Cosby Show

[MegoSteve]

It's more like 15-18 women by now. Totally disgusting.

The victim blaming in here is disheartening, but it's perfect evidence why women won't come forward when this kind of thing happens.

[Gorn Captain]

What is worrying, is how so many icons of virtue from TV have fallen lately.
Take the UK, for example. Kids TV presenters Saville and Harris have both been found guilty of being child molesters. Saville's sins came out just after he died (how convenient), Harris is now in prison. Man, we're living in sad time...

[MIB41]

I think something that should be clear is that many of these people have no specific "memory" of anything happening. So when folks start doing a count of supposed "victims", there needs to be some rationale as to who can confirm such a thing while others are just publicly speculating because of this popular cattle call from the media to uncover possible dirt on a story that has found traction. This suggestion that Bill Cosby has been using his public image to cover up some kind of sadistic sexual craving seems very hard to believe because such a disorder would find victims within the prosecution window. That's not a phase people grow out of. If he had truly spent decades using his image to conceal this kind of deviant behavior, he would be comfortable in his pattern and have scores of people within the prosecution window to bring him down. I'm not a big Cosby fan either. I watched Fat Albert when I was a kid; liked two of his comedy records as a teenager; but never watched his television show most people associate him with. I just believe this kind of serial behavior would be present in the past 20 years to prosecute him.

And yes, anytime someone comes forward to say, "I'm a victim", there should be some ownership to prove that. We're suppose to be a society that weighs the merits of evidence, not lean on stereotypes to determine justice. Am I suppose to stick my head in the sand and think Bill Cosby is "evil" because he is a popular male celebrity or because these victims are women? Is this about labels or about uncovering the truth? If it's THAT obvious, then evidence will be found in recent victims. The advantage is certainly in their favor to come forward. If that occurs, then it would at least play to that model of someone having a pattern of behavior. Then I would start to look at it as more feasible. But all of these people getting the spotlight to suggest they might have been compromised decades ago? I have a huge problem with that. If I truly thought something might have happen to me, I wouldn't wait 30 years to talk about it or come forward in the media to speculate on it if I'm not sure. That to me is someone looking to influence public opinion, not seek justice.

[Werewolf]

After watching this I can see how 18-ish year old girls could be manipulated and confused.

Before siding in with Coz, imagine it could be your daughter.

The whole "why now?" and "Why when others are coming forward" thing is absurd. That's the weakest line of logic ever. But studies show that women who are assaulted are afraid, embarrassed or unable to come forward for a myriad of reasons. Many DID come forward years ago. Some accepted a payoff, while others were ignored or pushed aside for trying to defame the great Bill Cosby.

No one would believe that America's TV dad, the sweetest, clean comedian, the guy who taught us to love Puddin' Pops, could possibly be raping women. It's like getting raped by Walt Disney. No one is going to believe you if you come forward.

It's more like 15-18 women by now. Totally disgusting.

The victim blaming in here is disheartening, but it's perfect evidence why women won't come forward when this kind of thing happens.

Very well said.

[Confessional]

It's wishful thinking to believe the judicial system can effectively wrap everything up for us with a nice bow on top, now or ever before. This truth lies in the countless victims who've never found nor have been granted *justice*, as well as those who have been falsely accused and grossly convicted, across our short American history. Not to mention those that seek fame and fortune at the degradation of others on each side of the proverbial fence.

As I understand it, there are now consistent (in similar recount) accusations spanning 30 years. Several of these women did in fact make attempts to bring their accounts to light, some even consulting with lawyers and law enforcement. Cosby also has a documented affair and private civic settlement in his track record. With several accounts coming from the late 1960's and '70's, it's easy for us to disconnect from the drug-laden partying and discrimination of the era. In addition, there seems to be significant accounts from inside of Hollywood elite, the Playboy Mansion and the comedic subculture who have known and have been snickering about his behavior for decades. This is supporting a summation, once in private, and now in the more public realm.

Sometimes the only way to seek and find justice is to influence the public opinion first, regardless of what the judiciary does or does not do. Often the only justice granted is shame and regret. Our American history and its popular culture is filled with such noble causes that did just this. Those moments are often ugly and uncomfortable for us to deal with, even in our modern [sic] era.

We'll all make up our own minds in due time, but it's unlikely to be an easy-to-read story that the public is addicted to.

Obviously there's a ton of media in the mix, here's but one interesting and content filled article that includes several interviews across a timeline: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifest...3ef_story.html

… now back to something far more life-affirming, toys!

[Marvelmania]

Very well said.

Agreed!

[Hector]

What is worrying, is how so many icons of virtue from TV have fallen lately.
Take the UK, for example. Kids TV presenters Saville and Harris have both been found guilty of being child molesters. Saville's sins came out just after he died (how convenient), Harris is now in prison. Man, we're living in sad time...

I'm afraid it has been sad times since the dawn of man. Imagine living as a Neanderthal in the frozen tundra. A slave building the Giza pyramids, a Roman gladiator, a medieval peasant paying taxes to his lord or else, a slave in the southern states, all the constant wars throughout times, Black Plague, the Wild West, murders, rapes, thieving, deceits...today is no different...same thing over and over again, like clockwork, the only difference, we have flat screens, cars, and computers now, lol.

[Gorn Captain]

I'm afraid it has been sad times since the dawn of man. Imagine living as a Neanderthal in the frozen tundra. A slave building the Giza pyramids, a Roman gladiator, a medieval peasant paying taxes to his lord or else, a slave in the southern states, all the constant wars throughout times, Black Plague, the Wild West, murders, rapes, thieving, deceits...today is no different...same thing over and over again, like clockwork, the only difference, we have flat screens, cars, and computers now, lol.

Thanks, Hector. I feel a lot better now....sob...sob....
You really...sob....cheered me up....

[jwyblejr]

Reminds me of the recent stuff involving Stephen Collins. Up TV pulled 7th Heaven due to his behavior. What's going on with these "TV dads"? Who's next, Michael Gross or Dick Van Patten?

That didn't last. UP had a Thanksgiving episode of 7th Heaven on today.