to believe, and be heartbroken by Woody Allens step-daughters testimony

[fromparistoberlin]

kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/01/an-open-letter-from-dylan-farrow/

I read this last night and it just about broke my heart

I believe her, and I am just so saddened by it

How the hell did he not get prosecuted

brave brave girl, and I feel awful as I have watched and enkoyed his films, even knowing of this murky tale in the background

[MothershipG]

It just doesn't have the ring of truth to me.

Sing People deal with strong emotions in a huge range of different ways and none of us can know what that will be until we are in that situation ourselves. Just because she does not conform to the patterns you think are appropriate is really not a good reason to dismiss it.

Maybe you would let us know what you think are the rules that real abuse survivors would adhere to?

[winkywinkola]

Why doesn't WA sue for slander?

[Honeysweet]

Good point winky.

[Lazyjaney]

^^
oxygen of publicity and creates sympathy - losing strategy

[lemonmuffin]

I believe her.

It's so important for people to say this and support her.

[AskBasil]

It wouldn't be contempt of court, because there is no court case happening.

[AskBasil]

And er, we don't have juries listening to all the evidence.

As with most cases of sexual abuse and/ or rape cases, no jury has ever heard the evidence.

The law in nearly every country on earth has been constructed to ensure that very few perpetrators are ever held accountable for their abuse.

[MothershipG]

baby Have you read the thread? Several posters have said this isn't a court, we can't possibly know the truth but on the balance of what we have read, including a court document, we are forming opinions.

In fact have you read anything at all about the case? There are no ongoing legal proceedings, it didn't get to court 20 years ago and now is beyond the statute of limitations so there is no possibility of it going to court.

[Honeysweet]

But we cant convict him can we.

[NotJustACigar]

I have read the thread, read the evidence and weighed up both sides and I would like to apologise. I believe Dylan Farrow.

I still don't agree that all accusations by children should automatically believed.

[Lazyjaney]

"It wouldn't be contempt of court, because there is no court case happening"

Why bother when you can prosecute and convict by media, gets rid of the inconvenience of having to presume innocent if you can get an army of people unthinkingly believing her allegations on social and other media.

Even better, he can't defend himself this way. Modern justice at it's finest.

[nooka]

He seems to be defending himself just fine, though, and has much support in the same media that you are complaining about. I suspect that the outcome for WA will be very similar to the original accusations 20 year ago that is he will suffer no harm at all.

[higgle]

I'm not sure Mia Farrow's evidence on anything would carry much weight

[MothershipG]

Wow! NotJust It takes a big person to come back on a thread and say you have changed your point of view. Especially as you had been so clear about how invested you were. I really hope this doesn't damage your childhood memories too much and I just wanted to say what a lovely person you obviously are.

[MothershipG]

Why higgle? Because she may have been unfaithful? Oh dear, if that's the criteria we are judging people's honesty and reliability on now I think our government, legal system, police force and any other system that relies on honesty is in big trouble!

For me it says more about WA.

*It says that he doesn't think adopted/step children have the same bonds with their parents as blood children.
*It says he thinks that parental relationships are only a matter of blood.
*It says that he is so dismissive of the feelings of his son that he has no qualms starting rumours about his biological origins in the press.
*It says that despite being very rich he will quibble about the child support he paid.
*It says that he wants to get back at Ronan for supporting MF and Dylan.

But most of all it says he will stoop to anything to turn attention from himself and discredit MF, really not giving two hoots about who he hurts in the process.

[JapaneseMargaret]

Lazy, I wouldn't worry about Woody too much.

The vast majority of internet forums across the globe will no doubt be coming down in support him.

Mumsnet, and the I Believe You campaign are a humongous anomaly.

Most people, by far, still default towards disbelieving the person alleging abuse. There will be keyboard warriors all around the world redressing the balance being played out on this wee thread.

[AskBasil]

Thank you Higgle for demonstrating the widespread attitude that in order to be credible, a woman has to have an absolutely perfect reputation and life.

Anything less and she is utterly lacking in any credibility whatsoever.

This is one of the reasons why 85-90% of women who are raped, do not report it. Because they don't have perfect lives - some of them may have had 2 lovers at the same time, may have been sacked from a job, been unfaithful, been involved in a fence dispute with a neighbour - all manner of things which prove that they aren't perfect. And of course, in order to be believed, unlike a man, a woman has to be perfect.

Higgle's post is a perfect demonstration of that attitude. Thank you Higgle.

[AskBasil]

Babybarrister you can bet your bottom dollar that if DF had a history of accusing men of sexual abuse, we would know all about it, we wouldn't have to trawl the internet to find it out because the mainstream media would have reported on it extensively.

They are always assiduous in reporting false allegations of rape etc. while failing to report the true context of rape and sexual abuse. The media is largely responsible for the total and complete ignorance most people have about rape, sexual abuse etc. They are always eager to seize on the myth of mad hysterical woman, unbalanced by her hormones / womb/ intrinsic female malice/ insert sexist notion here who has nothing better to do than falsely accuse a series of innocent blameless men of abuse thus ruining their lives and "spoiling it for the real victims".

Do you honestly think that mainstream media would have ignored any evidence whatsoever of a woman who accuses a powerful man of sexual abuse, being that sort of accuser? I'm afraid I don't.

[higgle]

Well I think it is pretty despicable behaviour to pretend the son of another man is a child of the relationship, and Ronan sure looks nothing like WA.

[MothershipG]

It is your perfect right to think that higgle, and no one on this thread has said MF is above reproach, but do you really think that means her evidence is invalidated?

[AskBasil]

I agree with you Higgle, it would be pretty despicable if that's what happened.

It would however, have nothing whatsoever to do with her support for her DD's version of events.

[Bogeyface]

I dont understand why some you (BAsil!) simply cannot accept that sometimes, people lie. That sometimes they exaggerate or manipulate.

If you accept that WA is capable of that then you must also accept that DF and MF are also capable of that. Until you, or any of us, have the full facts at our disposal we simply cannot say that WA did what he is accused of. Why cant you accept that? Why are so determined to continue this trial by hearsay?