Krauss' words regarding his friend, a Mr. Epstein, who was arrested for sexual offenses with underage masseuses-
yes it is.. Based on my direct experience with Jeffrey, which is all I can base my assessment on, he is a thoughtful, kind, considerate man who is generous to his friends, and all of the women I have known who have been associated with Jeffrey speak glowingly in the same words..
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jeffrey apparently paid for massages with sex… I believe him when he told me he had no idea the girls were underage, and I doubt that people normally are asked for or present a driver’s license under such circumstances… Moreover, I also believe that Jeffrey is an easy target for those who want to take advantage of him… Moreover, I can say with great honesty that Jeffrey’s time in prison led him to seriously examine his life in very positive ways and I don’t believe in blanket condemnations of people. He served time for something that was determined was inappropriate. I honestly don’t know who was the victim in this case. probably everyone was a victim, with no happy resolution or consequences of these activities. I fully expect that these masseuses knew what they were doing, and were not swayed to do anything with Jeffrey that they were not already doing. That is not to approve of the whole behavior, but lots of peopleI know and like have behavior I don’t entirely approve of.. I know it is not politically correct to say that, because in general this is a very sensitive issue and all other things being equal one should take the side of the young women. But all things are not equal in this case, from my point of view. It is a judgement call, and I will not turn my back on a good friend so easily.
I have read on the web claims of orgies on Jeffrey’s island during scientific meetings that I organized.. Orgies in which I was supposed to have been involved. This kind of nonsense has made me very skeptical of media reports on Jeffrey’s activities. Moreover, I am naturally skeptical by nature, and have looked in to a number of these supposed events, but am not going to share any details with you because I don’t think these are issues that are relevant to Jeffrey’s support of science, my scientific credentials etc.. or that I should discuss in public in any case… I will say however, that as a skeptic you might ask yourself whether there might be any motivation to potentially sue a billionaire with whom you may have been involved in one way or another… someone who might rather settle out of court for a large fee rather than have to deal with publicity, sleazy journalists etc? no, that never happens does it? Not very skeptical of you to wonder I think..
From what I've read, I think Krauss' response to this whole thing has been reasoned and reasonable. Skepchick doesn't sound skeptical at all about it, and she seems to buy into the misused term "pedophile" (no allegations of sex with prepubescent girls was alleged, as far as I can tell). Ms. Watson simply, to my reading, appears to think that Krauss should excoriate his friend Epstein, and should not at all require evidence of the more scurrilous allegations. The mere allegations, according to Watson, make Epstein deserving of not only a big scarlet letter, but also shunning by anyone who knows him. That certainly would be in furtherance of what appears to be her agenda, but would not be in the best traditions of skepticism.I will add one remark here, as most people have not read my full set of comments, posted after the post appeared.. I am myself rather disappointed by the lack of skepticality of this community. As I said, I have read numerous reports of orgies on Jeffrey’s island involving me and other scientists during our meetings.. Orgies that never happened, I am VERY skeptical of other claims on his behavior. I am defending Jeffrey for 2 reasons: (1) Based on my knowledge and experience I am skeptical of the claims in the media and of those who have settled claims for money… namely I don’t believe the published details just like I tend to be skeptical of many published details on the internet.. I don’t believe Jeffrey did what has been claimed, and unless I see hard evidence, I will trust my own judgement here, and (2) Jeffrey went to prison, and I happen to believe that having served time, even those who questioned his behavior should be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, again until proved otherwise, that he is working hard to live a good life and do good things. I for one am disgusted that people eat up the salacious nonsense the read on the web and then jump to conclusions about things and people they do not know.. I do not jump to condemn people, especially when it concerns their sexual preferences. I DO NOT CONDONE sex with young girls, or young boys for that matter.. because there are real victims there.. Until I know all the facts however, I do not jump to conclusions, and I am sorry, having seen the media frenzy around Jeffrey, and having seen the shoddy behavior of those who have attacked him, I remain skeptical, and I support a man whose character I believe I know.. If you want to condemn me for that, so be it.
L. Krauss
Article on Watson's demagoguery - http://www.thearmchairskeptic.com/2011/ ... guery.html
http://skepticasm.wordpress.com/2011/07 ... -skepdick/Dear Rebecca Watson: Don’t be a skepdick.
JULY 18, 2011 BY SKEPTICASM 14 COMMENTS
EDIT: Surly Amy has informed me that none of the Skepchicks were involved in planning a walk-out at TAM. My statement says that Rebecca’s posts about Lawrence Krauss “inspired some of her fans to try to organize a walk-out,” but in the letter addressed to Rebecca I presume her responsibility in that and chastise her accordingly. The details I was “filled in on later” came from a few trusted skeptics and not from any better-documented source. This will teach me to take word-of-mouth as fact.