# A lot of women are coming forward with rape accusations against Bill Cosby.. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 19, 2014, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093 "2014-11-19T17:48:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2015, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/261 "2015-12-18T22:43:16Z")
Pretty sure you gotta buy your own robe anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2015, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/262 "2015-12-18T23:21:32Z")
Cosby is sueing seven of his accusers for defamation. > **[Cosby sues 7 accusers for defamation, seeks damages and retractions | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/14/us/bill-cosby-sues-accusers/)** > > Bill Cosby has struck back against some of the dozens of women who've accused him of sexual assault. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/263 "2015-12-19T00:09:00Z")
> [@](#): > > “If anyone is surprised by Cosby’s actions today, they shouldn’t be,” Cammarata said. “He’s taken a page out of the defense attorney’s playbook in an effort to shift the focus of this legitimate inquiry. It is curious that he has filed a claim only against these seven women, when there are scores of other women who have made similar allegations of sexual abuse and assault against Mr. Cosby.” > > Cosby also denied he had sexually assaulted any of the seven women. He has not been charged with any crime. > > More than 40 women have come forward to publicly accuse Cosby, 78, of assaulting them over four decades, often saying he supplied them with drugs. Yep, these 7 bitches are _LYING!_ The other ones…not so much… ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/264 "2015-12-19T15:12:02Z")
Memo to Cosby: If one woman calls you a rapist, ignore her. If two women call you a rapist, it’s probably true. If three or more women call you a rapist, file a lawsuit. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/265 "2015-12-19T15:16:47Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Yep, these 7 bitches are _LYING!_ > > The other ones…not so much… I think this is the point Mr. Douchebag is missing. Only suing 7 of 30+ is like admitting the others are telling the truth. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2015, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/266 "2015-12-21T07:37:06Z")
Whatever happened to the presumption of innocence? Or doesn’t that apply to celebrities? The only people that know whether rapes occurred are the women involved and Cosby himself. A classic instance of ‘he said, she said’ with no supporting evidence that a crime took place at all. Even had the statute of limitations not made the whole thing academic I wouldn’t convict a dog on unsupported assertions. It’s over, let it go. And that applies to Cosby himself; he won’t get his reputation back even should he win his suits. The public have already convicted him after learnedly reading and inwardly digesting the lurid press reports. And from public opinion there is no appeal. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2015, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/267 "2015-12-21T08:41:32Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Whatever happened to the presumption of innocence? Or doesn’t that apply to celebrities? The only people that know whether rapes occurred are the women involved and Cosby himself. A classic instance of ‘he said, she said’ with no supporting evidence that a crime took place at all. Even had the statute of limitations not made the whole thing academic I wouldn’t convict a dog on unsupported assertions. > > It’s over, let it go. And that applies to Cosby himself; he won’t get his reputation back even should he win his suits. The public have already convicted him after learnedly reading and inwardly digesting the lurid press reports. And from public opinion there is no appeal. As I’m sure you’ve been told hundreds of times, the presumption of innocence is a legal concept. It exists to make sure no one is falsely imprisoned, as it is better for 100 guilty to go free than for 1 innocent person to be incarcerated. This is not he said/she said. For one thing, there are a hell of a lot of shes. For another, he’s constantly been cagey in his denials, never putting out a flat denial. Hell, in the leaked civil suit, he flat out said he drugged the women, and that he was unsure if they consented. That’s rape, right there. No one presumes innocence when someone has been accused of something by 40+ independent witnesses. Celebrity is actually what helps Cosby–it’s the only reason why there are still people who think he didn’t do it. And you full well know why this was brought up again–because there is new information–the information about the people he is suing. You even talk about it in your post. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2015, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/268 "2015-12-22T23:21:18Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > As I’m sure you’ve been told hundreds of times, the presumption of innocence is a legal concept. It exists to make sure no one is falsely imprisoned, as it is better for 100 guilty to go free than for 1 innocent person to be incarcerated. > > This is not he said/she said. For one thing, there are a hell of a lot of shes. For another, he’s constantly been cagey in his denials, never putting out a flat denial. Hell, in the leaked civil suit, he flat out said he drugged the women, and that he was unsure if they consented. That’s rape, right there. > > No one presumes innocence when someone has been accused of something by 40+ independent witnesses. Celebrity is actually what helps Cosby–it’s the only reason why there are still people who think he didn’t do it. > > And you full well know why this was brought up again–because there is new information–the information about the people he is suing. You even talk about it in your post. Now you’re just being schlonged. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/269 "2015-12-23T00:41:35Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > As I’m sure you’ve been told hundreds of times, the presumption of innocence is a legal concept. It exists to make sure no one is falsely imprisoned, as it is better for 100 guilty to go free than for 1 innocent person to be incarcerated. That’s true, but we should probably learn something from the justice system. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/270 "2015-12-23T00:52:25Z")
The justice system is not designed to be a universal arbiter for what is truth, what is fact, and what is knowledge. It would be foolish to pretend that it is. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/271 "2015-12-23T11:14:43Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > That’s true, but we should probably learn something from the justice system. Lockdown! ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ac8455/32.png) [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Great_Darsh_Face)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/272 "2015-12-23T12:00:46Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I think this is the point Mr. Douchebag is missing. Only suing 7 of 30+ is like admitting the others are telling the truth. It is? Because I would imagine that in civil, as in criminal, proceedings, you only go into court when you figure you have the necessary ammunition to win. So if Cosby’s lawyers have advised him to proceed with seven cases, I suppose they think those are the seven most immediately winnable. Or can I take it that, because none of these accusations have actually led to Cosby being hauled into court, it’s like admitting that none of them is true? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/273 "2015-12-23T15:40:37Z")
> [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](#): > > It is? > > Because I would imagine that in civil, as in criminal, proceedings, you only go into court when you figure you have the necessary ammunition to win. So if Cosby’s lawyers have advised him to proceed with seven cases, I suppose they think those are the seven most immediately winnable. Well, no shit. But it very certainly \*does \*provide the impression that the rest of the women are either not lying or cannot be proved to be lying. The Coz is fighting a PR war, a battle of public perception. He feels he needs a victory here; if he can win in court against one or more of these seven, then he has damaged the entire “Coz is a rapist” narrative. If he does not, he’s pretty much finished. It’s an unpleasant gamble, but I get why he would make it. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/274 "2015-12-23T16:08:02Z")
> [@andros](#): > > The Coz is fighting a PR war, a battle of public perception. He feels he needs a victory here; if he can win in court against one or more of these seven, then he has damaged the entire “Coz is a rapist” narrative. If he does not, he’s pretty much finished. It’s an unpleasant gamble, but I get why he would make it. Well, no shit. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/275 "2015-12-23T16:11:34Z")
> [@andros](#): > > But it very certainly \*does \*provide the impression that the rest of the women are either not lying or cannot be proved to be lying. My impression is that they feel they can’t prove the other women are lying. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/276 "2015-12-23T17:23:25Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Well, no shit. Inorite? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/277 "2015-12-23T17:57:09Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > My impression is that they feel they can’t prove the other women are lying. If I am not mistaken, he doesn’t have to. All he has to show is that they said it to 3rd party in some way. He _might_ have to show that it cost him something. That’s defamation. Then the women would have to show that their statements are true. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_of\_Words](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@Jack\_of\_Words](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_of_Words)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/278 "2015-12-23T20:25:23Z")
> [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](#): > > […] > Because I would imagine that in civil, as in criminal, proceedings, you only go into court when you figure you have the necessary ammunition to win. So if Cosby’s lawyers have advised him to proceed with seven cases, I suppose they think those are the seven most immediately winnable.[…] If the lawyers are sufficiently confident that they can win on those seven cases, let’s suppose that those seven women _are_ drug-whore starfuckers who sniff a payout. No, that’s not misogyny, not all women are drug-whore starfuckers - but not all of them are saintly virgins either. Whores exist, in many forms, and plenty of people of any gender want to fuck stars (and/or get in on a potentially lucrative payout). To suppose that there might be seven such women in the world (or, indeed, in Hollywood) is hardly a slur on women generally. It may be a slur on Hollywood - let’s see the entertainment industry sue for defamation 😉 That, of course, doesn’t mean that the other women are DWSFs. But 40 isn’t such an unlikely number. By my back of an envelope calculation, it’s 0.000025 of the female population of the US. By contrast, about 1% of the population are schizophrenic, so that’s about 0.5% (over one and a half million) of the female population - and that’s not misogyny either, is it? I bet I could find forty female schizophrenics who think Bill Crosby is a lizard alien who is stalking them and controlling their thoughts. Who wants to bang him up for that too? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/279 "2015-12-23T20:35:40Z")
You are an astoundingly special snowflake, **Jack**. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093/280 "2015-12-23T21:03:59Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > If I am not mistaken, he doesn’t have to. All he has to show is that they said it to 3rd party in some way. He _might_ have to show that it cost him something. That’s defamation. Then the women would have to show that their statements are true. This is broadly correct. He probably doesn’t have to show that it cost him anything, either; accusations of criminal acts are defamatory _per se_ (meaning they are so obviously bad for the reputation that no harm has to be proven). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-lot-of-women-are-coming-forward-with-rape-accusations-against-bill-cosby/705093.md?page=15)