Sick of social media kangaroo court

[Minerva38]

Not here to discuss specifics of BBC presenters case or get on my high horse about the morality of it. Bottom line is no crime is deemed to have been committed and so far allegations have come vía the gutter rag that is The Sun and endless speculation on social media.

Before the police had even looked into things, the Sun and social media were already rife with speculation and it seems this is now the modern Court where we judge and condemn anyone famous who might have had something happen in their private lives. It's a sick feeding frenzy and everyone has to have an opinion.

Now the family are forced to identify the man and news and social channels are feasting on this endlessly.

Caroline Flacks death clearly hasn't taught us anything and I won't be surprised if this or other cases go that way too.

His accusations are to do with grooming a lad from the age of 12. Huw bought photos over the internet from an 18 year old who was allegedly advertising them.

Not the same.

Bloody awful. He's made a terrible terrible mistake and there should be consequences. But not this...it drives people to suicide. Imagine the worst thing you've ever done being played out in the media like this. And of course there's the effect on the victim who played no part in the media frenzy, his wife, his kids...

It absolutely is not best left to the BBC

more colleagues are coming out saying that HE had acted inappropriately towards them

why did they feel they were not able to report this and this would be dealt with ? That needs to be answered

Imagine the worst thing you've ever done being played out in the media like this.

I’m imagining. I don’t prey on young people barely out of childhood or act inappropriately with anyone. So no, it’s not really the same is it?

To go from being a hugely successful and apparently happily married man with five children to this suggests that what we're hearing is a fraction of what has gone on. You don't go from nothing to this. There are steps along the way.

So by all means feel sorry for the man, his family, the men he was messaging and their loved ones. Be angry that the Sun has published stories against the wishes of one of the men and that this story has overshadowed much more important events of the past week. But I would urge caution about saying Huw Edwards has done nothing wrong.

Lots of people have double-standards. I would find it amusing if it wasn't so tragic the extent to which people enjoyed (and contiue to enjoy) kicking Huw for his morality, to the point of being bloody shockingly disgusting about their comments about his (well-documented) mental health struggles. But according to the MN mantra, mental ill health or neurodiverse conditions are the get out of jail card for pretty much every one of them, their children and anyone they know and like. Based on MN, easily 90% of the population is neurodiverse if they also happen to have been pulled up over bad behaviour.

Personally, I have no interest in the legal behaviours of any individuals, politicians, new readers or my neighbours. There are better things to do. My only interest in politicians is their politics, because that is what impacts on my life and the lives of other people.

But let's be honest - social conduct is often dictated by the positions of those in leadership positions. And I am not talking about politicians or news readers there - MNHQ towers bears a significant part of the blame for the conduct of their forum, because whether it is kicking people with disabilities for being frauds, benefit claimants for being too lazy to work, outright racism or whatever, they have interpreted "in the public interest" as "what the public are interested in". Those two things are not the same. If we are going to blame the Sun for being hypocrites (and they are), then we should be including MNHQ as well.

So we’re not calling people to account now just on the off chance they might top themselves ?
That’s like every manipulative abuse we’ve ever come across ever, do as I say, otherwise I will kill myself.

I'm with the OP...he has done nothing criminally wrong .
Some of his behaviors or choices do not align with some people's morality but in the end that is a choice..where you sit on the morality spectrum.

Social media and the press should not be allowed to sit in moral judgement or be arbiters of the morals of individuals.

Sleazy older men shouldn't be creating the demand for young people to exploit themselves.
It's not about homophobia, this reaction would be the same if it was a young girl. Him being repressed by a fake straight life doesn't mean you should go for young men!

All this worry about age of consent. "I thought they were older" Just stick to your own fucking age and it wouldn't be a worry! Women manage to do that just fine.

Some of his behaviors or choices do not align with some people's morality but in the end that is a choice..where you sit on the morality spectrum.

If anyone’s morals let them think 60 year old men can be with very young adults, then they’re absolute sickos. Sort your head out.

I don't need to sort my head out thank you.
I just pointed out that he has not committed a crime.

You definitely need to sort your "morality compass" out.

I'm just saddened that we live in a society in which this is the top story currently. So many issues in this country and the world that could do with this level of reporting.

Problem is, who else is there to investigate? The police have deemed no criminality. So there's the employer left, The BBC.

Now unless some independent investigation on a ministerial level can intervene (unlikely) it's all now down to the BBC HR team.

They will have to look at the systemic issues of why staff can't/didn't/won't come forward, they will have to look at the allegations and any evidence.

So I suppose it is best left to the BBC as the employer, but yes opinions on how good they will be at it is a separate question.

In my opinion will the BBC be any good and come to a decent outcome?....probably not, but neither did ITV with other recent events. But nout can be done, so as a member of Joe Public it's a shrug shoulders moment for me.