Has Jimmy Saville had a sit-on-my-face lift?

[evilmags]

Dunno about that. If I saw a 50 year old with his tounge down a 12 year olds throat I'd call the police.

[Vim Fuego]

Yes I was referring to the 'responsible individuals' rather than the Beeb although all the above points well taken.

Without taking away from the responsibility of Messrs Savile and Starr (allegedly), we must perhaps remind ourselves that in matters of sex it (usually) takes two to tango. Rape is a very specific legal term used when there is only one willing agent. Many of us who have played in bands are aware that the ladies do sometimes get very excited - 'carried away' might be the most accurate phrase - such that they may, perhaps under social or peer pressure after the fact, regret activities in which they were at the time willing participants. Indeed, that's why minors should be protected. But you can bet that if someone at the BBC had attempted to 'calm everything down' and usher the female fans out of the building, those very girls would likely have been the first to 'scream and shout', and the protector(s) might well have lost their job(s) in the ensuing acrimonious post-mortem.

I dunno about the scream and shout bit, but I'm pretty certain any beeb employee standing upto someone like saville would be for the immediate chop. Which does call into question the attitude of the beeb as an institution that it (again, allegedly) allows/ed or did nothing to stop this sort of behaviour. It's not the behaviour of individual beeb flunkies that's at question, but the attitiude of it as an institution.

[Pendragon]

I dunno about the scream and shout bit, but I'm pretty certain any beeb employee standing upto someone like saville would be for the immediate chop. Which does call into question the attitude of the beeb as an institution that it (again, allegedly) allows/ed or did nothing to stop this sort of behaviour. It's not the behaviour of individual beeb flunkies that's at question, but the attitiude of it as an institution.

I think this can be said of many large companies/organisations.
I worked with a senior manager who was a bully and who treated employees appallingly. I spoke to him on many occasions regarding his management behaviour, even speaking to the corporate HR Management Training & Development Manager about the need to correct this particular manager's behaviour and inter-personal skills. Nothing was done about it. Even when a colleague resigned as a result of a furious, vicious argument with this particular manager, the P&L Director agreed she had cause for grievance, but did nothing other than speak to the senior manager about his behaviour. Nothing changed.

Many large, blue chip companies posses policies governing inappropriate behaviour, sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination, etc., but when there is suspicion of such behaviour happening in the workplace, especially when perpetrated by a senior manager, it's brushed under the carpet. Unless there's actual evidence and witnesses, then it's unlikely the 'top brass' will do anything. Even if they did, the solution would likely to be to move the problem person to another area of the company, rather than to dismiss him/her.

With such defensive, protective attitudes being evident at the top, is it any wonder that people do not bother complaining when a victim of unlawful, unsolicited behaviour? I would suggest many people leave their employment rather than complain because they feel that to do so is futile. Until there's a radical shift of attitude and complaints are taken seriously with appropriate punishment meted out if the complaint is found to be genuine, then I doubt much will change.

[Fusionista]

It's not the behaviour of individual beeb flunkies that's at question, but the attitiude of it as an institution.

I
With such defensive, protective attitudes being evident at the top, is it any wonder that people do not bother complaining when a victim of unlawful, unsolicited behaviour? I would suggest many people leave their employment rather than complain because they feel that to do so is futile. Until there's a radical shift of attitude and complaints are taken seriously with appropriate punishment meted out if the complaint is found to be genuine, then I doubt much will change.

Not to paraphrase Maggie, but "there's no such thing as an institution", only individuals: an individual who has to take action, various individuals who have to support him/her all the way through the inevitable flak. Never gonna happen. It's a sad fact of life that most people (he said bitterly) are - yes really - gutless flunkies. Those who stand up to others are a tiny minority, rarely backed at the time. To cite the most obvious example, the French Resistance had far more members after the 2WW than during; the vast majority of Nazis (millions of them) got away with their viciousness, and all the individuals of both nations were complicit. As are we all, when we pass by on the other side of the road, for fear of upsetting someone, of losing something, of getting out of our comfort zone. That said, maybe it is structural to being a human in a group of humans...

[Vim Fuego]

whilst it's true that organisations are a collection of individuals the concept of corporate accoutability is well established.

[bochetagrave]

People are often scared to stand up against things they know to be wrong. Sometimes with good reason. Can't really blame them for that. Sure, we'd all like to do the right thing - and end up with the right result, but it doesn't always work that way..

[Fusionista]

Point taken, although it's the actual dynamic of responsibility rather than the legal comeback which I'm discussing. Instance that overpaid twit Dyke having to resign over the 'dodgy dossier' - totally irrelevant - while BLiar and henchman Hoon walk away with their reputations intact.

[RocknRollDave]

My brother on Dress Down Day at work yesterday....

[Fusionista]

People are often scared to stand up against things they know to be wrong. Sometimes with good reason. Can't really blame them for that. Sure, we'd all like to do the right thing - and end up with the right result, but it doesn't always work that way..

Sorry mate, agree with your first, disagree totally with your second. Cowardice is never right. I've gone down in flames a few times, but I sleep at nights too.

[bochetagrave]

I'm sure there are occasions where it's not so much a case of cowardice, as a realisation that it's a futile gesture.

Some people sleep better when they don't have to deal with confrontation, and the fall-out from it.. Not disagreeing, or arguing - just saying.