Roethlisberger accused of Sexual Assault

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by djnemo65

I'm riding with Jsarno on this one. It's one thing to, after having done some research regarding the case, point out that there are a few considerations that cast doubt on her accusation. In this case there appears to be. However, it is another entirely to in a knee-jerk manner write her off as just another skank. The fact is that, while women do make false allegations in this country, it is overwhelmingly more likely like for a man guilty of rape to walk free. There are many reasons for this - women's reluctance to follow through on charges, difficult evidentiary burdens of proof - but a large one is the presumption that exists amongst many that a purported victim must have wanted it somehow, that she must share at least some of the blame.

We see that here in many of the conclusions that I believe were prematurely jumped to. So I guess I'm just not crazy about some of the language in this thread.

I agree. But I would also like to add that women who make false statements against men are more likely to walk free than pay any sort of penalty for any injury they may have caused the man they made false allegations against. The court system in this country is in dire need of common sense. Hopefully we'll see a day when there is proper justice for anyone who has been harmed by the intention or negligence of another.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by djnemo65

I'm riding with Jsarno on this one. It's one thing to, after having done some research regarding the case, point out that there are a few considerations that cast doubt on her accusation. In this case there appears to be. However, it is another entirely to in a knee-jerk manner write her off as just another skank. The fact is that, while women do make false allegations in this country, it is overwhelmingly more likely like for a man guilty of rape to walk free. There are many reasons for this - women's reluctance to follow through on charges, difficult evidentiary burdens of proof - but a large one is the presumption that exists amongst many that a purported victim must have wanted it somehow, that she must share at least some of the blame.

We see that here in many of the conclusions that I believe were prematurely jumped to. So I guess I'm just not crazy about some of the language in this thread.

Good post, I agree.

People are way too quick to make snap judgements (as with anything it seems), but this is the typical male attitude in this country towards stories of this nature. Sad but true.

[Pocket$ $traight]

Well thank goodness he is charged with committing an illegal act against a human instead of an animal. He will probably emerge unscathed.

[jdlea]

Originally Posted by Pocket$ $traight

Well thank goodness he is charged with committing an illegal act against a human instead of an animal. He will probably emerge unscathed.

I was thinking the same thing. I love how Ben gets the benefit of the doubt from most people and this case is barely even being covered on Sirius NFL Radio while there are people saying Mike Vick should never play again...wtf? Since when did victimizing other people become back page news?

I'm not saying this did or did not happen. However, I will say that something doesn't seem right about this one. I know none of us know Roethlisberger personally, I just think this one is a bit hard to believe. Particularly considering this:

Originally Posted by TMZ

...she was allegedly involved with a married man. The man's wife, we're told, created an email account, posing as a U.S. soldier in Iraq. The wife began corresponding with McNulty to gain information. We're told the former co-worker has said McNulty fell in love with the fictitious soldier and began telling people she was engaged to him. When the wife stopped the correspondence, McNulty then began telling people the soldier was killed in action.

We're told McNulty told at least one co-worker she began seeing a psychiatrist because of the phantom soldier.

If she fell for something like that, does it not seem equally plausible that she could have made this stuff up?

Finally, she's suing for somewhere in the neighborhood of $400k, to me that smacks of, "we'll pick a number he could easily pay so that we don't have to take this thing to court." If I were Ben, I just might do that and have this nonsense over with.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by jdlea

I was thinking the same thing. I love how Ben gets the benefit of the doubt from most people and this case is barely even being covered on Sirius NFL Radio while there are people saying Mike Vick should never play again...wtf? Since when did victimizing other people become back page news?

I heard a caller yesterday basically making this same point, but Ross Tucker explained this story just broke, there's very little info known at this point, so he would rather wait for some facts to come out before he forms an opinion either way.

I totally agree.

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I heard a caller yesterday basically making this same point, but Ross Tucker explained this story just broke, there's very little info known at this point, so he would rather wait for some facts to come out before he forms an opinion either way.

I totally agree.

I agree too. If you really want to make the Vick comparison, though, I seem to remember that he was blasted all over the place from the moment the story broke. Now, obviously the facts of that case did not turn out well for him, but he was getting crucified before all the facts came out. Roethlisberger is certainly getting better treatment than that, and rightfully so, but I think you can still see a difference. I suspect it is mostly due to the public persona of the two men rather than the human versus animal victims.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

I agree too. If you really want to make the Vick comparison, though, I seem to remember that he was blasted all over the place from the moment the story broke. Now, obviously the facts of that case did not turn out well for him, but he was getting crucified before all the facts came out. Roethlisberger is certainly getting better treatment than that, and rightfully so, but I think you can still see a difference. I suspect it is mostly due to the public persona of the two men rather than the human versus animal victims.

I honestly don't remember what was being said when the Vick story broke, somehow I doubt he was being crucified from the word go, but either way they are totally different situations.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

I agree too. If you really want to make the Vick comparison, though, I seem to remember that he was blasted all over the place from the moment the story broke. Now, obviously the facts of that case did not turn out well for him, but he was getting crucified before all the facts came out. Roethlisberger is certainly getting better treatment than that, and rightfully so, but I think you can still see a difference. I suspect it is mostly due to the public persona of the two men rather than the human versus animal victims.

I think it mainly has to do with how the Vick story broke. Right off the bat we had a massive police raid of the house, and tons of pictures of the blacked out sheds, the fighting pits, the "training" devices used, and of course the dogs. People could see right away that something was up and that it looked like it took a lot of time, money, and effort on Vick's part to put it all together.
Now, with this situation you have the whole "she said, he said" thing going on. There are no graphic pictures to instantly grab attention. There aren't shady witnesses coming out of the woodwork to say what they saw. You have her word and her personal history against Ben, and that's all so people are probably going to be a bit more laid back and less likely to jump to conclusions.
This probably isn't the only reason that these two cases are being treated so differently, but I think it's a big one.

[MTK]

Plus, I think the big key is Vick's was a criminal investigation and this is a civil case.

[dmek25]

i think that's the gist of the argument. this woman has NEVER even talked to the police. if that's not the definition of a gold digger.... clearly there is the right way to handle things, and a wrong way. by her waiting, and then going after his money. well, if it smells like a fish...

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by dmek25

i think that's the gist of the argument. this woman has NEVER even talked to the police. if that's not the definition of a gold digger.... clearly there is the right way to handle things, and a wrong way. by her waiting, and then going after his money. well, if it smells like a fish...

Well, yeah that's a bit off. But she does claim that she went to her boss the next day and that boss and the boss' boss basically said Roethlisberger's business here is more important to us than you are so keep quiet or find work elsewhere. Whether that's true or not, I don't know

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Well, yeah that's a bit off. But she does claim that she went to her boss the next day and that boss and the boss' boss basically said Roethlisberger's business here is more important to us than you are so keep quiet or find work elsewhere. Whether that's true or not, I don't know

Yeah, but why not go to the police right away?? Why wait until the next day and then just talk to your boss? I know a girl who was sexually assaulted while she was in college, and she went straight to the cops.

I know every situation in these cases is unique, but reporting such an awful violation to the police seems like a no-brainer to me.

[BaltimoreSkins]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Yeah, but why not go to the police right away?? Why wait until the next day and then just talk to your boss? I know a girl who was sexually assaulted while she was in college, and she went straight to the cops.

I know every situation in these cases is unique, but reporting such an awful violation to the police seems like a no-brainer to me.

I think that is a rare case. It is not unusual for women who are sexually assaulted to completely remove themselves from situation. I have even heard of, again probably rare, of women maintaining a friendship with their attacker after they've been date raped.

It is easy to say she waited so long so she is after money.

[dmek25]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Well, yeah that's a bit off. But she does claim that she went to her boss the next day and that boss and the boss' boss basically said Roethlisberger's business here is more important to us than you are so keep quiet or find work elsewhere. Whether that's true or not, I don't know

if that's true, maybe her lawsuit should include her boss, and what ever hotel chain she was employed by

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by dmek25

if that's true, maybe her lawsuit should include her boss, and what ever hotel chain she was employed by

I thought it did