General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Is there a man left who can't be accused of sexual impropriety? [View all]Hekate
(90,557 posts)...or otherwise pressing unwanted attention on women and girls. (I hope it is obvious that I mean that ironically, even sarcastically)
I just think there are a certain percentage who let any kind of power-over go straight to their heads, and apparently if that's combined with any kind of sociopathic tendencies they get promoted repeatedly and elected repeatedly. Beats me why. Because there are certainly a lot of decent men available.
I'm a spell-out-the-rules and make people sign them kind of person. I worked in Human Resources back when it was called Personnel. I was in the Labor Relations unit, where people went to file grievances. Later on I spent years on the County Affirmative Action Commission, and then Civil Service Commission. If anyone at either the County or the University broke rules about sexual harassment, race, gender orientation, or any other form of discrimination, the one thing they could not do was plead ignorance. All new hires from the janitor to the CEO were given a copy of the employee manual, and were required to take group classes (later, online) emphasizing the legal nature of their behavior. They had to sign things saying they understood.
It pisses me off no end that the US Congress, which passed anti-discrimination legislation in the first place, specifically exempted themselves. Both they and the hugely profitable creative industries have got to get their shit together and make this a priority, or nothing will change. They have to make rules for themselves, with teeth, and actually enforce them.
As for Al Franken -- jeez. SNL is one of the most popular variety shows of all time, and you would think no one ever actually watched the thing at all, the way people are carrying on. Same with USO tours, which have always been geared toward a young male audience yearning for flirty girls and boob jokes. People are shocked, shocked! that there is raunchy humor involved. Unless there there is a whole line of much more credible accusers (than the first one) against Franken waiting in the wings, I'm going to have his back. The GOP is salivating much too much over the prospect of reducing the numbers of Democrats in the Senate, on any pretext whatsoever.
Sorry for the rant, Stinky. It's not aimed at you.