Comments on: Is Bill Cosby guilty of hurting women? It’s more complex than you might think.

By: TVA

TVA — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 04:47:50 +0000

Darren Sharper at least admitted his guilt and faced the consequences. Man up Cosby, you are not bigger than life. he will die before he is convicted.
his reputation is shot. Fry his ass while he’s alive. That many professional women don’t lie! His wife can only cover so long until she’s on the stand. that’s why all the delays in trial. THE OBVIOUS IS THERE. ADMIT THE GUILT! Give these women some sense of closure on your selfish wrongdoings.

By: Ellsworth Johnson

Ellsworth Johnson — Wed, 27 May 2015 16:23:34 +0000

There is a disturbing pattern in society that black men are presumed guilty. it is this presumption of guilt that drives profiling in urban areas and in the social media. Once they are presumed guilty they are frequently demonized as the poster child for a particular issue which is the subject of moral panic. Adrian Peterson became the poster child for child abuse for spanking his child, something done rightly or wrongly by 80% of parents in the South. The issue is not whether Cosby is guilty or innocent , it is the presumption that we start with in his case. Cosby was presumed guilty.

We should take seriously any accusation of sexual assault. To do that requires a process of investigation which includes questioning the witness for details. “Who else witnessed it ?” for example. Notice that in all these cases the assaults took place in settings where there would have been witnesses that they were together whether at the Playboy club or at the hotels where the assaults allegedly took place. Yet in none of the cases did witnesses come forward to corroborate specific details in specific cases.

Yet no one questions the accusers about this. Nor does any question the accusers about why they waited so long. There are also numerous accusers who make inconsistent statements. One witness writes book in which she describes a meeting with Bill Cosby in which he “blew her off.” Years later she remembers it differently: Bill Cosby drugged and raped her. Why has no one questioned the accusers about their inconsistencies?

One witness was arrested for prostitution. No one questioned her about this arrest. Another witness as you note was disbarred. When she makes these charges none questions her about her disbarrment -which was for some kind of dishonesty I believe.

The conspicuous and constant failure to test the veracity of the accusers by any kind of questioning much less cross examination says we have already made up our minds.

Why have “we” made up our minds ? I think it has something to do with the number of accusers or the massive number of times Cosby’s guilt is assumed and repeated. People who make this argument must have never practiced law. When I was representing plaintiffs every settlement was confidential. it was confidential because of the concept of “proliferation of claims.” If others found out there as money – or fame- that came from making an allegation more allegations would come. This is a classic instance of proliferation of claims. The fact hat anyone who accues Bill Cosby gets a spotlight with Gloria Allred, gets on the The View, gets free representation etc guarantees that many will make accusations.

All the stories follow the same open ended narrative. Try this experiment. Have a group of creative writing students get together and craft a narrative based on the details of the stories that have already been reported. Have them videotape a session in which they act out the part of a rape victim. Then compare their performances with those of the so called victims. See if you see a difference.

By: Leah

Leah — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 19:22:32 +0000

Honestly, I dont know whether he is guilty or not. Whike rape is difficult to prove even when fresh and sexual abuse being widespread in show business, the way the women gave been coming forward seems suspicious. I am more inclined to think that Cosby has pissed off somebody powerful. I believe in a democratic society due process must be upheld irrespective of the number of alleged victims. Right now we have allegations but no evidence. We also have the lacrosse rape case as a reminder of the vigilance we must show she accusing people of rape. This may well be a conspiracy against Cosby as it was in the case of M.Jackson, who had his entire career trashed in seconds. Anyways lets not be quick to judge but await the due process.

By: Skip

Skip — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 15:49:02 +0000

Both black and white women have complained. If it were a white man accused then the media would have jumped all over this and labeled the man a pervert. Since it is a famous black man accused, everyone is scared to assume the women might be right. What’s up with that!

By: Meh

Meh — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 04:05:15 +0000

He seems doped up all the time can’t imagine how he couldn’t have assaulted someone, crime or not any crack pot theorist could tell you he seems a little off in the noggin.

By: Sapphyreopal5

Sapphyreopal5 — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 17:59:43 +0000

I’m amazed at how people have so little comprehension of how the mind of a sexual abuse victims really ticks (at least for those who do not come forward or wait until years later to do it). First of all, the process of gathering evidence after being sexually violated (therefore tissue recently traumatized) is a very traumatizing experience in itself (being “violated” again). Second, do people realize that law enforcement agents actually tend to treat victims as the criminals and the perpetrator as innocent often times in the interrogation process? It’s also a hell of an ordeal when people treat victims as “sluts” and such There’s also a complex mixture of fear, belief that telling will do nothing to better their situation or anyone else’s, being overwhelmed with the healing process, etc. In many states, the time limit for reporting such crimes goes up to 20 years in some states.

You people who claim it’s all about money because they didn’t report it right away disgust me.

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 01:34:21 +0000

Your information is wrong. The original accuser went to the police in 2004. (No one went to the police?) The district attorney dismissed the criminal case (maybe because of who he was…um Oj Simpson anyone?) and the only recourse was to sue him civilly, which thirteen women did. And now they are all coming forward and telling their stories, among others. The count I believe is up to 18 and at this point the ones who are coming forward are all past the point of getting money from him. This seems like an unbiased write up but it’s factually incorrect and therefore in forces the bias that he is innocent. No person (man or woman) can say what a person would do when being abused. Abused people are notoriously known for going back to their abuser. Someone asked why would a woman go back “she kept meeting with him” and “they would have said something so long ago” You have obviously have never read about the shame and terror women feel after being raped, especially by someone so incredibly powerful and the majority of them being in their teens. I dare you to go and actually read about the psychology of a rape victim, and see how easy it was from someone to come forward and challenge someone beloved by society all by themselves. Go ahead. Before you respond read some psychology and educate yourselves. This article is gravely wrong factually.

By: Filoundikah

Filoundikah — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 04:52:44 +0000

I think Cosby is innocent! i mean who the hell gets raped then goes back for more??? and the fact that he was financing “certain things”?? come on man, this sounds like a case of “no romance without finance” and if I can’t get a “break” then I’m gonna lie and say “you rape”

By: nookidoke

nookidoke — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 01:10:15 +0000

Why do “we” the people deserve to know the “truth” about Cosby (and not the accusers? It’s really none of our business. These women want our attention for their own reasons/motivations.
Also, How can an 18 year old white women be viewed as a victim in this case? Celebrity or not, Cosby is a married senior citizen (and Black in America). He could be most vulnerable in this case, and could easily be the victim in this case.

By: Gail

Gail — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 03:48:36 +0000

Not one went to police! Now read where one has filed lawsuit with 10 listed as witnesses! Not by name but Jane Doe! Of the ten, 8 have filed suit, the other two are seeking counsel! I do not believe!