Bill Cosby: Sexually Violent Predator

Bill Cosby:  Sexually Violent Predator

I grant you that Bill Cosby is a “dirty old man” and deserves punishment.  BUT calling him a sexually violent predator is really an exaggeration.  His reputation has been (self) destroyed.  His life is close to being over....  he is clearly not a danger to anyone.

I am bothered by this designation because it diminishes the importance of using it for men who are predators – who seek out young girls and boys to rape.

We need to be careful that we don’t become “the boy who cried wolf” when we call someone names.

Bill Cosby is a creep – but a danger to others?  I doubt it.

Why do I care?   

Because I don’t want to see #METOO become a laughing stock or ignored because it has lumped all levels of harassment and abuse into one giant category. 

Recently, I was at a meeting where they were condemning someone for having used foul language, told dirty jokes and touched a woman on her knee.  There were a series of speakers – and each one said something stronger about this man than the one before her.  He went from being a creep, to a harasser, to a rapist, to a pervert to a pedophile.    The behaviors didn’t change – just the name-calling.

Although his behavior was inappropriate and he deserved to be admonished for it – and maybe even suspended, I don’t think he deserved this gross exaggeration of titltes.

Let us not make light of people who are pedophiles or rapists.

Harassment claims cost thousands of dollars

The headline reads:  Court council has paid $500K to settle sex claims!

And, these are supposed to be our leaders!

How much money are you willing to risk before you decide to offer your entire staff face-to-face training in proper workplace behavior?

Research shows that the standard on-line course in preventing sexual harassment – although meeting legal requirements – doesn’t change people’s attitudes or behavior.

So, do you want the cheapest solution?  Or one that helps people really understand the issues?

It’s about changing the office/factory/warehouse culture.  People need to understand that what they think is just kidding around is really offensive to others.  People need to understand that here in the USA we don’t condone any form of emotional or physical abuse of people.  No one has the right to harm another person.

What are you doing to make sure you don’t have to shell out hush-money?