Is the continuing outing of sexual harassment to excuse Don or true change?

[uppityperson]

I'd like to think it's due to people finally having enough, pointing out how widespread of an issue it is. But. Is it instead intended to excuse Donnie, because (a) "everyone does it" or (b) outrage fatigue?

Or simply entertainment that sells news?

Call me a cynical optimist.

[Leith]

1. The Smear Machine Is Trying to Distract from Moore and shitgibbon

It's to give them more ammunition against Democrats, trying to equate pedophilia and rape with butt feels, and yes, outrage fatigue.

If they were trying to bring about true change, they would be outing rethugs, too. They're not doing that.

[RKP5637]

2. Yep, good questions! I wonder too at how rapidly it is coming on. n/t

[RobinA]

3. Im Finding

it to be an increasingly horrifying witch hunt.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. I don't think it's intended to excuse Orange Foolius. Not at all.

I do think it's mainly people - mostly women, but some men, too - having had enough of powerful men taking advantage of them. The fact that many are coming forward encourages others to do so as well, because they realize that they are finally likely to be believed. None of this will get Dolt 45 off the hook; the opposite will most likely happen. Women who complain now are being believed for a change, and therefore the women who were harassed by Trump will be believed.

The only thing I worry about is whether this new onslaught of credible complaints will also support a few bogus complaints by people with agendas, if it becomes the accepted wisdom that the complainant must always be believed without question. During the '80s there was a rash of allegations of sexual abuse of children by day care center employees. At that time the mantra was, "Believe the children!" and if you didn't believe the children you would be accused of enabling child molestation. But though very few claims were ever substantiated, innocent people ended up in jail. I'd hate to see a really important realization - that sexual harassment is widespread and is particularly pernicious where there is a significant power differential - derailed by too much credulity, ultimately resulting in a backlash.

[ProudLib72]

7. I'm skeptical. Tweeden's book deal

Or the firing of O'Liely only to rehire him a few months later? The Franken debacle is headed in the same direction. Oh, I think there are a couple of things in play here. Undermining sexual abuse allegations in broad terms is one of them. Sowing distrust is another. Bannon is working his ass off creating chaos, and his associates are having the time of their lives pushing all his stories.

You're right that there are some serious allegations in the mix, but this has reached sideshow territory. There might be one authentic item among the dozens on display, but the ploy is to strain our senses to the point we either accept everyone or no one.The game they are playing is exceedingly dangerous and lacking compassion.

[customerserviceguy]

5. I do think that something has changed

Bill Cosby was a crack in the dam, the election of Trump widened it, and the Weinstein case was the true breaching. Now, all the frustrations of the last five decades are coming out in one mighty deluge.

[B2G]

6. No one seemed fatigued until this week.

Why is that?

[uppityperson]

8. I've been fatigued a long time.

Why assume no one was fatigued until this week?