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links for reference

Venezuela Crisis (2012-present)

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Clown Wars

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Free Speech (or Lack Thereof)

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https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/29/nfl-protests-readers-views

#MeToo/Weinstein effect - Some Notes/Thoughts

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This "sexual harassment/assault" stuff has been unusually prominent in the news for quite some time now. Although I do think that some of these guys need mental help, one problem is that some are likely being falsely accused, which is unacceptable. It's for that reason that I don't believe that WP should have a list of the accused on the "Weinstein effect" page, or else there should be a clear disclaimer that the people on the list have only been accused, and not "found guilty". Just because these accusations have been published does not justify the creation/publication of a list; the media these days are incredibly sloppy, and don't vet their stories well (or at all). So I think that to create/maintain such a list is irresponsible, because it can damage the reputation of perfectly innocent people.

Another problem is that this seems to be part of a growing trend towards what I call "separation of the sexes". In other words, I suspect that men are starting to feel alienated from women. Without going into too much detail, it seems to me that with the media hype surrounding this whole issue, guys will/have become progressively more afraid to even approach women, for fear that they will be accused of harassment, or perhaps even assault. Guys are already sort of paranoid about it (at least the ones I know), and for good reason. Although it's a no-brainer that people (male and female) should respect others' personal space, the fact is that most already do, and this whole issue will only make male/female relations worse. I think this would be a good issue to address in these articles, if there are any good references to support it.

One of the most troubling aspects of what I'm calling the current "media hype" is that a lot of these guys are being hounded to the point of losing their jobs/sources of income, which I think is taking things way too far. It's not only harmful, but counterproductive. They should receive counseling and sensitivity training, and a good-faith effort should be made to change the work environment into a more sensitive, positive one. Perhaps the most egregious abusers could have their pay docked, be demoted, and/or be removed from any positions of authority (on the logical premise of abuse of authority). But a man's sense of self and identity is rather acutely associated with his ability to earn a living. So punishing guys by hounding and firing them is self-defeating: it's more likely to make them hostile, rather than helping/encouraging them to change their ways--which I believe should be the real objective here.

I'm not trying to downplay the damage that harassment/assault does to a person, by any means. As a woman, I've experienced things that were downright horrifying; any woman who is reasonably attractive has, to some degree. And men are also targeted, not just women. But despite what I've experienced, I've never wanted anyone to be fired -- I only wanted to be left alone. In a non-work situation (i.e. a personal relationship), you can simply part ways, no hard feelings. It's a bit harder in a work situation, depending on whether the work environment is supportive or retaliatory. If it's supportive, then you can usually use subtle clues and body language, and then if that doesn't work, you can have a direct conversation. If it's retaliatory (i.e. others have been punished for speaking out), then it's best to just keep quiet, find another job, and chalk it down to experience. Maybe not ideal, but that's reality.

And RE those who are suing: frankly, unless there's actual physical violence/injury/rape, a lawsuit is a bit much. Personally, I've never sued anyone and wouldn't even bother. First, I believe in personal responsibility: if you get screwed over, it's usually partly your fault. Even when it's not, bad things happen and you just deal with it. Better luck next time. If you don't like the situation, it's best to just make a clean break, find a better situation, and leave the bad one behind.

Second, I think the legal system is so corrupt now that there's no justice there anyway. Even without the corruption, all parties involved get their names dragged through the mud (so much for privacy). And it's prohibitively expensive, as well as time-consuming (cases drag on for years). Even if there's a financial settlement or compensation, the lawyers get most of it. Plus, you get a bad reputation for suing people. Verdict: not worth it.

Again, I do think it's good to have a national conversation, as it were, about inappropriate workplace behavior, as well as what I think could be called the "culture of silence". But that conversation should be tempered, so that we don't end up going to extremes. Moderation, kindness, and compassion can go a long way towards understanding the root causes of this longstanding problem, uniting us rather than dividing us, and eventually healing this nation and this world.

Just my 0.02.

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