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> The pros vastly outweigh the cons: [...] This is not true, and sounds like it's written from the perspective of someone who hasn't had to go through this. I

by Osmium 9y ago

> The pros vastly outweigh the cons: [...] This is not true, and sounds like it's written from the perspective of someone who hasn't had to go through this. I don't have personal experience with this, but for many people, it sounds like a very difficult thing to come forward to talk about harassment, with huge potential downsides and stigmas associated with it, even as the wronged party. And anyone prepared to talk about it should be treated with empathy and respect and shouldn't have to face a court of public opinion (like this thread) until whatever appropriate investigations are complete. Yes, your point is true, that if you act like a sociopath you can exploit this system, but if you act like a sociopath there are many social contracts you can exploit. But I imagine you will find very few people who would actually do this, and it's besides the point for this discussion (and actually counterproductive, if it creates an environment that discourages other people to come forward, thus delaying fixing a very clear and obvious problem for many right now). I usually try to avoid commenting online on social matters, but there's a lot of unpleasantness here, and it feels important to try and respond to it.

daenz 9y ago
I hear you. I do think there is a better way though, than a) always disbelieving the accuser until proven otherwise or b) always believing the accuser until proven otherwise. Both sides can be exploited. In the case of predators, absolutely, environments that discourage accusers coming forward makes it easy for them to exploit, and that is wrong. In the case of false accusers (more common than I believe most people think), environments that take the side of an accuser makes it easy for them to exploit, and that is also wrong. There's a balance to be struck, and I think we can only consider that balance when we think about all the dynamics of all the actors.

by Osmium 9y ago

daenz 9y ago

I hear you. I do think there is a better way though, than a) always disbelieving the accuser until proven otherwise or b) always believing the accuser until proven otherwise. Both sides can be exploited. In the case of predators, absolutely, environments that discourage accusers coming forward makes it easy for them to exploit, and that is wrong. In the case of false accusers (more common than I believe most people think), environments that take the side of an accuser makes it easy for them to exploit, and that is also wrong. There's a balance to be struck, and I think we can only consider that balance when we think about all the dynamics of all the actors.