Post
by TheNingen » Wed Feb 13, 2019 6:17 pm
Going to put my two cents in here and get blasted for it. But I care not.
Both sides have parts of their arguments that are not wrong.
The #IStandWithVic side is not wrong for wanting evidence and proof. I'm sorry, but no. Spoken word and second hand accounts are NOT evidence or proof. Vic is Italian. Older Italian people are very physically affectionate. While it is NOT an excuse, there are several instances and screencaps going around where people are being used as evidence AGAINST Vic, then finding out and saying "My experience was turned into something it isn't."
There are screencaps of groups purposely saying they're going to photoshop evidence to use against Vic. There are screencaps of Monical Rial sending flirty, kissy emojis to Vic, someone who she is "terrified of." Most of the stories are extremely hyperbolic, and easy to dismiss. There is no one that can rightfully argue that in a convention room of 2,000+ people (where one of the said 'attacks' took place), that nobody would catch wind of, or record videos/pictures of Vic forcefully grabbing someone's hair back and pushing them against a booth desk. That's absurd. And many of the videos/pictures that HAVE come out, people are judging without context. Are the people in said pictures actually coming out against him? I certainly haven't seen a record of this.
I recently was involved in an experience where I got involved with a girl. She treated me shitty. She abused me and then tossed me aside. Then when I told my friends about her behavior, she got angry and tried to actively get me expelled from school saying I was stalking her and doing a whole bunch of other crap that I didn't do and that I was doing this to "more girls than just her." I do not believe the "less than 10% of sexual assault reports are fake" because it's impossible to get an accurate sample size or truthful report of such a thing.
As for the argument of "Why would they feel the need to lie about this when they have nothing to gain?" They have EVERYTHING to gain coming forward. They don't like Vic. They get rid of Vic. And then are praised as heroes and get more publicity and attention. And this is only IF the allegations are false. They have nowhere to go but 'up.' Even with the harassment, the damage done to them will always be minimal when in comparison to the fallout and damage done to Vic. Except they go up the elevator, Vic goes down. Nothing negative happens to their careers or financial stability UNLESS they are found out to be lying. Again, most recollections or recounts of encounters are so vague, they're missing details, they're general or not focused. I'm sorry, but a sexual assault survivor would remember things in detail. because it was traumatic. The girl I currently love remembers her abuse by her ex in vivid detail. There are several reasons to not believe many of the "survivors" out there right now. And even then, they are not sexual assault survivors. Unless Vic forced himself onto them, and groped them or penetrated them, they weren't sexually assaulted. Hugging and kissing unwantedly, especially just done affectionately and whatnot, is NOT sexual assault. The two need to stop being conflated.
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The #KickVic side, is not wrong for being outraged at Vic's actions. There are also screencaps of his group the Risembool Rangers being asked by him to go out there and fight the allegations and dismiss them, the group itself is helmed by Vic's mother. If the stories of him bringing teenagers to his room and having inappropriate relations is true, then there is every reason to be up in arms. It's fine to view his actions as creepy. He's older, and they're minors. But again, context matters. It matters if the people in said pictures gave him consent to hug, and if their parents were there and fine with it. Again, the people largely involved are outside audiences giving their inputs with the limited information they have.
It's perfectly logical as an argument to say that people without contact who have similar experiences in large numbers must mean there's trouble in River City. But you also need to ask if they are reliable. To which human beings aren't always. Also voice actors like Sean, Chris and Sonny basically having issues with him leads to their own addition to the problem to look at. With Sean doing a parody of Vic talking about wanting to have sex with boys under 12.
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This all being said, I have problems with the conduct of both sides. Both sides have people being childish. Both sides have people being juvenile. And this useless attacking of one another is completely fruitless. There is plenty of foul play going on with BOTH sides of the board. Both sides have plenty of reason to be outraged with the involved voice actors and the sides they are arguing against because both have valid arguments.
Sexual assault is no laughing matter. And I'm sad to say I'm sure many people on the boards, including myself, have been victims of sexual assault, and are disgusted and turned off by those calling a lot of these actions and gestures by Vic under that banner. That being said, Vic SHOULD have exercised more caution and awareness in that maybe not everyone is receptive to his type of personality. But that is also their responsibility to say so at the time--Which maybe they did. No one here can say. All I'm saying is, blind belief in one side due to liking or disliking Vic is not the way to go about things. As I said, there are several instances of foul play and not okay shit going on with BOTH sides that can lead one to question. Remember the phrase: Cui bono? It's important in sides like this.
Listen to people. But don't blindly believe. People are unreliable narrators. They do shitty things for reasons only they know. Evidence is how we prove the truth of the matter. It is not bad to wait for it or want it. But it is also not wrong to listen to people's stories and then use your own judgments after researching to come to your own conclusion.
She/Her 