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Let me begin by saying that this is frustrating for all groups involved. But I wanted to specifically address what Max really can or cannot do regarding this si
by eggbrain 12y ago
Let me begin by saying that this is frustrating for all groups involved. But I wanted to specifically address what Max really can or cannot do regarding this situation.
1. I understand those that say that he should sue. But think of it this way: even if he goes through a long lawsuit to sue and wins, he still comes up worse for wear: people who hated him to begin with will just say he "bought" his freedom with high priced lawyers, and the publicity the trial would generate would just hurt him more no matter what the outcome.
2. What's frustrating to me is even in these HN comments, the fact that he _isn't_ suing is somehow proof that there might be more to the story! You end up not winning -- not going to trial is because you know the "truth" might come out, and going to trial and winning will still prove that you might still be guilty, but celebrity status/money helped you.
3. Other people argue he should / should not have posted this blog post. But again, it's a catch-22: if you don't publish the blog post, it's because you are trying to bury the story because there might be some truth to it. But if you do publish it, now people think you aren't telling the whole truth and are just spinning it to get people on your side!
So really, no matter what you do, there's no good solution. If you sue, your victory will be Pyrrhic at best. If you don't sue, you're hiding something. If you post a response, you are spinning it. If you don't post, you're hiding something.
Worse yet, defending Max can end up being a lose-lose situation as well. If I believe Max's story, and defend him in forums/communications, that can portray me as being a sympathizer to sexual offenders rather than victims, which would anger me very much.
Sexual assault is a travesty. Period. And victims already have many times a hard enough time coming forward and talking about it, yet alone going to the police -- under the assumption that they might not be believed or that they will be shamed. But we need to make sure that there is justice for all, without hurting either side. We still have a long way to go.
- beachstartup 12y agoso basically, we live in a society where anyone's reputation can be instantly, completely and forever ruined, at will, by someone leveling a rape accusation on the internet.
- rhizome 12y agoHas Max's reputation been instantly, completely, and forever ruined?
- Crito 12y agoThat remains to be seen. In a year or three, when his name is mentioned in the media, will people still be talking about this accusation? Only time can tell, but my money is on "Yes."
- rhizome 12y agoOf course it remains to be seen, but beachstartup said "instantly."
- Crito 12y agoWhile determining if his reputation has in fact been ruined will take some time, if it was, it was instant.
- rhizome 12y agoWhat about completely, will that take time, too? I don't really see "instantly, completely" together at all here, because that would probably be pretty apparent, like "dead girl or live boy" apparent.
- PaulAJ 12y agoThe problem is that for the rest of his life this will come up when someone googles his name. Whether he is applying for a job, going out on a first date or looking for venture capital, the words "accused of rape" will be hanging around like Banquo's ghost.
- calibraxis 12y agoOn the internet, I see women CONSTANTLY getting death and rape threats, with all sorts of accusations leveled at them. Kathy Sierra was hounded off the net, with threats to her children. (http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/12/4693710/the-end-of-kindness-weev-and-the-cult-of-the-angry-young-man http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/12/4693710/the-end-of-kindnes...)