You don't need to be an Insider

[communicator]

I went to bed early last night. Apparently there was a Newsnight report about the ongoing child abuse revelations which are rocking the British establishment. The BBC cautiously redacted the name of the friend of Margaret Thatcher who was closely involved. So this morning I thought I would give myself a little test of how easy it would be to find

Comments

[splodgenoodles]

Hmmm. Not knowing enough about UK politics, I'm not sure where to start looking so I may have to wait, unless some kind LJer wants to send me a hint via private message.

But I've already noticed some grim stuff on the talk page for the scandal, in which the sexual abuse of girls is described as different to sexual abuse of children because girls develop so much faster. OMFG.

[communicator]

I am very annoyed to read comments from men saying 'Oh, it isn't paedophilia it's hebephilia' because the girls have gone through puberty. As if that makes them more powerful and able to escape.

[splodgenoodles]

Yes - the perception of the abuser is considered more important than the experience of the abused.

The other shocker: if something is a common urge among men, it's okay somehow.

[emmzzi]

the Daily Mail published this with the name 5 days ago

[communicator]

I think this may be different one, a peer. I don't think he was mentioned in the Mail yet. But I could have missed it.

[emmzzi]

I think it is the same one. But time will tell.

[communicator]

On the whole I am glad if it is out there already

[thinking_lotus]

I think of this as the "Pluto effect," ie if there seems to be something going on, there probably is, and you should proceed accordingly.

I find it holds true for regular life as well as the broader culture. I don't mean that people should be paranoid, but if things don't add up, and the excuses seem flimsy, your suspicions are probably correct.

[communicator]

Yes, and sometimes insiders can be fed a lot of bullshit. I think that happened with the Iraq war for example, the pet reporters got taken out to lunch and told they were getting an exclusive and they bought it hook line and sinker. While other people looking on were a lot more skeptical.

[thinking_lotus]

The buildup to the Iraq War is a perfect example! It was OBVIOUS that there was no good reason for it. But my husband was convinced that Bush and Blair must know something. Maybe they thought they did.

That was the most politically disillusioning moment of my life.

[dwyld]

Passing through on friends of friends.

my husband was convinced that Bush and Blair must know something

I remember working through the pros and cons and coming to the conclusion there was no sensible reason to support the war, and yet Tony Blair seemed so obviously scared that I thought he must know something, so for the first and only time I decided to trust his judgement. Nowadays I am left wondering if he was a good actor or a fool.

[sheenaghpugh]

I knew that name over a decade ago, and I'm sure it has been easy to find for a long time. It's true that it is more difficult now for the rich and powerful to keep their actions secret. But it's also true that however many people knew (and in the late Peter Morrison's case that meant all the Cheshire policemen who ever caught him habitually importuning people) he was never prosecuted, very possibly because he was a mason, like many top policemen and judges (and possibly also Savile, though I can't find any proof of that online). They can still get away with stuff. "Everybody knew" isn't the same as "everybody had evidence that would stand up in a libel action", which is why I'm getting tired of people blaming the BBC.

[communicator]

I guess my overall point is that there is nothing magical or powerful behind that curtain of secrecy, just weak people covering up their weaknesses.

The names, and as you say the legal evidence, were kept secret. And it is important for it to come out in full. I hope it all does.

But the attitudes - the attitude that it was 'only women' or 'only bad children' who were saying anything - that contempt and privilege was in plain view and still is.

[thinking_lotus]

Also, of course, molesters/abusers are really good at charming people into thinking that they couldn't possibly mean any harm. SO the pre-existing mindset contributes to this.