Lawsuit: Sexual harassment ‘victim’ was San Francisco business rival in disguise

Post by koolba » Wed, Jul 26, 2017, 10:13 AM UTC

amag wrote: post #163

belorn wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The idea seems directly connected with an other idea that is sadly fairly common: assumed guilt. If we assumes that the accused is guilty until proven innocent, then the power imbalance is so great that we need to increase the counter weight by increasing the cost of false accusations. Personally I prefer the old system of innocent until proven guilty. You loose the mob justice, and you can't demand a lower standard…

In Sweden we had a minister of justice a couple of years ago who thought it would be a good idea that persons suspected of buying sexual services (which is illegal in Sweden) got their court order sent in a special large purple envelope. The purpose was that they would then be both publicly shamed (by the mailman, neighbors and what not) as well as would be less able to conceal it from their spouse.

Post by rndgermandude » Wed, Jul 26, 2017, 10:17 AM UTC

jack_h wrote: post #122

freshhawk wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While the construction of this old joke is admittedly good, using it as an argument advertises the fact that you view women as prizes rather than as people. It is complaining that they have a say in who they enter into relationships with. Or it's complaining about the fact that humans are more attracted to attractive people, which is how we define the word "attractive" in the first place. I'd avoid it generally, as y…

"...using it as an argument advertises the fact that you view women as prizes rather than as people." That's an interesting and incendiary interpretation. Do you know for a fact that this person views women as prizes to be won or are you perhaps ascribing more meaning to the comment than can reasonably be inferred?

Post by etjossem » Wed, Jul 26, 2017, 10:20 AM UTC

ablomen wrote: post #169

etjossem wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How about instead we just agree not to hit on each other within a power-imbalanced professional relationship? Seriously, I don't get how this is hard for folks. It's unbelievably simple. Be aware that you may have professional power over other people, and if you do, make an active effort not to flirt with them. Have the self-restraint not to mix an investment/supervisory relationship with romance or sex. Either it wi…

Thanks, I'll be sure tell my parents (mom used to be dad's secretary) that their 35y relationship will end in failure.

Post by Melchizedek » Wed, Jul 26, 2017, 10:25 AM UTC

hdhdbebbbdhdvd wrote: post #34

vkou wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's suppose that false rape accusations are a wide-spread problem. They aren't, they are far rarer then actual cases of rape, but let's suppose that they are. How exactly do you propose to deal with them, without a chilling effect on reporting real rapes? It is a crime that is notoriously hard to convict, to the point where most victims keep silent.

A problem can be serious without being wide-spread, and this is a great example -- false accusations (of any crime), though rare, sow the seeds of doubt in the testimony of every accuser. Every widely publicized false accusation (Duke lacrosse rape, etc) causes hundreds or perhaps even thousands of real rapists to go free and rape more people, since jurors take the possibility of a false accusation as "reasonable dou…

Post by ablomen » Wed, Jul 26, 2017, 10:34 AM UTC

etjossem wrote: post #175

ablomen wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks, I'll be sure tell my parents (mom used to be dad's secretary) that their 35y relationship will end in failure.

Fortunately for women who just want to get their work done and go home, we do not live in the world of Mad Men anymore. Since then, we have realized how important it is to strive for work environments that are free from sexual pressure and related favoritism.