The way I see it, it's sort of a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation here. If a person responds to accusations, they offer an opportunity for those who wish to discredit them at any cost to continue and to attempt to involve others in the fight. If a person remains silent, refusing to get involved in a public shouting match, then they open themselves up to attack by those who equate silence with guilt. It's the classic "rock and a hard place" from my perspective. I've seen it happen in other places, at other times, and nothing was gained by any of it. I suspect that, as is usually the case, the truth of the matter lies with neither side, but somewhere in the middle. Someone once said that there are three versions to every story - your version, my version, and what really happened. :^) Kate