The Good The Bad and the Ugly

The Good The Bad and The Ugly
by
ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D.

#MeToo is doing an enormous amount of good in highlighting what had been on-going and unreported abusive behavior.  No longer will management upon getting a complaint get away with saying “boys will be boys” and “just suck it up.”  No longer will young girls be abused – indeed raped – by those they were taught to trust and respect.  That’s the good.

The Bad – the pendulum has swung too far and every tiny little piece of silliness is being equated with serious abuse and they are all being lumped into one category.  People’s jobs and reputations are being ruined.  Too, we are minimizing the seriousness of serious abuse by lumping clumsy attempts at friendliness or teasing in with them.

The Ugly – this accusation has become a political weapon.  All you have to do is accuse someone and they lose their political clout (and votes) whether running for office or a member of the management team in a company or government office.  We no longer presume innocent until proven guilty.  The accused is painted with the Scarlet Letter.

Just claim discrimination many years ago

Just claim discrimination!

WOW – it seems that the latest scam is to claim that many many you were fired due to discrimination, and you want to sue and be compensated for it now.

Well, I was fired many years ago because I wouldn’t accept my boss’s invitation to sleep with him – actually I laughed in his face.  But I, like many others who are or were competent just shrugged it off and got another (and better in my case) job the next day.

NOW, that doesn’t mean that I think all people are capable of shrugging it off and getting a new job.  I absolutely believe in the importance of those of us with more resources (as I recall, I was still living in my parents’ home) helping to stop the exploitation of those more vulnerable. 

But, what bothers me is the political football crying I was harassed, abused or discriminated against has become.  How can we go back many years ago to determine if the complaint is true or false.  Obviously we can’t.  That’s what makes this trend so dangerous.

Innocent until proven guilty.  Due Process.  Have they all flown out the window?  Can anyone make an accusation and have it automatically believed?  I hope not.