Bill Cosby

[SepiaAndDust]

I was being sarcastic. Of course he's guilty. If he cared at all about his reputation, as almost 100% of celebs do, he could simply state for the record that these women were lying , that he is not a rapist, has never drugged and groped women etc and have a huge percentage of his fan base believe him, just like michael jackson's did.

Other than because he's guilty, what possible reason would he have for saying nothing? Does anyone think his silence makes it seem more likely that he's innocent?

He claims to be a christian. At least make him get up in court, put his hand on the bible and swear that these allegations are all baseless.

One, you don't know whether he did anything or not.

Two, what reason would he have for saying anything? Responding to the accusations can't possibly do him any good.

Three, since he can't be charged with crimes, what court is he supposed to "get up in"?

Four, they don't really use Bibles in court anymore.

Five, how come you don't know all this?

 

[ulu]

Five, how come you don't know all this?

obviously, because i'm not as smart as you

 

[SepiaAndDust]

obviously, because i'm not as smart as you

Nah, I'm just a peckerwood.

 

[Cearbhall]

Other than because he's guilty, what possible reason would he have for saying nothing? Does anyone think his silence makes it seem more likely that he's innocent?

I have a tiny bit of respect for him because his silence means he isn't willing to lie about it and hurt these women further. That's something.

 

[Gadarene]

In a perfect world yes. When it comes to issues like this, victims don't always act in a rational way.

Which doesn't justify mob justice after the fact.

The best approach for justice here is for victims to come forward immediately.

But today pointing that out will have people pounce on you for "victim-blaming" or whatever.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

Which doesn't justify mob justice after the fact.

The best approach for justice here is for victims to come forward immediately.

But today pointing that out will have people pounce on you for "victim-blaming" or whatever.

or being told that you're almost as bad as Cosby...

 

[bhsmte]

Which doesn't justify mob justice after the fact.

The best approach for justice here is for victims to come forward immediately.

But today pointing that out will have people pounce on you for "victim-blaming" or whatever.

I understand what you are saying and I also understand the psychology behind why things like this come out much later, when the victims have mustered up the courage (usually after one person comes forward and they are no longer alone) and they reveal what happened.

As I stated in another thread, if I was on a jury of a criminal trial for Cosby, I would want solid evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to find him guilty of these types of charges, no matter how many women came forward.

Since we are not in a criminal trial, we can only go by what we have and I have a real hard time getting my head around all these women just making this stuff up at this point, because I can't see the motivation behind it.

 

[grasping the after wind]

In a perfect world yes. When it comes to issues like this, victims don't always act in a rational way.

I do not think what I was suggesting was any more rational. It is just less self centered.

I think a perfect world would not have any victims in it at all. I'm not looking for perfection just some amount of empathy and consideration for some other future victim(s)that might be saved from the exact same thing happening to them.

There is no moral equivalence between what the rapist does and the silence of a victim but that does not make the silence of a victim a righteous thing.

 

[grasping the after wind]

I have a tiny bit of respect for him because his silence means he isn't willing to lie about it and hurt these women further. That's something.

Am I reading this right? You think it is worthy of respect because a perpetrator doesn't lie but just keeps his mouth shut. Is it not even possible that one might actually tell the truth? That scenario doesn't seemed to have entered the picture at all in the above comment. I'm sorry but I do not see how keeping silent in such a situation is worthy of any respect at all. Keeping silent when someone asks questions like" Do I look fat?" is kind, but keeping silent in this instance is harmful to someone. If he did it he should admit it and prove that these women are not simply publicity hounds or gold diggers. If he did not, he should shout it from the rooftops for the sake not only of himself but for his friends and family as well.

 

[ulu]

I agree

 

[Cearbhall]

Which doesn't justify mob justice after the fact.

The best approach for justice here is for victims to come forward immediately.

But today pointing that out will have people pounce on you for "victim-blaming" or whatever.

No one is obligated to think highly of him, much less do business with him. If people are sending him threats or violating his rights in other ways, then that's a different story. A conviction would have to be justified, but the actions that have been made public don't have to be justified. He has the right to defend himself in a statement if he so pleases.

 

[Gadarene]

No one is obligated to think highly of him, much less do business with him. If people are sending him threats or violating his rights in other ways, then that's a different story. A conviction would have to be justified, but the actions that have been made public don't have to be justified. He has the right to defend himself in a statement if he so pleases.

Er, they most certainly do. Claims need evidencing.

I'd love to see you stick to this statement if you were the target of rumour-mongering.

And speaking of, without conclusive evidence there is no difference between what is happening to Cosby and rumour-mongering.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

Whenever something like this happens, I always wonder what I would do if someone accused my husband of something similar.

He has done everything in his power to make sure he has not put himself in a situation where ANYTHING could be misconstrued, but that doesn't always mean it won't happen.

I personally know he's not capable of something like that. I know without a doubt he would be innocent.

It's just too bad that other people would be very quick to judge him, condemn him and destroy him.

 

[Gadarene]

Whenever something like this happens, I always wonder what I would do if someone accused my husband of something similar.

He has done everything in his power to make sure he has not put himself in a situation where ANYTHING could be misconstrued, but that doesn't always mean it won't happen.

I personally know he's not capable of something like that. I know without a doubt he would be innocent.

It's just too bad that other people would be very quick to judge him, condemn him and destroy him.

Hey, apparently those sorts of claims don't have to be justified. Or something.

 

[dgiharris]

I have a tiny bit of respect for him because his silence means he isn't willing to lie about it and hurt these women further. That's something.

When you are accused of something like this, you are in a no-win situation.

You deny it, people will find fault with the way you deny it and use your denial as proof of guilt with the whole "me thinks thou protests too much"

You stay quiet then people wonder why you aren't denying it

There is basically no way you can win something like this if you are innocent. Any action you take will be used against you.

 

[Cearbhall]

Er, they most certainly do. Claims need evidencing.

I'd love to see you stick to this statement if you were the target of rumour-mongering.

And speaking of, without conclusive evidence there is no difference between what is happening to Cosby and rumour-mongering.

I would get angry about it if I were innocent, but there's nothing I would be able to do about it except retaliate with a statement of my own. I'm not sure what else you want to see happen.

 

[bhsmte]

No one is obligated to think highly of him, much less do business with him. If people are sending him threats or violating his rights in other ways, then that's a different story. A conviction would have to be justified, but the actions that have been made public don't have to be justified. He has the right to defend himself in a statement if he so pleases.

I am no lawyer, but I believe Cosby could certainly sue these people for slander, if the accusations are not true.

Of course, Cosby would have to sue several people who are basically making the same claim, but he certainly could if he chose to.

If it was only one person making these claims it would be easier to cast aside, with many coming forward with the same story, is a bit disturbing. And I say it again, what is the motivation now, for all these women to make this stuff up?

 

[Cearbhall]

I am no lawyer, but I believe Cosby could certainly sue these people for slander, if the accusations are not true.

Of course, Cosby would have to sue several people who are basically making the same claim, but he certainly could if he chose to.

Exactly. He would have to prove that they're lying, which he can't, so he won't try. His other option is to speak up for himself. So far, he's chosen not to. If he's innocent (which I don't believe, but it's happened), then it sucks, but such is life. There's really nothing else he can do.

 

[dgiharris]

I am no lawyer, but I believe Cosby could certainly sue these people for slander, if the accusations are not true.

Of course, Cosby would have to sue several people who are basically making the same claim, but he certainly could if he chose to.

If it was only one person making these claims it would be easier to cast aside, with many coming forward with the same story, is a bit disturbing. And I say it again, what is the motivation now, for all these women to make this stuff up?

Hush money, 15 minutes of fame on camera, personal vendetta against him because they are angry/spiteful at him for how their relationship ended (i.e. if he dumped them), etc etc.

When you are rich and famous, those around you become envious and jealous. It's not out of the realm of possibility that people can come out of the woodwork against you and pile on.

Sure, it's also possible he's guilty. That is a possibility. But it is also possible that they are just lying for various reasons as well...

 

[Gadarene]

When you are accused of something like this, you are in a no-win situation.

You deny it, people will find fault with the way you deny it and use your denial as proof of guilt with the whole "me thinks thou protests too much"

You stay quiet then people wonder why you aren't denying it

There is basically no way you can win something like this if you are innocent. Any action you take will be used against you.

Exactly this. The mob will rationalise their actions against you either way.