Dutoit in the dock

[mahlerei]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42452715

[BBMmk2]

Yes, I saw this. When will it end?

[Barbirollians]

Yes, I saw this. When will it end?

When men stop abusing their power - I fear we have a long wait .

[vinteuil]

.

... of course unfortunately he is not "in the dock".

I find it problematic that we are currently having a season of "trial by media", with few of the cases ever being brought to trial.

.

[Beef Oven!]

With all his money, talent and allure, why couldn't he just go about getting a girlfriend in the normal way? You know, give out a sign you're interested, gauge the response and if you think it's positive, ask her if she wants to go to the cinema or a pie & mash lunch. The rest will, or will not, follow as the case may be.

[Stanfordian]

With all his money, talent and allure, why couldn't he just go about getting a girlfriend in the normal way? You know, give out a sign you're interested, gauge the response and if you think it's positive, ask her if she wants to go to the cinema or a pie & mash lunch. The rest will, or will not, follow as the case may be.

Hiya Beefy,

I woke up to these Dutoit allegations this morning on the BBC news so it is disseminating the news here. If the allegations are true, he's got away with it for so long, then I hope he gets what he deserves. It's the ex-wives including Martha Argerich and Chantal Juillet, and his children and extended family that I feel sorry for and have to suffer the potential damage from the fall out.

[Bryn]

With all his money, talent and allure, why couldn't he just go about getting a girlfriend in the normal way? You know, give out a sign you're interested, gauge the response and if you think it's positive, ask her if she wants to go to the cinema or a pie & mash lunch. The rest will, or will not, follow as the case may be.

Thing is, it's not about attraction. It's not even essentially about sex. It's about power.

[Alison]

Thing is, it's not about attraction. It's not even essentially about sex. It's about power.

Spot on Nethersage.

[Barbirollians]

Spot on Nethersage.

Or more precisely abuse of power.

[Petrushka]

.

... of course unfortunately he is not "in the dock".

I find it problematic that we are currently having a season of "trial by media", with few of the cases ever being brought to trial.

.

Vints hits the nail on the head here. There is no guarantee that these allegations are truthful until tested in the courtroom under rule of law. There is an alarming tendency to believe all women (or men in the case of Levine) tell the truth. Trial by the Press and 'social media' should be unacceptable in a democratic society. Careers and reputations can be comprehensively trashed by anyone bearing a grudge and we get nearer to the lynch mob with every passing day.

These women should file a complaint with the police and let justice take its course.

[Darkbloom]

Vints hits the nail on the head here. There is no guarantee that these allegations are truthful until tested in the courtroom under rule of law. There is an alarming tendency to believe all women (or men in the case of Levine) tell the truth. Trial by the Press and 'social media' should be unacceptable in a democratic society. Careers and reputations can be comprehensively trashed by anyone bearing a grudge and we get nearer to the lynch mob with every passing day.

These women should file a complaint with the police and let justice take its course.

I think isolated cases can be scrutinised more closely, but when you get multiple reports about the same person then your opinion might change. It seems like these people were pretty notorious but were using their status to get away with it and nobody (understandably) was willing to sacrifice their career to hold them to account. I see this as a bit of house cleaning to root out the worst offenders and draw a clear line about future behaviour. It's not uncommon for many years to pass before allegations come out, as we have seen with the Catholic church.

[teamsaint]

The star system, driven by the power of the media, is an important factor in why people develop predatory behaviour, in my view.

Trial by media is potentially dangerous and a blunt weapon, but failures by the proper authorities sometimes, ( often? ) leave room for some necessary work by the media.

The sort of systemic problems that we appear to have aren't going to be solved only by waiting for the local police and courts to act, I'm afraid. Because, apart from anything else, they don't always act as they should.

[french frank]

I think isolated cases can be scrutinised more closely, but when you get multiple reports about the same person then your opinion might change. It seems like these people were pretty notorious but were using their status to get away with it and nobody (understandably) was willing to sacrifice their career to hold them to account. I see this as a bit of house cleaning to root out the worst offenders and draw a clear line about future behaviour. It's not uncommon for many years to pass before allegations come out, as we have seen with the Catholic church.

While keeping an open mind, one notes that one of the complainants was Sylvia McNair - someone who could have her reputation ruined if she was found to have invented a story of this kind. Just to weigh matters up …

[Stanfordian]

I think isolated cases can be scrutinised more closely, but when you get multiple reports about the same person then your opinion might change. It seems like these people were pretty notorious but were using their status to get away with it and nobody (understandably) was willing to sacrifice their career to hold them to account. I see this as a bit of house cleaning to root out the worst offenders and draw a clear line about future behaviour. It's not uncommon for many years to pass before allegations come out, as we have seen with the Catholic church.

Hiya Dark Bloom,

Hey, be careful, singling out the Catholic Church is unfair! Historical sex abuse allegations involve lots of other organisations: Football Coaching, Scouting, Boy's Choirs, Jehovah's Witnesses, Swimming Coaching, BBC, Local Authority Children's Homes, Church of England and Max Clifford are just a few examples from recent years that spring to mind.

[Dave2002]

While keeping an open mind, one notes that one of the complainants was Sylvia McNair - someone who could have her reputation ruined if she was found to have invented a story of this kind. Just to weigh matters up …

Though the torygraph doesn't give too many details to rule out the possibility that the lift was crowded in her case, but the tongue business etc. does sound like a deliberate power grab. I think beefy indicates the problem and possible solution for anyone who wants to play fair. Bryn has pointed out that this is perhaps more about power than anything else.