General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Al Franken flap has produced a good thing.
It has raised to the forefront the idiocy of "zero tolerance" and "the default should be to believe the woman." Faced with putting these ideas into action in all cases has made DUers (and, I hope thousands/millions) of other people realize that "Zero tolerance is zero common sense." (Another poster). I'm not saying the accusers are lying. Dunno. I'm just saying get real. Don't put sex in some sort of Victorian/Puritan magical category. Care about the environment and the poor and our health care!
janterry
(4,429 posts)It should be, I respect and listen to women.
I respect and listen to all women who make allegations. But as a reasonable person, I wait until the facts are in to make a determination about credibility. To do otherwise, is foolish
uponit7771
(90,335 posts)zaj
(3,433 posts)Puritanical restrictions are also about power.
The question is, did Franken abuse his power. Clearly others have and it's possible Franken has been doing that as well.
But I'm not sure if that's even being claimed by some of those reporting inappropriate behavior.
But the focus shouldn't be on *sex* but on *abuse of power*.
bagelsforbreakfast
(1,427 posts)Tommy_Carcetti
(43,174 posts)I.e., it shouldn't be considered a joking matter to anyone and is something that needs to be investigated. But it shouldn't necessarily be taken at face value, either.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)eppur_se_muova
(36,260 posts)Anyone making such a STUPID assumption fully deserves it.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)That was the point of my question.
LAS14
(13,783 posts)dsc
(52,157 posts)investigate the charges, and determine what actually happened to the best of our abilities using the same standards we use in other investigations. We are able to do this in other aspects of our lives without that much difficulty.
Pacifist Patriot
(24,653 posts)Why can't the default be "assume all situations are not identical so a responsible investigation is warranted?" Then take the woman seriously (with both respect and skepticism in balance) and get to the bottom of it. I don't want to be automatically believed or thought a liar. I'd like to be treated like an adult deserving of my unique circumstances being addressed as such.
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)When I saw the phrase "zero tolerance" being used in connection with Franken, I thought, "And how has that worked out in schools?" We've had a lot of moronic decisions made about students based on zero tolerance, more than enough to realize the policy makes zero sense. Yet we are applying it to Congress?! I guess if the rethugs can have their trickle down economics then we can have our zero tolerance. I just wish we had chosen another failed idea that actually served our needs the way the rethugs did.
delisen
(6,042 posts)There is something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear.........but it sure as hell is troubling.
Bengus81
(6,931 posts)Franken....eh,nah we just need him out of sight,out of mind ASAP..........
delisen
(6,042 posts)who see the clear and present danger.
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,710 posts)The DU jury system where we adjudicate whether a post is to be removed or not without knowing the author has a kind of merit.
BannonsLiver
(16,370 posts)Gillibrand, Booker, Harris, Moulton, Warren have been eliminated.
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)magical or not, as others have said. And you do everyone, including yourself, a terrible disservice by conflating sex with sexual harassment and assault. Those are control over and violence against women sexualized.