Bill Cosby, anyone believe this?

Amos_Umwhat

The very first record album I ever bought was a Bill Cosby record, "Why is there air", I think. I remember when all these allegations came up before, and then faded away after a settlement. I know that sometimes settlements are cheaper than trials, and allegations are as damaging as facts. I assume the woman making the allegations has run out of the settlement money, therefore we are hearing about this again.

Could the woman be telling the truth? I don't know. It seems improbable at best. I wouldn't think that he'd have had any trouble finding willing women, had he been so inclined.

I don't get caught up much in celebrity gossip, except maybe to marvel at the Kardashians rise to fame for doing.......nothing, as far as I can tell. This Cosby thing seems surreal, to me anyway. Of course, all humans have their demons.

Anyone with opinions? Thoughts?

wahooschock

Amos Umwhat:

The very first record album I ever bought was a Bill Cosby record, "Why is there air", I think. I remember when all these allegations came up before, and then faded away after a settlement. I know that sometimes settlements are cheaper than trials, and allegations are as damaging as facts. I assume the woman making the allegations has run out of the settlement money, therefore we are hearing about this again.

Could the woman be telling the truth? I don't know. It seems improbable at best. I wouldn't think that he'd have had any trouble finding willing women, had he been so inclined.

I don't get caught up much in celebrity gossip, except maybe to marvel at the Kardashians rise to fame for doing.......nothing, as far as I can tell. This Cosby thing seems surreal, to me anyway. Of course, all humans have their demons.

Anyone with opinions? Thoughts?

Ditto...wi th the exception of Kardashian. Ugly nasty family. Cause daddy was famous. F&$^$^ them and the media.

jd50ae

wahooschock:

Amos Umwhat:

The very first record album I ever bought was a Bill Cosby record, "Why is there air", I think. I remember when all these allegations came up before, and then faded away after a settlement. I know that sometimes settlements are cheaper than trials, and allegations are as damaging as facts. I assume the woman making the allegations has run out of the settlement money, therefore we are hearing about this again.

Could the woman be telling the truth? I don't know. It seems improbable at best. I wouldn't think that he'd have had any trouble finding willing women, had he been so inclined.

I don't get caught up much in celebrity gossip, except maybe to marvel at the Kardashians rise to fame for doing.......nothing, as far as I can tell. This Cosby thing seems surreal, to me anyway. Of course, all humans have their demons.

Anyone with opinions? Thoughts?

Ditto...wi th the exception of Kardashian. Ugly nasty family. Cause daddy was famous. F&$^$^ them and the media.

Kim got her jolt to fame because for a self promoted porn video. Having oj,s crooked lawyer for a father just helped sustain the fame.

jd50ae

Amos Umwhat:

The very first record album I ever bought was a Bill Cosby record, "Why is there air", I think. I remember when all these allegations came up before, and then faded away after a settlement. I know that sometimes settlements are cheaper than trials, and allegations are as damaging as facts. I assume the woman making the allegations has run out of the settlement money, therefore we are hearing about this again.

Could the woman be telling the truth? I don't know. It seems improbable at best. I wouldn't think that he'd have had any trouble finding willing women, had he been so inclined.

I don't get caught up much in celebrity gossip, except maybe to marvel at the Kardashians rise to fame for doing.......nothing, as far as I can tell. This Cosby thing seems surreal, to me anyway. Of course, all humans have their demons.

Anyone with opinions? Thoughts?

Been reading about this for over a week now and like you, I am in a state of disbelief. I watched every series he did, and cried with him when his son was murdered. This is a very hard pill to swallow.

Amos_Umwhat

wahooschock:

Amos Umwhat:

The very first record album I ever bought was a Bill Cosby record, "Why is there air", I think. I remember when all these allegations came up before, and then faded away after a settlement. I know that sometimes settlements are cheaper than trials, and allegations are as damaging as facts. I assume the woman making the allegations has run out of the settlement money, therefore we are hearing about this again.

Could the woman be telling the truth? I don't know. It seems improbable at best. I wouldn't think that he'd have had any trouble finding willing women, had he been so inclined.

I don't get caught up much in celebrity gossip, except maybe to marvel at the Kardashians rise to fame for doing.......nothing, as far as I can tell. This Cosby thing seems surreal, to me anyway. Of course, all humans have their demons.

Anyone with opinions? Thoughts?

Ditto...wi th the exception of Kardashian. Ugly nasty family. Cause daddy was famous. F&$^$^ them and the media.

Yeah, the Kardashian remark was just comic relief. I just learned last week about the Lawyer dad, etc., and that was by accident.

Eulogy

I owned a lot of his comedy albums and I do like the man professionally. But he's not a nice man personally. I know one person who has worked for him briefly and one person who met him out in public and neither of them had anything nice to say about him. There's always doubt about these accusations, but there's a lot of women who have come forward.

wahooschock

Eulogy:

I owned a lot of his comedy albums and I do like the man professionally. But he's not a nice man personally. I know one person who has worked for him briefly and one person who met him out in public and neither of them had anything nice to say about him. There's always doubt about these accusations, but there's a lot of women who have come forward.

Alot of people have seen Elvis and tupac...dont mean its right

Eulogy

A lot of people came forward after the Sandusky accusations came out. Pretty sure he did touch little boys.

Amos_Umwhat

Eulogy:

A lot of people came forward after the Sandusky accusations came out. Pretty sure he did touch little boys.

True. It's harder to picture this one, though. I don't know the truth, probably never will. Just because "a lot of people come forward" doesn't always make it so. Lots of hyenas and vultures are attracted to the kill, doesn't make them courageous hunters.

wahooschock

Amos Umwhat:

Eulogy:

A lot of people came forward after the Sandusky accusations came out. Pretty sure he did touch little boys.

True. It's harder to picture this one, though. I don't know the truth, probably never will. Just because "a lot of people come forward" doesn't always make it so. Lots of hyenas and vultures are attracted to the kill, doesn't make them courageous hunters.

Exactly thanks my words dont work sometimes lol

raisindot

Like a lot of people, I grew up with him, too. I had almost every LP of his from the 60s and later when I got rid of them I got the same albums on CD. Still have them.

That said, the fact that he fathered a child out of wedlock presumably without his wife knowing and the fact that he quietly settled the first claim of rape back in 2006 suggests that he's not quite the wholesome father figure/role model we all wanted to believe he was.

Whether he committed all of the acts claimed by these women is impossible to know. And it's unfair, as some media outlets have suggested, to say that routines like "Spanish Fly" hint at a date-rap**t personality. Most of his recorded comedy from the 60s is misogynistic, but that was a reflection of the times he lived in.

I mean, given how many highly admired and trusted politicians, religious leaders, ahtletes and performers(of all parties and political beliefs!!!!!!!!) have been "caught with their pants down" over the years, none of these kinds of revelations seems all that surprising anymore. Many of the rich and powerful seem to believe that they exist in a world where morality and laws don't apply to them.

wahooschock

raisindot:

Like a lot of people, I grew up with him, too. I had almost every LP of his from the 60s and later when I got rid of them I got the same albums on CD. Still have them.

That said, the fact that he fathered a child out of wedlock presumably without his wife knowing and the fact that he quietly settled the first claim of rape back in 2006 suggests that he's not quite the wholesome father figure/role model we all wanted to believe he was.

Whether he committed all of the acts claimed by these women is impossible to know. And it's unfair, as some media outlets have suggested, to say that routines like "Spanish Fly" hint at a date-rap**t personality. Most of his recorded comedy from the 60s is misogynistic, but that was a reflection of the times he lived in.

I mean, given how many highly admired and trusted politicians, religious leaders, ahtletes and performers(of all parties and political beliefs!!!!!!!!) have been "caught with their pants down" over the years, none of these kinds of revelations seems all that surprising anymore. Many of the rich and powerful seem to believe that they exist in a world where morality and laws don't apply to them.

Lol welcome to 'merica .I know its a global problem too but seems true here. And now that money is free speech it is very apparent that your wallet determines your level of freedom and justice.

Amos_Umwhat

raisindot:

Like a lot of people, I grew up with him, too. I had almost every LP of his from the 60s and later when I got rid of them I got the same albums on CD. Still have them.

That said, the fact that he fathered a child out of wedlock presumably without his wife knowing and the fact that he quietly settled the first claim of rape back in 2006 suggests that he's not quite the wholesome father figure/role model we all wanted to believe he was.

Whether he committed all of the acts claimed by these women is impossible to know. And it's unfair, as some media outlets have suggested, to say that routines like "Spanish Fly" hint at a date-rap**t personality. Most of his recorded comedy from the 60s is misogynistic, but that was a reflection of the times he lived in.

I mean, given how many highly admired and trusted politicians, religious leaders, ahtletes and performers(of all parties and political beliefs!!!!!!!!) have been "caught with their pants down" over the years, none of these kinds of revelations seems all that surprising anymore. Many of the rich and powerful seem to believe that they exist in a world where morality and laws don't apply to them.

Sadlytrue. I'm not arguing his innocence, just my shock at the possibility.

raisindot

Amos Umwhat:

raisindot:

Like a lot of people, I grew up with him, too. I had almost every LP of his from the 60s and later when I got rid of them I got the same albums on CD. Still have them.

That said, the fact that he fathered a child out of wedlock presumably without his wife knowing and the fact that he quietly settled the first claim of rape back in 2006 suggests that he's not quite the wholesome father figure/role model we all wanted to believe he was.

Whether he committed all of the acts claimed by these women is impossible to know. And it's unfair, as some media outlets have suggested, to say that routines like "Spanish Fly" hint at a date-rap**t personality. Most of his recorded comedy from the 60s is misogynistic, but that was a reflection of the times he lived in.

I mean, given how many highly admired and trusted politicians, religious leaders, ahtletes and performers(of all parties and political beliefs!!!!!!!!) have been "caught with their pants down" over the years, none of these kinds of revelations seems all that surprising anymore. Many of the rich and powerful seem to believe that they exist in a world where morality and laws don't apply to them.

Sadlytrue. I'm not arguing his innocence, just my shock at the possibility.

Friends of mine in England faced a similar shock when one of their most honored and beloved TV personalities, Jimmy Saville, turned out to be a prolific pedophile who supposedly abused more than 500 children over his long career. All of this stuff came out after his death, but the sheer volume seems impossible to discredit.

I think the only allegation of sex abuse made against a beloved TV personality that would truly shock me would be one made against Mr. Rogers.

jd50ae

WOW....it is up to 7 women coming forth.

youngryan216

I don't want to believe it. I love this dude and his sweaters. Staple of my childhood.

Lee.mcglynn

Lee.mcglynn

Lee.mcglynn:

i guess that was too soon huh?!

0patience

Guilty until proven innocent? The media has already crucified him and no one has shown any strong evidence.
If the allegations were from incidents that occurred a couple years ago, they might have a case, but these alleged incidents were supposed to have occurred a decade or more ago?
That leaves a lot of doubt in credibility.
And it leaves very little for any prosecutor to work with.
Reasonable doubt.

Bob_Luken

I'll say it. I may get flak for saying this but it's just PC bullsh!t. Cosby goes against the grain and speaks out against "thug culture" and tells people to pull up their pants. Some folks don't like it. He's not PC. Therefore he gets the backlash. From what I've seen these charges are old and unproven and beyond the statute of limitations. But snarky comics can call him a rapist and attention seeking fame whores willingly jump on this nasty bandwagon of losers and this "bullsh!t media non-story" is what you get. Do I think he did these things? Why should I? Snarky comics and/or attention whores have something to gain by this accusation so, why should I believe it? The memes are funny though so, there's bullsh!t enough to go around for everyone.

The3Stogies

I'm trying not to believe it I guess, not yet. I grew up with him too and just can't wrap my head around this one. His albums, stand up's and the Cosby show all good stuff and I'm sure he helped lots of people out, not just monetarily but as a role model. But the personality portrayed does not mean that's what they are like when no one's looking. Hope it is not true but will we ever know now? Also wondering why now?

Amos_Umwhat

The3Stogies:

I'm trying not to believe it I guess, not yet. I grew up with him too and just can't wrap my head around this one. His albums, stand up's and the Cosby show all good stuff and I'm sure he helped lots of people out, not just monetarily but as a role model. But the personality portrayed does not mean that's what they are like when no one's looking. Hope it is not true but will we ever know now? Also wondering why now?

Why now? Good question. Maybe the settlement was a mistake. After all, when the blackmail money's gone, what does the blackmailer do formore?

Bob_Luken

NBC Today show seems to love this story. Today they interviewed a 90 year old guy saying that, as an NBC employee, he brought women to Cosby's dressing room and was asked to send money to women over the years. The report seems VERY incomplete to me. Who asked him to send money to these women? Was it Bill Cosby or someone else? The today show felt they should ignore that little bit of info. Plus the Today show didn't say whose money it was. Isn't that also an important fact to ignore? Was it Bill Cosby's money? Was it NBC's money? Same old BS. They leave out certain fact that shouldn't be left out. Why? Maybe those facts aren't salacious so, who needs 'em? Not the Today show. Face it. Stories making Cosby look guilty are gonna sell way way way better that stories that make him seem innocent. Maybe he's a bad guy. Maybe these claims are worth looking at. But the media feeding frenzy over this is simply ridiculous.

jd50ae

Bob Luken:

NBC Today show seems to love this story. Today they interviewed a 90 year old guy saying that, as an NBC employee, he brought women to Cosby's dressing room and was asked to send money to women over the years. The report seems VERY incomplete to me. Who asked him to send money to these women? Was it Bill Cosby or someone else? The today show felt they should ignore that little bit of info. Plus the Today show didn't say whose money it was. Isn't that also an important fact to ignore? Was it Bill Cosby's money? Was it NBC's money? Same old BS. They leave out certain fact that shouldn't be left out. Why? Maybe those facts aren't salacious so, who needs 'em? Not the Today show. Face it. Stories making Cosby look guilty are gonna sell way way way better that stories that make him seem innocent. Maybe he's a bad guy. Maybe these claims are worth looking at. But the media feeding frenzy over this is simply ridiculous.

You have to remember Cosby's politics and what he was saying to the country. That alone is enough reason to start a feeding frenzy by certain "news" shows. There appears to be overwhelming "evidence" (sorry to say) of his guilt, but you can bet the house if he were different politically the frenzy would be cut in half.

Bob_Luken

jd50ae:

Bob Luken:

NBC Today show seems to love this story. Today they interviewed a 90 year old guy saying that, as an NBC employee, he brought women to Cosby's dressing room and was asked to send money to women over the years. The report seems VERY incomplete to me. Who asked him to send money to these women? Was it Bill Cosby or someone else? The today show felt they should ignore that little bit of info. Plus the Today show didn't say whose money it was. Isn't that also an important fact to ignore? Was it Bill Cosby's money? Was it NBC's money? Same old BS. They leave out certain fact that shouldn't be left out. Why? Maybe those facts aren't salacious so, who needs 'em? Not the Today show. Face it. Stories making Cosby look guilty are gonna sell way way way better that stories that make him seem innocent. Maybe he's a bad guy. Maybe these claims are worth looking at. But the media feeding frenzy over this is simply ridiculous.

You have to remember Cosby's politics and what he was saying to the country. That alone is enough reason to start a feeding frenzy by certain "news" shows. There appears to be overwhelming "evidence" (sorry to say) of his guilt, but you can bet the house if he were different politically the frenzy would be cut in half.

Well, he supported Obama, But he also spoke out against "ghetto Culture" telling young black kids to speak proper english and pull up their pants. So, yeah, as far as cultural politics goes, his advice was not well received and I believe this is one of the catalysts for the media feeding frenzy. So far none of these charges are provable and the statute of limitations is long gone so, for any anyone starving for attention, it's a free for all. I'm not buying into it at all until I see some real proof.

The statement from his Lawyer seems to make a lot more sense to me that the sensational garbage going on in the media.

"The new, never-before-heard claims from women who have come forward in the past two weeks with unsubstantiated, fantastical stories about things they say occurred 30, 40 or even 50 years ago have escalated past the point of absurdity," said attorney Martin Singer in a statement. 

"These brand new claims about alleged decades-old events are becoming increasingly ridiculous, and it is completely illogical that so many people would have said nothing, done nothing and made no reports to law enforcement or asserted civil claims if they thought they had been assaulted over a span of so many years. 

"Lawsuits are filed against people in the public eye every day," Singer continued. "There has never been a shortage of lawyers willing to represent people with claims against rich, powerful men, so it makes no sense that not one of these new women who just came forward for the first time now ever asserted a legal claim back at the time they alleged they had been sexually assaulted. This situation is an unprecedented example of the media's breakneck rush to run stories without any corroboration or adherence to traditional journalistic standards … It is long past time for this media villification of Mr. Cosby to stop." 

jd50ae

Bob Luken:

jd50ae:

Bob Luken:

NBC Today show seems to love this story. Today they interviewed a 90 year old guy saying that, as an NBC employee, he brought women to Cosby's dressing room and was asked to send money to women over the years. The report seems VERY incomplete to me. Who asked him to send money to these women? Was it Bill Cosby or someone else? The today show felt they should ignore that little bit of info. Plus the Today show didn't say whose money it was. Isn't that also an important fact to ignore? Was it Bill Cosby's money? Was it NBC's money? Same old BS. They leave out certain fact that shouldn't be left out. Why? Maybe those facts aren't salacious so, who needs 'em? Not the Today show. Face it. Stories making Cosby look guilty are gonna sell way way way better that stories that make him seem innocent. Maybe he's a bad guy. Maybe these claims are worth looking at. But the media feeding frenzy over this is simply ridiculous.

You have to remember Cosby's politics and what he was saying to the country. That alone is enough reason to start a feeding frenzy by certain "news" shows. There appears to be overwhelming "evidence" (sorry to say) of his guilt, but you can bet the house if he were different politically the frenzy would be cut in half.

Well, he supported Obama, But he also spoke out against "ghetto Culture" telling young black kids to speak proper English and pull up their pants. So, yeah, as far as cultural politics goes, his advice was not well received and I believe this is one of the catalysts for the media feeding frenzy. So far none of these charges are provable and the statute of limitations is long gone so, for any anyone starving for attention, it's a free for all. I'm not buying into it at all until I see some real proof.

The statement from his Lawyer seems to make a lot more sense to me that the sensational garbage going on in the media.

"The new, never-before-heard claims from women who have come forward in the past two weeks with unsubstantiated, fantastical stories about things they say occurred 30, 40 or even 50 years ago have escalated past the point of absurdity," said attorney Martin Singer in a statement. 

"These brand new claims about alleged decades-old events are becoming increasingly ridiculous, and it is completely illogical that so many people would have said nothing, done nothing and made no reports to law enforcement or asserted civil claims if they thought they had been assaulted over a span of so many years. 

"Lawsuits are filed against people in the public eye every day," Singer continued. "There has never been a shortage of lawyers willing to represent people with claims against rich, powerful men, so it makes no sense that not one of these new women who just came forward for the first time now ever asserted a legal claim back at the time they alleged they had been sexually assaulted. This situation is an unprecedented example of the media's breakneck rush to run stories without any corroboration or adherence to traditional journalistic standards … It is long past time for this media vilification of Mr. Cosby to stop."

I love the lawyers statement and I also wonder who used him as a stepping stone and are now playing the publicity game. But I am also afraid there may be a real one in there. If I had his money and intelligence every one of them would have to prove it or pay up.

Amos_Umwhat

I wonder if we'll ever know?

On one hand, anecdotal evidence doesn't count for much in inductive reasoning until there are many many anecdotes. Sadly, the number is mounting. I can't say. 2 stories in which I know the truth:

1)
A young rape victims parents object to professional counseling out of fear of the stigma. "Go to the priest", they say. And thus, the second rape occurs. No one believes the priest could have done such a thing, but when it's brought to the Church's attention, the priest is transferred, and at his new assignment is made, you guessed it, youth minister. The priest was in fact guilty. and again.

2)
A man marries a woman with 2 teenage daughters. The older daughter, 16, insists the man buy her a car. "If you don't, my sister and I will tell everyone you molested us". He doesn't, they do, and after he's spent a couple years in the Pen, they grow up a little, feel guilty, and recant their testimony. After another 3-4 years grinding through the courts, psychiatrists, lie-detector tests etc., the man is finally freed. Ruined, but free. He was in fact innocent.

Very difficult to judge.

Tragic, all the way around.

jd50ae

Up to 15.

dr_frankenstein56

Amos Umwhat:

I wonder if we'll ever know?

On one hand, anecdotal evidence doesn't count for much in inductive reasoning until there are many many anecdotes. Sadly, the number is mounting. I can't say. 2 stories in which I know the truth:

1)
A young rape victims parents object to professional counseling out of fear of the stigma. "Go to the priest", they say. And thus, the second rape occurs. No one believes the priest could have done such a thing, but when it's brought to the Church's attention, the priest is transferred, and at his new assignment is made, you guessed it, youth minister. The priest was in fact guilty. and again.

2)
A man marries a woman with 2 teenage daughters. The older daughter, 16, insists the man buy her a car. "If you don't, my sister and I will tell everyone you molested us". He doesn't, they do, and after he's spent a couple years in the Pen, they grow up a little, feel guilty, and recant their testimony. After another 3-4 years grinding through the courts, psychiatrists, lie-detector tests etc., the man is finally freed. Ruined, but free. He was in fact innocent.

Very difficult to judge.

Tragic, all the way around.

I have seen number 2 happen first hand. Its the most dispicable thing ever.

Aj

jd50ae

dr_frankenstein56:

Amos Umwhat:

I wonder if we'll ever know?

On one hand, anecdotal evidence doesn't count for much in inductive reasoning until there are many many anecdotes. Sadly, the number is mounting. I can't say. 2 stories in which I know the truth:

1)
A young rape victims parents object to professional counseling out of fear of the stigma. "Go to the priest", they say. And thus, the second rape occurs. No one believes the priest could have done such a thing, but when it's brought to the Church's attention, the priest is transferred, and at his new assignment is made, you guessed it, youth minister. The priest was in fact guilty. and again.

2)
A man marries a woman with 2 teenage daughters. The older daughter, 16, insists the man buy her a car. "If you don't, my sister and I will tell everyone you molested us". He doesn't, they do, and after he's spent a couple years in the Pen, they grow up a little, feel guilty, and recant their testimony. After another 3-4 years grinding through the courts, psychiatrists, lie-detector tests etc., the man is finally freed. Ruined, but free. He was in fact innocent.

Very difficult to judge.

Tragic, all the way around.

I have seen number 2 happen first hand. Its the most dispicable thing ever.

Aj

So have I. The guy spent 9 years in prison for child molesting. When the girl turned 15 she made it clear her mother forced her to lie. The guy lives with his mother and makes custom knives, I have 4 of them. One of the nicest guys you will ever meet but he stays clear of most people and I can't say I blame him.

youngryan216

jd50ae:

dr_frankenstein56:

Amos Umwhat:

I wonder if we'll ever know?

On one hand, anecdotal evidence doesn't count for much in inductive reasoning until there are many many anecdotes. Sadly, the number is mounting. I can't say. 2 stories in which I know the truth:

1)
A young rape victims parents object to professional counseling out of fear of the stigma. "Go to the priest", they say. And thus, the second rape occurs. No one believes the priest could have done such a thing, but when it's brought to the Church's attention, the priest is transferred, and at his new assignment is made, you guessed it, youth minister. The priest was in fact guilty. and again.

2)
A man marries a woman with 2 teenage daughters. The older daughter, 16, insists the man buy her a car. "If you don't, my sister and I will tell everyone you molested us". He doesn't, they do, and after he's spent a couple years in the Pen, they grow up a little, feel guilty, and recant their testimony. After another 3-4 years grinding through the courts, psychiatrists, lie-detector tests etc., the man is finally freed. Ruined, but free. He was in fact innocent.

Very difficult to judge.

Tragic, all the way around.

I have seen number 2 happen first hand. Its the most dispicable thing ever.

Aj

So have I. The guy spent 9 years in prison for child molesting. When the girl turned 15 she made it clear her mother forced her to lie. The guy lives with his mother and makes custom knives, I have 4 of them. One of the nicest guys you will ever meet but he stays clear of most people and I can't say I blame him.

IDGAF Bill Cosby is a legend