# Can we talk about Bill Cosby? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 19, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075 "2014-11-19T15:24:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/301 "2014-11-22T14:59:18Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Live witness testimony from a prosecuting witness is evidence. Your notion that the statements of 16 women (we are up to 16 now, aren’t we) is evidence. A jury can and does convict on sexual assault charges on the basis of one and only one. Then the jury is a bunch of morons. With nothing but _unsubstantiated_ (I trust you’re familiar with that word) accusations, all you have is air. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/302 "2014-11-22T15:09:00Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > That post of yours is a load. What kind of proof? Well, something that would be admissible in a court of law would be nice. And, no, I won’t forget criminal charges. I’ve been falsely accused of a serious crime so I take things like false accusations seriously. Luckily for me, my commanding officer was a bit of a stickler for logic and the idea that it’s impossible to be two places at one time. > > You can infer any damn thing you want, but that doesn’t mean I said or implied what you are pretending. The universe of good and bad acts and good and bad people is not defined exclusively by the criminal law. That’s not its purpose or its capability. Admissibility in a court of law is not the definition of truth. If you are limiting yourself to that world, then, yes, you are willing to give bad men a pass. And if you are willing to discount what people say simply because someone once lied about you, then, yes, you are telling a lot of people that the real harm they suffered doesn’t matter or didn’t happen. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/303 "2014-11-22T15:10:22Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Then the jury is a bunch of morons. With nothing but _unsubstantiated_ (I trust you’re familiar with that word) accusations, all you have is air. Unfortunately, rapists seldom ply their trade in front of a TV crew and a notary public. The jury is the finder of fact. They are absolutely entitled to weigh the credibility of the witness and decide she’s telling the truth. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/304 "2014-11-22T15:12:33Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Then the jury is a bunch of morons. With nothing but _unsubstantiated_ (I trust you’re familiar with that word) accusations, all you have is air. People have the right to be believed if they are believable. Testimony IS evidence. It’s perfectly good evidence. What is substantiation to you? An admission? A recording? DNA evidence? Multiple witnesses? You don’t think that these things always exist whenever someone has done something wrong, do you? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/305 "2014-11-22T15:13:59Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > By the time I had heard this about a year ago it was already 10 or so women. I hear there were two more on Friday. So far. It’s like déjà vu. But does Cosby still snatch 'em young? ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/306 "2014-11-22T15:27:42Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > So far. It’s like déjà vu. But does Cosby still snatch 'em young? Snatch’em Young? Isn’t that Brigham Young’s son? ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/307 "2014-11-22T15:49:52Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > What would that prove? That he failed to rape _every_ woman he met? It wouldn’t _prove_ anything, but I’d find it very telling that, after his extremely long and varied career and the however many hundreds (or more) women that he’s undoubtedly worked with, that _not many_ would be willing to give him a good character reference. How odd, especially considering his “beloved” public persona. So, what would that say to me? That his nasty ass behavior is another of those “best kept / hiding in plain sight” type secrets that rich and powerful people seem to be so talented at. > [@kayT](#): > > No, what is fucked up is waiting until the statute of limitations has run out to make an accusation that the accused has no way to defend against, because the evidence is long gone. Do you really think that’s what happened here? Instead of the allegations coming to the fore again due to another (male) comedian bringing them to light? > [@handsomeharry](#): > > I couldn’t believe the testimony of anybody who considers their agent or therapist an ‘authority figure’ in a criminal matter. For this alone, I would have to say that there is no evidence against Cos. I can’t believe I’d ever lend any credence to a HH post anyway, but Jesus, let me see if I’ve gotten this straight now… We can’t believe _any_ of these women because? 1. They’re attention whoring, even the anonymous ones. 2. They’re after money, even though there’s nothing to be gained due to the fact that the statute of limitations has passed. 3. Some claims look obviously false and like bandwagon jumping, so therefore none of them can be real. 4. Too much time has passed and therefore there’s nothing to prove corroboration. So like in all those abuse cases with priests and little boys. Oh wait. 5. The nature of some of the claims makes them invalid. We know no one can be raped if she “asked” for her situation first by being drunk, looking to forward her career, dealing with her abuser again, etc. No one has ever heard or understood concepts similar to Battered Woman / Stockholm Syndrome, how domestic violence victims think, shame, the era which some of these took place in, power, prestige, money, etc. What a [del]deluded[/del] sheltered life some must lead! 6. Because it’s a public lynching! But it’s not. Only bad karma on the interwebs. Which is beyond awful! And totally not fair for just a rapist, right? Certainly not when these women meat criteria 1 - 5. 7. And finally, we now can add that, for the allegations that others can point to as validation that some of these women did indeed tell people at the time what was going on (poo-pooing that _no one!_ said anything at the time), they can’t be taken as fact because, drum roll, please!, they didn’t tell the _right_ people. Bonus points for none of this possibly ever needing to have happened due to the fact that our wonderful Cos was already probably rolling in too much 'tang (amirite, macho men?) to make it a necessity. That’s what all that privilege will buy for ya! Duh, of course. Why didn’t I see it sooner? Conclusion? They ARE all lying. Over time, all these women have found each other, gotten all their stories on the same page, and have now come forward, bravely, and will soon attempt to gain from their injurious bullshit. Poor, poor Bill. My heart breaks for the railroading that’s being done to his pristine character. ---
**Author:** ![Clarisse\_McClellan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Clarisse\_McClellan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarisse_McClellan)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/308 "2014-11-22T16:51:58Z")
Actress sharesher experience with Bill Cosby. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/309 "2014-11-22T17:02:48Z")
I feel awful for Norm Crosby. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Club\_33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Club\_33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Club_33)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/310 "2014-11-22T17:28:27Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Testimony IS evidence. It’s perfectly good evidence. When it is given under oath, not to a reporter. ---
**Author:** ![JesterX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@JesterX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JesterX)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/311 "2014-11-22T17:43:42Z")
> [@Clarisse\_McClellan](#): > > Actress sharesher experience with Bill Cosby. Her account seemed very credible. What is a “stand in” actress? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/312 "2014-11-22T17:53:31Z")
A “stand in” is a person who takes the place of the actor or actress while a scene is being lighted and blocked by the film crew. They are referred to on a set as the second team. ---
**Author:** ![JesterX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@JesterX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JesterX)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/313 "2014-11-22T17:57:05Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](#): > > A “stand in” is a person who takes the place of the actor or actress while a scene is being lighted and blocked by the film crew. They are referred to on a set as the second team. Ahh, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/314 "2014-11-22T17:59:42Z")
> [@Club\_33](#): > > > [@Acsenray](#): > > > > Testimony IS evidence. It’s perfectly good evidence. > > When it is given under oath, not to a reporter. So you never believe anything anyone says, except under oath? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/315 "2014-11-22T18:08:41Z")
To be clear, there are two lines of debate on “evidence” going on here, which **Club 33** and others have occasionally crossed up: (1) whether testimony uncorroborated by physical evidence is admissible and possibly compelling “evidence” in the context of court proceedings– **The Second Stone** and **Bricker** confirm that it is–obviously this _would_ be under oath; and (2) whether informal “testimony,” assertions outside any court proceeding, such as to reporters, has any bearing whatever in individuals’ assessing the likely state of reality–I am arguing that 100% of everybody makes such assessments and acts on them every day. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/316 "2014-11-22T18:20:47Z")
Right, we all pass judgment on the credibility of sources virtually every day. And we do not always demand a court’s standard of proof. I can see how people may say that when the accusation is on the scale of rape the standard should be the same as a court – that’s a debatable position. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/317 "2014-11-22T18:45:38Z")
Does an accuser need to specify which day or week the attack occurred, or would “It happened one day in 1977” (hypothetical) be enough? Because with vague dates or no dates, the accused can’t give an alibi. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/318 "2014-11-22T19:42:34Z")
[Therese Serignese](http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/2020-florida-nurse-accuses-bill-cosby-sexual-assault-27097668) was on 20/20 last night. She’s the accuser that claims he handed her a couple pills and saying “_here, take these_”. She continued seeing him over a period of years. She was seriously injured in a car accident in the 1990s, Cosby’s agent sent her a check for $5,000. I’m surprised the most obvious explanation hasn’t been brought up. No one just hands someone a date rape knockout drug. Cosby was giving her some kind of party drug to intensify and enhance the experience. She even says in the interview that she wasn’t knocked out. That’s been common since the swinging drug fueled 60’s. Younger people still do it today using modern drugs like Molly (MDMA).[The final day of the 2013 Electric Zoo Music Festival was cancelled](http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/01/us/new-york-music-festival-canceled/) after two deaths and several OD’s. Young people think this drug enhances and intensifies their feelings listening to music, dancing, having sex etc. It’s dangerous but nothing new. Handing out pills for some swinging sex still doesn’t fit Cosby’s clean cut, loveable image. But Robert Culp and Cosby were a big part of the swinging 60’s culture. I Spy made them cool and hip people to fans in that era. It seems likely they attended their share of those drug fueled parties. They were both young and athletic. Played tennis and attracted a lot of fan attention. Cosby didn’t reinvent himself as loveable Dr Huxtable for another 20 years. imho, in this one case I don’t see it as a drug rape. Unless we are prepared to claim the same thing against all the other drug fueled parties that end in sex too. The young people dropping drugs at Woodstock were no different then todays young people at their music festivals and private get togethers. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/319 "2014-11-22T19:57:10Z")
Its still disappointing to think of Cosby in these terms. I grew up watching Fat Albert and old reruns of I Spy. Watched the Cosby HBO specials. Love the guy. Its sad to see him destroyed like this. I still feel some of these allegations are opportunistic. Some were probably drug fueled get togethers. It can’t be proved but some of these cases may have crossed a line into actual rape. We just don’t know the exact circumstances decades later. If anything it does make us think about the legacy of the sixties. Drugs, Sex and Rock N Roll. We don’t feel comfortable thinking rape is part of that too. It is. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/320 "2014-11-22T20:30:19Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > If anything it does make us think about the legacy of the sixties. Drugs, Sex and Rock N Roll. Yeah, go ahead, blame the Boomers. Just because you had less non-rapey fun than we did… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075.md?page=17)