# 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:** 24
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/461 "2014-11-27T01:42:47Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I keep expecting some day to see a post of yours that doesn’t aggressively insult someone. > > I’m about to give up hope. > P.S. - Aren’t you the guy who used to keep swearing he wasn’t going to engage me anymore only to keep coming back thread after thread and doing exactly that? > > And aren’t you the guy who left the board after having been suspended, swearing you wouldn’t come back as long as a certain mod was still here? > > And yet here you are, and so is the mod? > > And aren’t you the guy who once said to **Bricker** (IIRC) that I was dishonest but wasn’t aware of it? 😃 😃 😃 > > If I were **CinnamonBabka** , your opinion of my thinking would be pretty much the same as worthless. Yawn. I’m sure people around here can make up their own minds about yours and my relative levels of rationality and honesty and integrity. I said i was not going to engage you as a rational and honest person, and here i am keeping that promise. If you’ll excuse me, i’m down to the last of my toilet paper, and need to go change the tube out. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/462 "2014-11-27T02:11:02Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Yawn. > > I’m sure people around here can make up their own minds about yours and my relative levels of rationality and honesty and integrity. I said i was not going to engage you as a rational and honest person, and here i am keeping that promise. Hah! I recall no such qualifications at the time. I do however recall many self-recriminations over your continuing inability to let me have my say unchallenged. IIRC, you were fearful that my arguments were so compelling that to allow them to stand unchallenged might result in someone taking them to heart. I distinctly remember being amused at that because you didn’t seem to realize that in doing so you were actually paying me a compliment. 😃 At any rate, I guess now I’ll have to add [checks forum]…hmm, let’s say ‘disingenuousness’ to my rather lengthy list of your shortcomings. > [@mhendo](#): > > If you’ll excuse me, i’m down to the last of my toilet paper, and need to go change the tube out. Certainly! Allowing you to bail is something I’m always happy to do. Enjoy your tube play. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/463 "2014-11-27T02:14:55Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Who said it’s only coming out now? Many of these women were “Jane Does” in a lawsuit eight to ten years ago and are simply reiterating now what they said then. > > Which is one of the reasons that some of us are skeptical as perhaps by joining in on the lawsuit they were expecting or hoping for some form of settlement. Which they may also be doing now. > > On the other hand, they may have been telling the truth then, and they may be telling the truth now. > > But none of us know for sure which it is, and therein lies the rub. Some of us are making a judgment based on the accusations so far that it’s more likely than not that some of the accusers are telling the truth. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/464 "2014-11-27T02:27:51Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Hah! I recall no such qualifications at the time. > > I do however recall many self-recriminations over your continuing inability to let me have my say unchallenged. IIRC, you were fearful that my arguments were so compelling that to allow them to stand unchallenged might result in someone taking them to heart. I distinctly remember being amused at that because you didn’t seem to realize that in doing so you were actually paying me a compliment. 😃 “IIRC” should be your signature, given how often it substitutes for evidence and analysis in your posts. As usual, you rely on nothing more than your selective and fundamentally faulty memory and end up being wrong. Again. For the umpteenth time. I could demonstrate just how wrong you are, but quoting the relevant posts would violate the rules of this forum. And now i’m done with you. I’ve gone months before today without addressing you directly, and i think my life is better for it. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/465 "2014-11-27T02:40:40Z")
Le snore. (Pardon my French.) As with Cosby’s alleged ‘victims’, you offer no substantiation for your allegations. This comes as no surprise to me as substantiation doesn’t exist. You’ve often accused me of dishonesty and been left holding an empty sack when challenged to prove it. I’m sure the same would be the case were I to challenge you to prove my memory is wrong regarding your inability to keep your word. (And I’m not buying the forum dodge, as being in this forum certainly hasn’t kept you from insulting both me and at least one other poster when we’d said nothing at all to you.) I look forward to your being done with me. But I’m not holding my breath. ---
**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 27, 2014, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/466 "2014-11-27T12:50:21Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > If Cosby ever goes to prison—there’s almost no chance that he will ever face criminal charges unless something much more recent comes to light—it will not be just because Janice Dickinson held a grudge for nine years. Maybe history will repeat itself and he will be convicted of armed robbery in a hotel room, trying to get back some comedy award. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/467 "2014-11-27T18:45:46Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Maybe history will repeat itself and he will be convicted of armed robbery in a hotel room, trying to get back some comedy award. After publishing a book called “If I did them” ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/468 "2014-11-27T18:55:35Z")
I posted this in the Pit thread and may as well post it here too in case somebody here knows the answer: What I’m curious about is how all the Jane Does happened to be found 10 years ago in order to offer supporting testimony in regard to Constand’s lawsuit. Did the lawyers run ads asking anyone who’d been assaulted by Cosby to come forward or what? In other words, how did this disparate group of women scattered all over the country know to come forward with their stories all at the same time and for the same reason? I’m thinking that in some way or another they may have come forth in order to participate in what they may well have figured might be a hefty payday resulting from the lawsuit. At least a couple of them had a history of having things paid for by Cosby years before and over a period of some time. I’m also curious as to whether they received any money as a result of the settlement. The answer to those questions would have quite a bearing on my opinion as to whether they’re being truthful or mercenary. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/469 "2014-11-27T20:03:43Z")
I’ll post my answer to **SA** ’s question from the Pit thread here as well: > [@Enough from the defenders of rapists already](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enough-from-the-defenders-of-rapists-already/705392/228): > > That’s what good lawyers (and their PIs) do. That’s kind of a massive part of their job. Ask people who know people who know people. Most of these women probably knew other women with similar stories. Most likely, a significant number of the women with similar experiences were not interested in the lawsuit, having put it behind them with no interest in resurrecting it. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/470 "2014-11-29T04:44:38Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > I’m one of the many people who really doesn’t want to believe these charges. I like living in a world that has an admirable, likable Bill Cosby in it. And I really liked living in a world where Stephen Collins was a good person. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/471 "2014-11-29T16:21:34Z")
FYI, here’s a link that summarizes the 19 women’s accounts. > **[60 Bill Cosby Accusers: Complete Breakdown of the Accusations](https://www.thewrap.com/60-bill-cosby-accusers-complete-list-breakdown-guilty/)** > > TheWrap offers a comprehensive list of alleged victims of the comedian ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/472 "2014-11-30T07:48:04Z")
Frankly I think Hollywood and quite a bit of theacting industry is one big sewer where this kind of stuff is accepted and behavior tolerated that in any other copany would get a person fired. I mean, where else but in Hollywood do people screw their way to the top? And it’s been like that since the beginning if reading the book “Hollywood Babylon” is a good guide. For example Bob Hope, a man and actor I always admired, had sex with hundreds of women over the years. The reason he couldnt have children was because he caught a veneral disease back in the 1920’s. One of the great movies “The Wizard of Oz” thought to be so family friendly. Seventeen year old actress Judy Garland had to allow different directors to feel her up and was pushed to do so by her own mother and which probably lead to a lifetime of problems. But then your talking about an industry where easily 2/3 or more of even top actors are unemployed at any given time and there are always fresh faces wanting to break into the business. I remember a girl from my high school who was a local top star who went out there hoping to wait tables and make it big but even she eventually had to leave. The joke goes “How many actors does it take to screw in a lightbulb?” Answer - only one. But there are 99 others standing around going “I can do that”. So as much as I’d like to slam Bill Cosby, I cant ignore the fact that he’s only doing what others have done in his business and until that’s changed there will be more cases like this. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/473 "2014-11-30T09:00:30Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Frankly I think Hollywood and quite a bit of theacting industry is one big sewer where this kind of stuff is accepted and behavior tolerated that in any other copany would get a person fired. I mean, where else but in Hollywood do people screw their way to the top? > > And it’s been like that since the beginning if reading the book “Hollywood Babylon” is a good guide. > > For example Bob Hope, a man and actor I always admired, had sex with hundreds of women over the years. The reason he couldnt have children was because he caught a veneral disease back in the 1920’s. > > One of the great movies “The Wizard of Oz” thought to be so family friendly. Seventeen year old actress Judy Garland had to allow different directors to feel her up and was pushed to do so by her own mother and which probably lead to a lifetime of problems. > > But then your talking about an industry where easily 2/3 or more of even top actors are unemployed at any given time and there are always fresh faces wanting to break into the business. I remember a girl from my high school who was a local top star who went out there hoping to wait tables and make it big but even she eventually had to leave. > > The joke goes “How many actors does it take to screw in a lightbulb?” Answer - only one. But there are 99 others standing around going “I can do that”. > > So as much as I’d like to slam Bill Cosby, I cant ignore the fact that he’s only doing what others have done in his business and until that’s changed there will be more cases like this. No. No. I don’t think that many in any business drug and rape women. He’s not being accused of using his power in Hollywood to have consensual sex with women, he’s being accused of forcing them against their will, often with the help of date rape drugs. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/474 "2014-11-30T11:00:25Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > No. No. I don’t think that many in any business drug and rape women. He’s not being accused of using his power in Hollywood to have consensual sex with women, he’s being accused of forcing them against their will, often with the help of date rape drugs. True. He was a rapist but part of the reason the women didnt report it was because they thought it would hurt their careers. AND the reason many reporters didnt report it when they knew about it was because they were afraid of him being such an icon and writing a story which exposed that sweet Dr. Huxtable as a rapist would have killed their careers. Finally you know many top people working around Cosby knew what he was and kept quiet. I wouldnt be surprised that soon it will come out that even the top tv executives and the jello pudding pops people knew about it also. Just look how 50 years ago people were stunned to find out that tv game shows were rigged and they found out that it was a conspiracy from both the tv producers and the commercial sponsors. In a way the women never really had a chance. So still, I say that if it wasnt for the corrupt and illicit culture that is Hollywood I dont think he would have gotten away with it and Cosby would definitely have been arrested. Yes, sometimes company CEO’s, sports celebrities, and politicians do some of this but never to this extent. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/475 "2014-11-30T14:27:28Z")
It does not seem coincidental that Ray Rice punched the hell out of his wife for all the world to see and just got a Get Out Of Responsibility Card from the NFL. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/476 "2014-12-01T23:46:22Z")
he is off the Temple University board. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/477 "2014-12-02T10:30:47Z")
On the other hand, [Spelman College isn’t giving back one single penny. Nor are they interested in DIS-honoring the Cosbys in any way.](http://www.spelman.edu/academics/faculty/cosby-chairs) The college has granted _both_ Cosbys honorary Doctorates. The power of money. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/478 "2014-12-02T10:41:27Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > On the other hand, [Spelman College isn’t giving back one single penny. Nor are they interested in DIS-honoring the Cosbys in any way.](http://www.spelman.edu/academics/faculty/cosby-chairs) The college has granted _both_ Cosbys honorary Doctorates. > > The power of money. What, in your opinion should they be doing? Especially given that at this point: a) there are only unproven accusations that are never going to see the inside of a court-room b) the donation was made more than 20 years ago And indeed the power of money - isn’t it a pretty time honoured tradition that large donations are appreciated in exactly this manner? ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/479 "2014-12-02T12:34:26Z")
Doing? Nothing. Just pointing out one well-funded aspect of a story that has been overlooked. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075/480 "2014-12-02T16:21:30Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Doing? > Nothing. Just pointing out one well-funded aspect of a story that has been overlooked. What’s been overlooked? How does your observation about Spelman College advance our understanding of anything? If you don’t think the college should be doing anything, what was the point of bringing it up? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-talk-about-bill-cosby/705075.md?page=25)