You said it perfectly. However, I would add that it seems to me that at first we give more credence to the accuser than the accused. The burden of proof in this

You said it perfectly. However, I would add that it seems to me that at first we give more credence to the accuser than the accused. The burden of proof in this situation is always with the accuser and the fact that she assumed people would believe her, and people have, is not something I respect. And being a male has no effect on my opinion. I have pissed off my friends and especially my family, father in particular, because I've always given the benefit of the doubt to the accused in similar situations. My father found it particularly annoying, rather extremely frustrating, that I wouldn't automatically support and accept anything he would say at face value against a business partner or relative or anyone. And my behavior is the same with friends and coworkers, much to their annoyance. Back to point of Julie's complaints --- we're adults here and if there's a pattern of behavior from a coworker, then documentation is your best friend. In fact, that should be an automatic rule: any communication with colleagues in the workplace should be documented, either via email or chat, and kept short and to the point otherwise. If there exists a friendship between coworkers and there is fallout due to conflict, assuming there is no evidence, the accuser/accused should just let it go because that's what friends do. You can't demand professionalism when the principle hasn't been observed in the first place. Being a man, woman, father, mother, doesn't absolve one's responsibility from presenting evidence for the truth, even if they have a history of being honest. More importantly, our attitudes towards the accused should initially be of giving benefit of the doubt.