursts of stories about powerful men having hurt them sexually are really just women saying “YOU THINK THIS GUY IS A GOOD GUY. HERE IS WHAT HE WILL DO TO YOUR DAUGHTER IF NO ONE IS LOOKING.”
Think about them like that. It helps you guys decide whether to do a project or hire these guys who, unbeknownst to you, their colleague, actually rape unwilling women, or expose themselves and masturbate in front of unwilling women. I believe it is good to know that your colleague is a phony and not actually decent human.
Maybe that will help you understand why these stories, IF TRUE, need to come out. Even if they are old.
Thank you for your response. I agree with you. I did a poor job finishing my point. I guess I was reacting mostly to the second part of your post which kind of took FR men to task for some of their attitudes towards the accusers.
I don't believe the passage of time excuses wrongful conduct or entitles anyone to conceal it. But it must affect how third parties deal with such accusations. After a while, memories fail, physical evidence disappears and witnesses die. The defense of false claims becomes impossible making prosecution unfair and unjust. For me, some deadline must exist to bring criminal or civil charges.
So, eventually, the legal system is mostly out, leaving the culture as the only venue for raising these claims. I think society does a pretty decent job over time differentiating the good and the bad. But it is sloppy and often very unfair. Just ask Richard Jewell. And a lot of extraneous factors are brought to bear when evaluating these types of old claims. What do you really expect me to think when I see Gloria Allred or Al Sharpton holding another press conference just before an election?
So I say bring these claims out into the open, even if they are old. But because they are old, be prepared to accept a different type of public scrutiny. Maybe if this issue wasn't politically and socially weaponized the victims would get a fairer shake from the culture and a little more respect on a political forum. It kind of revictimizes the victims.
Thanks for your perspective on this. You make some great points.