# I don't need to wait for the results of a trial to make my own evaluation about the truth of a thing **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 10, 2017, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-to-wait-for-the-results-of-a-trial-to-make-my-own-evaluation-about-the-truth-of-a-thing/801232 "2017-11-10T19:21:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-to-wait-for-the-results-of-a-trial-to-make-my-own-evaluation-about-the-truth-of-a-thing/801232/1 "2017-11-10T19:21:21Z")
It is possible to come to reasonable conclusions about whether a thing has happened without being dependent upon a legal system to tell us one way or another. It is absolutely important, for the sake of individuals and society, to not jump blindly on bandwagons fueled by emotion. However, it seems like you can’t shake a stick at a story about sexual misconduct by men in positions of power without someone insisting that until/unless a jury or judge finds the person guilty, it is wrong to think that person did it. Today’s example: **tracer** [this thread about Louis CK](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=841300): > [@5 women accuse Louis CK of sexual misconduct](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-women-accuse-louis-ck-of-sexual-misconduct/801152/71): > > If more women start coming forward making the same accusation, just remember not to make the mistake of assuming that more accusers = he _must_ be guilty. > > This is a high-profile case. High-profile cases can, and do, attract people who weren’t involved, but who claim they were involved because it means more attention for them or makes them “special” in some way. The most obvious examples of this happened during the Salem witch trials, which were some of the highest-profile cases of their time. Each accusation needs to be evaluated on its own merits or lack thereof, and not assumed to be true because other people say the same thing happened to them. > > This has been a public service announcement. And [this thread about Kevin Spacey](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=841303): > [@Dear Hollywood: Can the actor, not the show. (Re; Sexual harassment.)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-hollywood-can-the-actor-not-the-show-re-sexual-harassment/801155/13): > > Just remember, at this point the allegations are just that: allegations. > > Yes, it’s true that Spacey has been acting very contrite since the accusations became public. This doesn’t necessarily mean he’s guilty. He may have done other, lesser things he’s not proud of, and the accusations are spurring him to come clean. > > The fact that multiple accusers have come forward since the original allegation became public only proves that this is a high-profile case that attracts attention, not that he’s “more guilty.” Just a few casual drop-ins on posts about sexual assault to remind us to not believe the accusers unless these cases go to court and the men are found guilty. Until that moment, it’s probably best to assume that the people claiming to have been victimized are lying. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-to-wait-for-the-results-of-a-trial-to-make-my-own-evaluation-about-the-truth-of-a-thing/801232/2 "2017-11-10T19:32:18Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Just a few casual drop-ins on posts about sexual assault to remind us to not believe the accusers unless these cases go to court and the men are found guilty. Until that moment, it’s probably best to assume that the people claiming to have been victimized are lying. To be crystal clear, because people are really obtuse on this particular point, you are being sarcastic here. Correct me if I am wrong. Pitting fully endorsed. ---
**Author:** ![Greathouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greathouse/32/2992_2.png) [@Greathouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greathouse)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-to-wait-for-the-results-of-a-trial-to-make-my-own-evaluation-about-the-truth-of-a-thing/801232/3 "2017-11-10T19:59:38Z")
Remember when people who posted to the pit put the effort, anger, and hurt into their posts? When you would read an OP in the pit and go “DAAAAYYYYYYMMMM!!!”? Pepperidge Farm remembers. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-to-wait-for-the-results-of-a-trial-to-make-my-own-evaluation-about-the-truth-of-a-thing/801232/4 "2017-11-10T20:08:51Z")
For those interested in the Louis CK “allegations”, [THIS](http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/10/entertainment/louis-ck-apology/index.html)is how to unreservedly apologize. If you’re a fan of Roy Moore though, feel free to continue to justify child rape by using the bible, or to attack the victims. That’s a strategy too, I guess. Morally reprehensible, disgusting and cowardly, but it’s a strategy nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-to-wait-for-the-results-of-a-trial-to-make-my-own-evaluation-about-the-truth-of-a-thing/801232/5 "2017-11-10T20:11:31Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > To be crystal clear, because people are really obtuse on this particular point, you are being sarcastic here. Correct me if I am wrong. > > Pitting fully endorsed. Absolutely sarcastic (sorry if that wasn’t completely obvious). ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-to-wait-for-the-results-of-a-trial-to-make-my-own-evaluation-about-the-truth-of-a-thing/801232/6 "2017-11-10T20:19:20Z")
> [@Greathouse](#): > > Remember when people who posted to the pit put the effort, anger, and hurt into their posts? When you would read an OP in the pit and go “DAAAAYYYYYYMMMM!!!”? > Pepperidge Farm remembers. Life is kind of exhausting, these days. Well pitted. ---
**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:** [November 11, 2017, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-to-wait-for-the-results-of-a-trial-to-make-my-own-evaluation-about-the-truth-of-a-thing/801232/7 "2017-11-11T00:26:38Z")
Honestly, to me, forcing that semi-comic outrage seems inappropriate for situations like this. Sure, if it comes to you and is therapeutic, fine. But actually trying to sit and figure out how to make your post into an entertaining rant? That seems better for things that don’t really matter. The AVGN-style rants work because the stakes are so small. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-to-wait-for-the-results-of-a-trial-to-make-my-own-evaluation-about-the-truth-of-a-thing/801232/8 "2017-11-12T01:12:26Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > For those interested in the Louis CK “allegations”, [THIS](http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/10/entertainment/louis-ck-apology/index.html)is how to unreservedly apologize. > > If you’re a fan of Roy Moore though, feel free to continue to justify child rape by using the bible, or to attack the victims. That’s a strategy too, I guess. Morally reprehensible, disgusting and cowardly, but it’s a strategy nonetheless. I’d never heard of Roy Moore before you mentioned him, but it seems a little ironic to assert “child rape” in a thread which pits the use of meaningless legal distinctions. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-to-wait-for-the-results-of-a-trial-to-make-my-own-evaluation-about-the-truth-of-a-thing/801232/9 "2017-11-12T15:21:12Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Just a few casual drop-ins on posts about sexual assault to remind us to not believe the accusers unless these cases go to court and the men are found guilty. Until that moment, it’s probably best to assume that the people claiming to have been victimized are lying. I’m not really against this pitting, but I will point out that most of the accusations have been outside the statute of limitations. There will be no trials, so all thats left is the citizens committies and the court of public opinion. I can’t speak to the UK, as what they concider a reasonable time to prosecute, but with their own scandals flapping in the breeze and going nowhere, I cannot see them extraditing Spacey for any Old Vic accusations. This is a real life Tale of Two cities going on, and its not going to be pretty. If things are so firmly entrenched in Hollywood then mob justice is the only way to get justice. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-to-wait-for-the-results-of-a-trial-to-make-my-own-evaluation-about-the-truth-of-a-thing/801232/10 "2017-11-12T16:00:27Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > I’d never heard of Roy Moore before you mentioned him, but it seems a little ironic to assert “child rape” in a thread which pits the use of meaningless legal distinctions. We are talking about an 8th grader. This isn’t some case of a young adult just below the statutory minimum.