When it comes to harassment, think of "benefit of the doubt" as being like playing the odds.
She says he was harassing. He says he wasn't.
Which is more likely? That she made up a story about his harassing her, or that he was harassing her? I'm not saying that the former is *impossible*; it clearly isn't. But which way would you bet? Which do you think happens more often, harassment or false accusations of it?
And if the response is protective, not vindictive, the benefit of the doubt going to the accuser is safer.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2008-04-23 07:55 pm (UTC)She says he was harassing. He says he wasn't.
Which is more likely? That she made up a story about his harassing her, or that he was harassing her? I'm not saying that the former is *impossible*; it clearly isn't. But which way would you bet? Which do you think happens more often, harassment or false accusations of it?
And if the response is protective, not vindictive, the benefit of the doubt going to the accuser is safer.