…as I attempted to explain why this story looks weak to a lot of journalists (I was not the only one who noticed the thin sourcing), I began to understand why I’d triggered such outrage. Because several people asked me some version of the same question: “Why would you even question this story?” In their minds, it was clear that there could be only one reason: because I was trying to somehow salvage Moore’s candidacy.
I get asked this question a lot these days. Why would you even argue about rape statistics, when we know that rape is a problem? Why would you give even a moment’s consideration to those who theorize that global warming could be moderate rather than catastrophic? Why would you raise questions about that terrible gang rape at UVA?
My interlocutors have a point: We all make choices about which assertions we interrogate, and which we accept on easy faith. And because we are biased, we tend to interrogate most ruthlessly the inconvenient claims that stand in the way of something we’d very much like to believe. When someone casts doubt on a politically charged story, it’s not crazy to infer an ulterior ideological motive (even though in this particular case involving my qualms about that Roy Moore mall story, this inference was dead wrong).
But if we are committed to believing only things that are likely to be true, then how much does the motive of a questioner really matter? I’d argue “not much.” Knowing someone’s political commitments tells you that they are likely to accept evidence for some propositions more easily than for others. But it does not tell you that their analysis is wrong.
This is reminiscent of the other day when, in having the temerity to point out, horrible a human being as Roy Moore is, that there was no available evidence that he was an actual pedophile, I was accused of “defending” him, or being a pedophile myself.
Kudos to Bloomberg for publishing this story. Both to writer and editor. They have risen a notch or two on my credibility scale.
It’s not that people can’t handle the truth. It’s that people deny the truth on a regular basis. The problem is the truth isn’t always easy to know and people lie.
Obviously we can’t believe every accuser or defend everyone accused.
But there are signs. The timing of an accusation is a big one. Mischaracterization is another.
18 is considered adult when some twice that age are not. Marriage has been considered acceptable for some very young. Being rich is often something people want to deny although it’s no crime.
We have two courts… the legal and the public opinion. I don’t trust either.
I often find myself harpooning scared cows, and yep, a lot of people kick out without a lot of critical analysis of their position or yours. Putting rationalizing ahead of rational.
Really? I don’t recall any rational posts from you, Andy.
troll
Like our host, I’ve been called a pedophile for no good reason (see my comment below), so being called a troll by a State-shtupper isn’t exactly going to cause me to break down in tears.
“State-shtupper”
And here we have a good example of how harpooning sacred cows will cause people to label you as the enemy and falsely attribute beliefs to you and slur you out of emotion rather than reason.
Bilwick, how about some examples of me advocating the policies of a “State-shtupper”. I’ll give you that I think licensing the owners of firearms (as is common in countries rated by organizations like Cato as far freer than the US) has worked in many countries, but hopefully you don’t label people as State-shtupper’s on just one point. So how about some other examples of me advocating state control?
I agree with Bilwick. I’m still awaiting a rational post from Andrew. Arguing with Americans about what is American culture while your ass is in New Zealand isn’t rational. It’s down right insane.
Aww, have I questioned a few of your sacred cows as well Leland?
Didums.
Questioned? Certainly. Made a rational point? Nope.
For example, I get that female whales may be called cows by kiwis; however “sacred cows” refer to Hindu beliefs about bovines. You don’t use harpoons on bovines.
I’m confident that a whaling harpoon would be effective if used against bovines.
I think that people want to go to war, about X and if you not fully supportive of their war effort of X, then they get angry.
So it’s betrayal of their cause of X and in which, in order to win decisive victory with least suffering and causalities, they need everyone’s loyalty and material support.
Yep, think about how that would apply to primitive cultures battling to survive, often better for everyone to be wrong and that people all stick together than allow division over facts to get in the way of collective survival. The same instincts are at work today.
Ray Moore’s current wife — of 32 years, and giving all indication of being his only wife — is fourteen years younger than he is.
It appears that when Moore was “shopping” the local meet-market for potential spouses, he wanted a young (likely fertile?) one. (In the event, he married a very young woman of proven fertility, who had a child from a previous marriage to a man more nearly her own age.)
Seeking a one-time, life-long, spouse seems to me to be a different sort of behavior than the sort of serial prowling for vulnerable prey that we describe as “any kind of”-ophilia.
That is a key point that almost everyones seems to have ignored. Whether you believe his actions to have been a bit creepy or not, it does not appear his intentions were dishonorable.
There are quite a bit of questions in all the Roy Moore allegations:
The timing of the WaPo article?
The notion that a man disrobed with a 14 year old girl, in his home, and the moment she said she was uncomfortable with the whole thing, he took her home. Yet he is somehow a rapist? The word molester is a bit more appropriate, but that the concept is misunderstood raises another question…
Wouldn’t a rapist or child predator ignore the girls feelings about the situation?
How did this story never come out previously? The notion that somehow the Senate race is more notoriety suggests the people of Gadsden, AL have some sort of filter between State Supreme Court Judge and US Senator, but I think that filter is primarily those in outside Alabama.
Odd that the other woman of consent age claim don’t mention sexual situations with Moore. If he’s a predator, why would he treat slightly older teenagers differently?
Note, not one of those questions is defending Roy Moore. All of them can be answered in a manner that is reasonable and suggest Roy Moore is guilty. They can also be answered in a manner that does defend Moore. But the questions are not a defense.
Roy Moore’s statements to Sean Hannity left a few questions.
Did you romantically date any 18 year old girl after age 30?
If yes, how many? How did you verify the age?
Note, I say romantically, because Roy Moore apparently coached a girls softball team. Its not outside the realm that he took a player or more out for a night of fun that had no romance involved. It would be a little odd, but not entirely so. If the girl was in a broken family, he could have thought he was being a father figure.
Then there is Gloria Allred, and lots of questions there. Here are my initial ones:
What type of legally trained criminal, signs, dates, and addresses a possession of an intended victim?
Why would a Deputy DA initial his name with D.A.?
Why would a young girl want a signature in her yearbook of an older man unrelated to her school?
Why would an older man want to sign a yearbook, especially if he is considering committing what would be a crime with the owner of the yearbook?
Finally these questions, which aren’t a defense of Roy Moore, but I’ll admit work to his favor:
Why should he resign off mere allegations?
Why should people not vote for him that intended to vote for him off mere allegations?
Why should he blocked from being a Senator due to mere allegations?
Wouldn’t it be more appropriate for people to vote their conscious, and if later, after a court trial, he is determined guilty, then remove him from office?
Are not all these question applicable to Senator Bob Menedez?
The notion that a man disrobed with a 14 year old girl, in his home, and the moment she said she was uncomfortable with the whole thing, he took her home. Yet he is somehow a rapist?
An attempted rapist, certainly. Trying to have sex with minors is attempted rape. A 14 year old girl cannot give consent.
Great, then there is no statutory limitation, and it can and should be tried in a court of law. Until then, Moore is completely innocent.
“This is reminiscent of the other day when, in having the temerity to point out, horrible a human being as Roy Moore is”
You know, this kind of statement just defines “horrible” down. You know who’s horrible? Bill Clinton, who probably raped several women. Roy Moore’s got a big mouth and apparently liked to date on the uncomfortable-to-modern-sensibilities’ side. Or take Stuart Smalley, who *actually* groped a–sleeping–woman, while nobody has any evidence that, say, Donald Trump, actually groped a woman at all: remember, he was essentially talking about groupies.
Roy Moore is horrible for reasons going far beyond his predilections for young women.
Since Gloria Allred is on stage with the ‘plaintiffs’ my BS meter is already wrapped around the peg.
Once Gloria Allred gets involved my default assumptions is the accusations are pure political slander against a conservative.
I got called a pedophile by one of the Dumb Trumpkins posting on the Breitbart blog because I wrote that I liked Woody Allen’s movies. Not making that up.
“I wrote that I liked Woody Allen’s movies.”
I agree, calling you a pedophile was not justified, but your taste in movies does raise other serious concerns.
If anyone were to question my cows, and the cows knew that the end result might be harpooning them (as several above have noted), my cows would be scared, too. So I think “when people are questioning your scared cows” is a tautology.
Andrew W. protests: ” . . . Bilwick, how about some examples of me advocating the policies of a ‘State-shtupper’. Can’t think of any specific examples right now: it’s not like I write down all your gems in a notebook for future reference. But I’ll be careful to note any statist tendencies in your future posts, and be happy to point them out!
However, if somehow I’ve managed to misinterpret ALL your posts, and you’re actually a libertarian–or even a libertarianish conservative–and not the State-shtupper you come off as being, I will certainly apologize. I can’t imagine anything more insulting than being accused of statism.
Those accusing Moore of being a pedophile don’t know the meaning of the word.
Yeah, I like walking, myself. In fact, I like it so much, I have a gadget that keeps track of it for me…a pedometer.