Monday, October 1, 2018.
The Cosby case
Comedian Bill Cosby was sentenced to 3 to 10 years in prison on Tuesday, September 25 and rather than being released on bail pending an appeal he was immediately incarcerated to begin serving his sentence. Maybe they figured that since he was free since his conviction on April 26th that that was enough time to get his affairs in order and to file appeals. After a brief period in the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, Cosby was moved to a state prison, SCI Phoenix in Skippack Township, Pennsylvania. Predictably, he was attacked and injured in two separate incidents in prison the very next day. It’s easy to imagine that he will die in prison, either as a result of age, or else (because he is a high-profile inmate) by murder by another inmate seeking notoriety. Currently it is not popular to say it, but I disagree with his imprisonment - even with his prosecution - and since this is my Piper Paper that I write for my own pleasure and no one else’s, I can do what I want. So, I will explain why.
During his prosecution I was subjected to repeated explanations about how a culture of fear among women disposes them to remain silent and even deny for many years sexual attacks on their person. It’s a structuralist argument, painting a picture of an uncooperative, male-dominated culture of retribution as culpable in women’s suffering. I was also subjected to explanations of the biochemical operation of memory - how memories can be buried to re-emerge later (much later). I am not a fan of “recovered memory.” In any event, I am naturally suspicious of complaints lodged many years after the alleged incidents. That kind of delay naturally and rightly erodes the credibility of the complaint.
After his imprisonment I read many triumphal posts on the internet from women shouting that this is justice for criminal behavior on Cosby’s part going back decades. That is false. Cosby was prosecuted and jailed only for three charged stemming from an incident that happened in 2012. Anything that allegedly happened before then is disqualified because the Statute of Limitations had expired. So if you want to accuse someone, you better do it in a responsible and timely manner. Otherwise, shut up!
Facts were presented, as if facts could explain anything!
The Cosby prosecution is a victory for the anti-sexual harassment movement known as #MeToo. I don’t give that movement high regard. It’s not that protesting women are wrong. They aren’t wrong. But being right is not enough. Proving criminal wrongdoing to me with facts isn’t enough, as if facts could explain anything! If anyone wants my support - the #MeToo movement, LGBT, cancer survivors, environmentalists, political parties - wants my support, then they must appeal to me. They don’t. Firstly, women have monopolized the issue of sexual crimes, which is a mistake, not to mention inaccurate. Government and the media have allowed then to monopolize it. Sexual crimes are not crimes of illicit sexual behavior so much as crimes of power over the weak that use sex as a convenient catalyst for abuse. So, we ought to acknowledge that it goes both ways and that everyone is prone to victimization. Secondly, #MeToo seems to be splitting the population into Us vs. Them with the aim not so much to uncover and prosecute criminal sexual behavior as to uncover and prosecute inherently and natural male behavior and naturally sexual behavior. #MeToo is excessively anti-male. Thirdly, the movement seems to want blood more than justice. Its aim is not just to punish men accused of criminal sexual behavior as to destroy them - “destroy” as in “liquidate.” Putting Bill Cosby in prison could be a death sentence, and that is not justice. Fourth, #MeToo in America reflects American culture. In American culture people delight in seeing the famous, wealthy, the powerful and the proud brought low. It tastes of Biblical justice. It’s why late-night comedic talk show hosts thrive from taking the piss out of their presidents. American audiences like to see the mighty brought down a few notches. Americans think there is democratic virtue in reducing the mighty. Maybe they’re right - but as I said, being right is not enough to win my support. You must appeal to me.
Women have monopolized the issue of sexual crimes, which is a mistake, not to mention inaccurate.
Maybe I’m wrong, but this is how it seems to me.
The Cosby case
Comedian Bill Cosby was sentenced to 3 to 10 years in prison on Tuesday, September 25 and rather than being released on bail pending an appeal he was immediately incarcerated to begin serving his sentence. Maybe they figured that since he was free since his conviction on April 26th that that was enough time to get his affairs in order and to file appeals. After a brief period in the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, Cosby was moved to a state prison, SCI Phoenix in Skippack Township, Pennsylvania. Predictably, he was attacked and injured in two separate incidents in prison the very next day. It’s easy to imagine that he will die in prison, either as a result of age, or else (because he is a high-profile inmate) by murder by another inmate seeking notoriety. Currently it is not popular to say it, but I disagree with his imprisonment - even with his prosecution - and since this is my Piper Paper that I write for my own pleasure and no one else’s, I can do what I want. So, I will explain why.
During his prosecution I was subjected to repeated explanations about how a culture of fear among women disposes them to remain silent and even deny for many years sexual attacks on their person. It’s a structuralist argument, painting a picture of an uncooperative, male-dominated culture of retribution as culpable in women’s suffering. I was also subjected to explanations of the biochemical operation of memory - how memories can be buried to re-emerge later (much later). I am not a fan of “recovered memory.” In any event, I am naturally suspicious of complaints lodged many years after the alleged incidents. That kind of delay naturally and rightly erodes the credibility of the complaint.
After his imprisonment I read many triumphal posts on the internet from women shouting that this is justice for criminal behavior on Cosby’s part going back decades. That is false. Cosby was prosecuted and jailed only for three charged stemming from an incident that happened in 2012. Anything that allegedly happened before then is disqualified because the Statute of Limitations had expired. So if you want to accuse someone, you better do it in a responsible and timely manner. Otherwise, shut up!
Facts were presented, as if facts could explain anything!
The Cosby prosecution is a victory for the anti-sexual harassment movement known as #MeToo. I don’t give that movement high regard. It’s not that protesting women are wrong. They aren’t wrong. But being right is not enough. Proving criminal wrongdoing to me with facts isn’t enough, as if facts could explain anything! If anyone wants my support - the #MeToo movement, LGBT, cancer survivors, environmentalists, political parties - wants my support, then they must appeal to me. They don’t. Firstly, women have monopolized the issue of sexual crimes, which is a mistake, not to mention inaccurate. Government and the media have allowed then to monopolize it. Sexual crimes are not crimes of illicit sexual behavior so much as crimes of power over the weak that use sex as a convenient catalyst for abuse. So, we ought to acknowledge that it goes both ways and that everyone is prone to victimization. Secondly, #MeToo seems to be splitting the population into Us vs. Them with the aim not so much to uncover and prosecute criminal sexual behavior as to uncover and prosecute inherently and natural male behavior and naturally sexual behavior. #MeToo is excessively anti-male. Thirdly, the movement seems to want blood more than justice. Its aim is not just to punish men accused of criminal sexual behavior as to destroy them - “destroy” as in “liquidate.” Putting Bill Cosby in prison could be a death sentence, and that is not justice. Fourth, #MeToo in America reflects American culture. In American culture people delight in seeing the famous, wealthy, the powerful and the proud brought low. It tastes of Biblical justice. It’s why late-night comedic talk show hosts thrive from taking the piss out of their presidents. American audiences like to see the mighty brought down a few notches. Americans think there is democratic virtue in reducing the mighty. Maybe they’re right - but as I said, being right is not enough to win my support. You must appeal to me.
Women have monopolized the issue of sexual crimes, which is a mistake, not to mention inaccurate.
Maybe I’m wrong, but this is how it seems to me.
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