Rolf Harris

[Fugitive]

Rolf Harris! Whoever next? Brucie? Noel Edmunds?

[Rodo]

Yes probably!

[Workingman]

Rolf Harris! Whoever next? Brucie? Noel Edmunds?

Possibly, but isn't that part of the problem?

Everybody from that time is now a suspect, and some of the allegations are overlaying today's laws and morals on those of the past. And let's not forget that some of the accusers are chancers.

I think that the police should get on with their investigations and stop releasing "names" every five minutes.

[Fugitive]

The accused and the accuser should both have anonymity at least until the accused is charged. Or let's name the accuser now and hear her story? There's only one of them at the moment. No doubt a chancer or two will be joining in soon.

I agree with you WM on todays laws applying to the way things were scores of years ago being wrong.

[Diflower]

Exactly. Children used to be made to go out to work at 12, but no-one ever sued their parents or employers 40 or 50 years later did they?

[cromwell]

I was in the loft last week and found a copy of the TV Times from 1976.

Or, as it's known these days, the Sex Offender's Register...

[lissie]

You read about these men who have been arrested on the alleged sexual offences
and you immediately think "dirty old men"
When these alleged offences were committed they were quite young men, successful
and probably nice looking.
In the 50s, 60s and 70s it was quite common for a girl to have her bottom patted
or pinched or her boobs "accidently" brushed against No one complained and it
was treated as a laugh.
I used to wear micro mini skirts and low cut tops serving behind the bar of our pubs
and quite expected to be asked for something from the top shelf or from the very
bottom shelf whilst the male customers were giggling and their eyes popping out of
their heads
I know what was accepted then would have girls running for compensation now
but then was then and now is now

lissie

[TheOstrich]

This whole sex abuse thing is very concerning now.

I don't know how you can balance the rights of the victim with the rights of the accused, it's very difficult. But I believe in Rolf Harris's case there should have been total anonimity - either that or they should name his lone accuser ......

And with Saville, I read one report somewhere saying that he must have abused 1300 people. That's the equivalent of a different girl every 3 weeks over the whole of his life. Is that in any way believable?

.... some of the allegations are overlaying today's laws and morals on those of the past ....

Couldn't agree more.

[KateLMead]

I think we have gone mad in this country.. Old men being brought to book for supposed crimes committed 50 and 60 years ago, some guilty some not guilty, I remember these Celebrities who were bombarded by love struck teenagers.
We now read of the latest much admired and respected Ralph Harris.. Oh dear where will it all end? Have the authorities gone completely over the top, or have these men sexually abused children?
Any one over sixteen in my opinion is no longer a child, however they are referred to as such when convenient.. I make the exception if there is physical abuse and force used by the perpetrator whatever the age of the individuals male or female
I remember when the children were small it was normal to pop them into the bath when I or my husband were bathing.. Crazy imagine doing that today .. I also remember us all bathing in Cap Dag as free as a bird with the children..
We had our own swimming pool, 18ft long.9ft wide 6ft deep that "I built with the help of one of our old workers when my husband was in the Cameroons " known as Katie's Folly" My husbands laugh could be heard for miles around when he returned back to UK saw I at 1.a.m. in the morning.. I had so much sand and ballast from the wine cellar we had built beneath the garage, and I used old oak door for the shuttering.. We had more fun in that pool enjoyed also by villagers..
Imagine shock horror if our youngsters were were caught skinny dipping in it today...
Perhaps the authorities should pay more attention to those youngsters being groomed and trafficked today in this country that virtually goes on ignored, forced marriages with youngsters living in fear.. We read case after case of youngsters being forcefully abused and the perpetrators get away with it like the black teenager in the news yesterday who has committed rape previously and he walked free. Bloody Law is an Ass..

[Workingman]

Many people, teenagers and parents in the decades being talked about, were breaking out of the straitjacket of earlier times, as Lissie and Kate point out.

I remember pictures of bands returning from the British invasion of the States being welcomed home by tens of thousands of screaming girls. Some of them became groupies willing to do any bidding. Those who worked alongside the bands became honoured with fame by association. TV was a recent addition to many homes and pirate radio had become mainstream.

The World and how it all worked was very different from today. Some of the things that happened were a) not illegal, and b) laughed off by all concerned.