Whats up with B Cosby ...

I agree. If the first few victims had filed rape charges against him, word would have gotten out even if he beat the charges in court and decent women would have avoided being around him. How many women here would go to any function where someone charged multiple times with rape was going to be? As for the not-so-decent women, well they should have known better. Celebrities, sports stars, and even men in prison for murder seem to attract some women.

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Dear Math, it is time you grew up and solved your own problems.

Charges are typically laid if there is a belief that there is a chance for a conviction. In the case of doctors who sexually assaulted patients, the only way enough evidence was supplied for convictions typically comes from video evidence.

Some of these claims date back many years so it is doubtful that charges will be now.

How it happens- 1) a woman makes 'a mistake' in that she puts herself in a place of risk- if she had been a cautious as 'good girls' are supposed to be, 'nothing would have happened." In other words, the whole world tells her constantly that to be safe from sexual assault, she must never try to advance her career, she must never put herself in a place of risk, she must never put herself anywhere not 'safe'- she must assume that every man will rape her. Therefore, if assault happens, it is always 'her fault' , never his- or at least more her fault. Because she did not follow the rule.
This idea, which both sexes and seemingly all authorities, hold, makes it hard to stand up for herself. She knows the next line of the story by instinct.
2) having become angry enough to protest, the woman then faces trying to get anyone to listen to her. She hears a return of endless variations of she 'really wanted it', and, if the man is powerful and not a well known rapist, she was 'sleeping her way to the top.' If she is not pure as the driven snow and looks it, she will never be heard and will have that insult added to the burden of the 'good girl' theory. She will be expected to 'get over it." And not bother anyone otherwise she will lose her career and be known as a troublemaker.

The problem is that the 'good girl' theory means that the world is closed to woman doing almost anything where they are either alone or could be with the wrong crowd. Things like walking on the street or working late or camping or living on their own or, well gee whiz, everything. Everything can be a violation of the 'good girl' theory of safety. And thus everything is always the woman's fault.

What the lesson of one woman coming out with the truth, which did happen, was that no one will listen and, if you get to be too noisey, you will be insulted to boot while no one does anything anyway. The bottom line is for a woman, you lose no matter what.

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For we used to ask when we were little, thinking that the old men knew all things which are on earth: yet forsooth they did not know; but we do not contradict them, for neither do we know.

http://news.yahoo.com/bill-cosby-bre...230718642.html (the bold is my adding)

"Let me say this. I only expect the black media to uphold the standards of excellence in journalism and when you do that you have to go in with a neutral mind," Cosby told the publication's Stacy Brown, who noted that he frequently writes for African-American publications."

Race card? Why? ??

Not all women are victims. There are MANY who are hangers-on (groupies ) to well known people. Part of it is the desire to be near famous people and part of it is the hope of benefiting financially from the association. I'll admit it, us men are pigs. Most mothers warn their daughters that there is always some man willing to take them to bed given the slightest chance. Those who aren't told generally learn it after a couple dates. Situational awareness is nothing more than common sense. It is unwise for a woman to be alone with any guy in a house or apartment unless she knows him very well or dated him for a long time. Even then, bad things can happen. The women that are willing to sleep with the boss or cry rape when nothing happened do hurt those women with real complaints but rape cases are generally prosecuted vigorously.

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Dear Math, it is time you grew up and solved your own problems.

So how do you propose to allow women to have a life that does not limit them to never leaving the home unless accompanied by a family member? And even if they are alright with such a restricted life, how do you keep family members from abusing them too? Sounds like a muslim extremist household to me.

And no, rape cases are not pursued vigorously unless the police have a person they want to convict. If the police think a guy is a serial rapist of women he doesn't know, there is some chance. But given any excuse to dismiss a case without an obvious "bad guy" , it will just cease to be investigated actively. It will fall into the 'when there's time' file.

And as for men being dogs, how much of that is cheered on in society where it is considered justice for men to force women as a test of manhood and to condemn woman for the same act? Or encourage woman to go to extremes to be attractive to men while not protecting them from the result?

Men allow fear of being accused, whether falsely or correctly, as an excuse to dismiss all of women's complaints. I suggest signed consent forms or video records of consent. That should put a proper perspective on the whole business. Intefere with the pursuit a bit but, hey, if she's really willing, it will work out ok anyway. If not, it gives a chance for reconsideration.

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For we used to ask when we were little, thinking that the old men knew all things which are on earth: yet forsooth they did not know; but we do not contradict them, for neither do we know.

Many of you seem to be viewing this from a 2014 perspective. It was a LOT different 50 years ago. Police didn't really take rape seriously. If you were young and attractive you were obviously asking for it. Nice girls never got raped, now did they? Ergo, if you were a nice girl you wouldn't be having this apparent problem. If the person you accused was attractive - why would he rape you? He could have anyone? You must have a fertile imagination or be ticked off because you felt let down in some way or were being vindictive. If he was rich you were just a gold digger looking for a payout. If he was attractive, rich and powerful you were really out of luck. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

Don't forget that the movie companies would go to great, great lengths to protect their money-makers. That put Cosby at a great advantage and the girls at a severe disadvantage. "Do as you are told or I will finish your career yesterday". Any career. Even the ones that have the star's only line being "do you want fries with that?".

Mary

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In politics the truth is just the lie you believe most - unknown

As a female...no tape, just repeated words...very late too. Trust me I am not going to get coffee with him due to this news but believe the jury has not decided.....hey he is innocent till proven there has never been a trial.

I can't label him guilty with out proof.

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basketti
This is really too dumb to respond to, but okay

I go by the saying, "Believe half of what you see and nothing of what you hear."

I also wonder why. Why now, after all these years....

Women can do very well without risking dangerous situations. Conduct business in your office or restaurants or other places where there are a lot of people. Using the same rules that apply to men works pretty well. I will not meet someone to buy anything off Craigslist in an isolated place. I understand perfectly well when I call to buy something off Craigslist and the woman says we can meet at McDonald's or someplace. I know a real estate broker who sometimes calls me to meet her at a house if she is showing it to some guy she doesn't know or trust. Smart lady and does very well. As I said, use common sense. Never go to a stranger's house or apartment for anything unless someone is with you. Never drink alone with someone you do not know very well. Never accept a ride from a stranger no matter how nice he seems. Those rules do not hinder your success in the least.

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Dear Math, it is time you grew up and solved your own problems.

That is very good advice!

Personal experience situation in our family. Last week, our DGD was invited to an apartment of a man she met about 2-3 months ago. Just pals. She went only to find him too intoxicated to drive her home AND his father was getting too friendly. She phoned her father who went and picked her up. We will talk with her later after she calmed down.

It is my observation that young women sometimes take unnecessary changes--like leaving a club with a guy she just met. Campus assaults take place at night when a woman is walking alone too.

Some of these claims were made decades ago and largely ignored. It's interesting that it wasn't until a man called Cosby a rapist that all the allegations started to become common knowledge. Did people finally take it seriously because a man said it instead of "just" women? Maybe, or maybe that was just a coincidence.

I actually heard about the rumors just a couple months before it hit the mainstream news...from another comedian than the one who made the joke that went viral and started the firestorm...apparently it's been well known in the comedy world for a long time, whether true or not.

I figure that where there's smoke there's probably fire, but it's been too long to prosecute with most if not all of the cases. There are good reasons for statutes of limitations. I wonder, assuming at least some of the allegations are true, if Cosby quit at some point because of a moral reckoning or something or if there are more recent cases.

There's also something to be said about the women not being alone with a man. In at least a few of these cases, they were not alone with him at the time they were allegedly drugged. There were other people around, and when the women woke up everyone else was gone except Cosby. I have little doubt that some of those other people were complicit. So even if they were smart enough not to be alone with him, that wasn't a guarantee of their safety.

And sometimes they simply walk in a public park in the early afternoon, or are seeing a teacher after class, or are jogging, or at work, etc.
I can remember a day in Italy when I wanted to see a medieval music concert in an ancient church. No one else wanted to go. So I went on my own. It was dark at the end and I had to walk home alone. On the way down from the church, a man stopped in from of me and I immediately ducked around him. By the second step away, I got a grip on myself and turn around and asked him to repeat his question. He simply wanted to know if the concert was over.
Now isn't it terrible that not 'taking a risk' meant it took courage to go to the concert in the first place and then to answer a question in the second? But if something had happened, I'm sure there would have been a not a few remarks about deserving it because I took unneccessary risks.
It's all a big game of roulette where you judge your chances, the reward and place your bets.

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For we used to ask when we were little, thinking that the old men knew all things which are on earth: yet forsooth they did not know; but we do not contradict them, for neither do we know.

Well, in answer to my own questions...maybe he didn't quit and maybe he will be prosecuted...there's a new claim from 2008 (not rape, but drugging and sexual acts) which is still within the statute of limitations.

One of the past accusations involved a minor that may cause him some problems.

Is there no statute of limitations for such crimes against minors? If it's the one I'm thinking of with a 15 year old, it allegedly happened decades ago, so it would be very difficult to prosecute even if it's allowed.

ETA: I found the answer...the Los Angeles district attorney declined to file charges for the alleged assault on Judy Huth because the statute of limitations has expired.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0JU2EX20141216

He was one of the people I looked up to as a kid and I fondly remember 'Picture Pages". It saddens me but I have no reason to doubt these women.

It can be hard to come forward. Sometimes it's easier to stay silent if the accused is powerful/popular/famous. I know what it feels like to not be believed and it was in many ways worse than the incident itself.

Interesting. In Canada, there is no statute of limitations on sexual assault against a minor. It's not overly common to see a case prosecuted but they do happen.

40 years ago there really was no such thing as "date" rape. 20 years ago it was little know and very rarely punished. 4+ years on a college campus told me that along with a similar experience that happened to a friend. She was drugged and didn't press charges as she was not really sure what happened and would not go to the campus police as they were sure to cover it up. If a jock did something it really was hushed up. I lived in the sports dorm and saw many other stories that were gross abuse.

It was at a friends house party and everyone was so busy having fun/drunk they didn't notice what had happened right in the next room. That is pretty ballsy if you ask me. Yes she is/was a good girl, but very naïve and trusting, and it has caused long term damage.

Unfortunately, some girl have not been taught personal awareness or how to protect themselves from predators. I know her parents never gave her the talks. My parents never gave me the talks, but that was something I was told early on when in a group to never let my drink, even soda or water, out of my sight ever. How sad is that? It is not just girls that need to be taught how to protect themselves or treat the opposite sex. I was lucky, I don't trust easily my friend did.

Irate to sound harsh but I will because thus far trial in the media wether Ferguson or Bill Cosby seems books carry more weight than a true trial. We have a system it is our standard. I accept that man is imperfect as our laws too that is why I want jury nullification to return the law to the common people.

I want facts not bandwagon emotional mobs in rule.

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basketti
This is really too dumb to respond to, but okay