|
Feb 2020
10:05am, 7 Feb 2020
1,685 posts
|
JRitchie
I understand your point HappyG but I don’t agree. I don’t think you can split the political message from the integrity of the person giving that message. I’m not SNP bashing but if the politics references fairness, progressive and a better moral position than the opposition, you’d better make sure there is no hypocrisy.
|
|
Feb 2020
10:23am, 7 Feb 2020
2,583 posts
|
J2R
JB, I'm willing to bet that he will give it a go, and be backed up to the hilt by the vast majority of Republicans when he does.
|
|
Feb 2020
10:34am, 7 Feb 2020
6,325 posts
|
jda
There's a broad spectrum ranging from admirable to illegal behaviour. Anyone who thinks the consent laws need changing is welcome to argue for that. Let's not forget that Bonson has left behind a trail of fatherless children - probably about 5 by 3 women, though no-one seems very certain about that. Is that better or worse than pestering a 16 year old?
|
|
Feb 2020
10:35am, 7 Feb 2020
4,272 posts
|
Raemond
In many ways I suspect those children will turn out all the better for not having that bloviating cretin in their lives.
|
|
Feb 2020
10:49am, 7 Feb 2020
868 posts
|
Ally-C
I had a conversation with two Americans a few weeks ago. They were Trump fans because he’d done a lot to stem immigration from South America.
They were originally from Mumbai😂
|
|
Feb 2020
10:56am, 7 Feb 2020
2,585 posts
|
J2R
Ally-C, yes, he's very popular with the pull-the-ladder-up-after-you types.
|
|
Feb 2020
11:24am, 7 Feb 2020
10,269 posts
|
larkim
We have, for better or worse, black and white, binary laws about the sexual aspect of relationships, which are triggered on a specific birthday. Yesterday's illegality becomes today's legality, and I struggle with overlaying anything more "moral" on top of that without knowing in a high level of detail what the situation is / was. Age of consent laws in the UK are fixed, but they are fixed at different levels in other countries. German age of consent is 14, Italy is the same. Spain only on 2013 raised it from 13. It's arbitrary.
Under what framework can a moral judgement be made on a relationship that is judged lawful in the UK, where the age of consent is one of the highest in Europe (only Cyprus has 17 as a higher age)? Is it right that we use "common sense"? And if "common sense" is right, why not legislation (double age plus 7, as jda suggested?).
Would I be comfortable if a child of mine aged 16 was entering into a sexual / relationship discourse with a 42 year old? Of course I wouldn't. But if I took time to understand both of their motivations, discovered it appeared genuine and well matched, supported my child as best a parent can, would I have an absolute moral block on it? No I wouldn't.
I can 100% see why he resigned. Not because what he did was wrong, but because enough people will hold a moral standpoint that it is "wrong", irrespective of the circumstances and motivations. So politically it was suicidal, and he was right to resign, and NS (in my view) right not to force it to be seen as a sacking.
|
|
Feb 2020
12:18pm, 7 Feb 2020
15,879 posts
|
Bazoaxe
There was no engaging on the part of the 16yo though. It was completely unsolicited contact from the 42yo.
|
|
Feb 2020
1:13pm, 7 Feb 2020
324 posts
|
Non-runner
Also I think the moral climate has changed, I am old enough to remember Bill Wyman in his 40s and Mandy Smith (13 at the time, 16 when the red tops found out) and whilst there was mild disapproval it was more, what a naughty boy, she’s a stunner etc. Nowadays I think he might go to jail and would probably have “Me Too” condemning him.
|
|
Feb 2020
1:29pm, 7 Feb 2020
60,747 posts
|
swittle
From a similar period, another Mandy, Rice-Davies, and Christine Keeler were 'of tender years' when they became 'associated' with Dr Stephen Ward. The trial is still considered to have taken place as an exoneration of the conduct of 'the Establishment.
|
Fantasy General Election
Jul 2024