Thursday 7 February 2019

On Mercedes Carrera...

So. It has come to my attention that an erstwhile prominent figure in the #gamergate controversy who I met once in person, and who was a guest on Honey Badger Radio a couple of times back in 2015, has been charged, along with her boyfriend, with sexually abusing a child under the age of ten.

I wholeheartedly despise and condemn the sexual abuse of children, no matter the gender of the child and no matter the gender of the perpetrator(s).

If these allegations prove to have veracity, I will wholeheartedly condemn Ms. Carrera for an act that is always a sickening violation of the trust and innocence of a child by an adult who should never cross that line.

I am revolted by these allegations.

But that is exactly what they are at this point. Allegations. And as always, I will reserve judgment until a fair and just process determines that they are more than allegations. I did this with Brett Kavanaugh. I did this with Jian Ghomeshi. I did this with the Muslim men accused of an organized mass rape attack in Cologne.

I will do the same for Mercedes Carrera.

If she did what she's accused of doing, she deserves what's coming to her. But at this point, there is no way for me to know.

The allegations are salacious, revolting and should elicit revulsion in anyone who thinks about them. But we do not yet know if they're true.

Presumption of innocence applies here, just as it applies to Kavanaugh, Ghomeshi and every other person accused of a horrific act. I will watch this case with interest, and reserve judgment until the facts come out.