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[QUOTE="Eric15, post: 82203, member: 676"]
Let me just preface this post by saying that I haven't decided yet whether I think Bernie is guilty or innocent.  I tend to be very thoughtful and cautious when choosing a side on situations like this, because I find (a) someone being falsely accused and having their reputation destroyed, or (b) a victim that was truly molested being shunned by society and called a liar, to be equally gut-wrenchingly horrible scenarios.

I've read many, many times on this board over the past few days of people calling out the credibility of the accusers, saying they look sketchy, appear to be on drugs, look like losers, etc etc.  I guess my question is, how do you reconcile the fact that sexual abuse victims often lack traditional credibility regardless of whether they're innocent or guilty?  Kids that are on the fringe, come from broken homes, lack confidence, lack emotional/physical affection, are often prime and easy targets for abusers.  Also, it is an absolute fact that sexual abuse can destroy a person psychologically and lead to drug and alcohol abuse.  So, in terms of sexual abuse, should traditional "credibility" standards be a factor in determining whether a victim is lying?

Again, the jury in my brain is still in deliberations on Bernie.  My post is more about credibility of sexual abuse victims in general.
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