The first point is rule of law, and that’s what the “believe women” statement generally refers to. “Believe women” is a nice and simple statement that completely ignores all complexity in a minefield of legal complexity. Relationships (especially ones that end bad) are incredibly complicated and there are ample cases where women lied for some benefit and ample cases where men actually did what they were accused of. Turning that into blank “believe women” or “disbelieve women” would be terrible either way. It would be just as smart as “believe employers” or “believe employees” in work-related lawsuits. So rule of law dictates that judgements need to be evidence-based.
The second point is Epstein. There’s ample evidence, ample victims and ample witnesses. If Epstein was still alive, there’s very little doubt that he’d be convicted. Sadly he is not and the USA doesn’t prosecute dead people, which in cases like this is a real issue since that also means there’s much less research into potential co-perpetrators.
Third, there’s Trump. In a somewhat decent time line any politician politician worthy of their position accused of a fraction of what Trump was accused (and convicted) of, Trump would have resigned years ago. Sadly Trump is not decent and the US has jack squat of safety mechanisms when it comes to top politicians that are grossly unfit for the office. That’s where the Epstein-files come in. They need to be released, but not to convict Trump for anything because it just won’t work. There’s no justice when it comes to high-ranking politicians in the USA. It’s too much of a legal backwater country to hold actually powerful people accountable.
But Trump’s followers were sworn in to the Epstein files for years now. That was one of the really big topics during Trump’s campaign and it has become much more than just a list of rapists/criminals. If the Epstein files are released and Trump is on them, that could actually turn his base against him, which would be much more valuable than getting him not convicted one more time.
In some ways, the point isn’t just convincing people on here that Trump Is a paedophile and rapist. Generally, anyone on Lemmy capable of exhaling and inhaling knows he is.
The point is also whether you can convince such a huge male population to alter their viewpoint by women’s testimony. Though it should make sense, men have had to build up an intense emotional reaction to the possibility of “women’s testimony” and how much more powerful it is societally than theirs.
I’d definitely agree that’s fucked up. And as someone in a more stable life situation, I’d say two or three is all it takes to answer your question. But for so many people who feel out of control of their lives, whether or not I agree with the silly idea “Men are under attack” I can actually understand the sentiment of “Oh, just their word against his? It’s a conspiracy.”
Nope, just the one. He since passed away himself. 😟
His kids ended up being pretty maladjusted for several years, but came out the other side OK. I did lose track of them after he died though, I would imagine that hit them hard. Like their mom it was equally sudden.
What a tragic childhood. I can’t imagine living with the mom would’ve been easy either. 😞 Rest in peace, both mom and dad. I hope the kids take solace in the (perhaps fact?) that it was the tumor that caused this mess, and that they don’t think it was in any way their own fault.
Your friend has told you a very unusual set of circumstances that sounds awful. Has he had as many women accused him of abuse as Trump has?
Two separate things, if not even three.
The first point is rule of law, and that’s what the “believe women” statement generally refers to. “Believe women” is a nice and simple statement that completely ignores all complexity in a minefield of legal complexity. Relationships (especially ones that end bad) are incredibly complicated and there are ample cases where women lied for some benefit and ample cases where men actually did what they were accused of. Turning that into blank “believe women” or “disbelieve women” would be terrible either way. It would be just as smart as “believe employers” or “believe employees” in work-related lawsuits. So rule of law dictates that judgements need to be evidence-based.
The second point is Epstein. There’s ample evidence, ample victims and ample witnesses. If Epstein was still alive, there’s very little doubt that he’d be convicted. Sadly he is not and the USA doesn’t prosecute dead people, which in cases like this is a real issue since that also means there’s much less research into potential co-perpetrators.
Third, there’s Trump. In a somewhat decent time line any politician politician worthy of their position accused of a fraction of what Trump was accused (and convicted) of, Trump would have resigned years ago. Sadly Trump is not decent and the US has jack squat of safety mechanisms when it comes to top politicians that are grossly unfit for the office. That’s where the Epstein-files come in. They need to be released, but not to convict Trump for anything because it just won’t work. There’s no justice when it comes to high-ranking politicians in the USA. It’s too much of a legal backwater country to hold actually powerful people accountable.
But Trump’s followers were sworn in to the Epstein files for years now. That was one of the really big topics during Trump’s campaign and it has become much more than just a list of rapists/criminals. If the Epstein files are released and Trump is on them, that could actually turn his base against him, which would be much more valuable than getting him not convicted one more time.
In some ways, the point isn’t just convincing people on here that Trump Is a paedophile and rapist. Generally, anyone on Lemmy capable of exhaling and inhaling knows he is.
The point is also whether you can convince such a huge male population to alter their viewpoint by women’s testimony. Though it should make sense, men have had to build up an intense emotional reaction to the possibility of “women’s testimony” and how much more powerful it is societally than theirs.
I’d definitely agree that’s fucked up. And as someone in a more stable life situation, I’d say two or three is all it takes to answer your question. But for so many people who feel out of control of their lives, whether or not I agree with the silly idea “Men are under attack” I can actually understand the sentiment of “Oh, just their word against his? It’s a conspiracy.”
Abusers generally back up other abusers IME. And so they maintain the narrative of “the women made it up” cos it suits them
Nope, just the one. He since passed away himself. 😟
His kids ended up being pretty maladjusted for several years, but came out the other side OK. I did lose track of them after he died though, I would imagine that hit them hard. Like their mom it was equally sudden.
I have a friend with a very similar story, but he’s one of the kids.
It took him easily 10 years after he moved out to manage to trust any women at all. He was seriously scarred from that.
What a tragic childhood. I can’t imagine living with the mom would’ve been easy either. 😞 Rest in peace, both mom and dad. I hope the kids take solace in the (perhaps fact?) that it was the tumor that caused this mess, and that they don’t think it was in any way their own fault.
Can I ask what your friend/their dad died of?
Massive sudden anyurism. No suffering at least.
After all that fighting, to go so suddenly. I’m sorry to hear this, even if it might have been a long time ago.
He did end up having a good life. Re-married, a few more younger kids. The funeral was epic.