And Justice For All?

There has been a recent incident involving one of our other online groups.. Ron is a board member of this group.. and I am a moderator of the group.. so we are both in a position of authority for the group. He and I do not agree how this incident has been handled by the rest of the board.

The incident is as follows.. There is a man and a woman.. they were involved in a relationship.. she alleges that he didn't handle the break up well and has been stalking, threatening and harassing her.. from what I understand this has been going on for quite some time and she has just recently taken legal measures.. the man has been arrested..OK.. there is the back ground..

The situation is now that the group wants to rescind his membership and not allow him to attend group functions and to continue to allow her to have privileges of the group.. this is being done in the name of group safety..

Ron and I have a different view of this.. If one of them is suspended from the group because he poses a threat to a member.. the other should be suspended as well.. we do not have the right to condemn this man without benefit of a jury trial.. so far.. he has only been charged.. not convicted..If the charges are true, he poses a threat to the group, as well as the individual.. therefore, her presence at group functions poses a threat to the group as well.. that sucks but if the charges are true.. who knows what he might do at a function that he knows she is attending.. if group safety is really the issue.. this has to be considered

There is another side to the story.. we have heard from a source close to him that her version of events are not necessarily the way it went.. that the allegations are false.. If that be the case there is even more reason to suspend her membership as well.. false allegations can be just as devastating to the group as if the charges turn out to be true..

Wrongfully accusing someone of committing a crime like this against you ruins the life and reputation of the person you accuse.. trust me.. I have first hand knowledge of just how devastating it can be. Details of which I just don't feel like going into right now.. maybe another blog...

My point is.. this group is based on individual freedoms.. and for us as a group to exclude anyone based on allegations alone.. which are basically just one person's word against another.. and a few e mails.. (which can be altered) is going against all of the values for which not only our group stands for but our country as well .. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? If we are going to protect the group, which is what our job is.. we cannot take sides.. we cannot be judge , jury and executioner and the only way to assure fairness to all involved is to suspend both.. or neither..

The board voted 5-1 to revoke his membership.. and to further make an announcement to the group that any member charged with certain types of crimes will have their membership revoked as well .. Ron was the hold out vote.. I am considering resigning my membership to the group. I cannot in good conscience continue to support a group that is this willing to just believe everything they hear and be one sided on the issues without allowing both parties equal time to state their position..

Ok.. putting away my soapbox once again..

How was your day?